KOLKATA: A leading pro-cycling pressure group in the city wrote to the police commissioner on Tuesday and sought an audience to discuss an awareness campaign that focuses on cyclists and offered to partner the force in the initiative.
The letter from Swith ON Foundation that has been actively promoting cycling for the past decade and has been questioning the restrictions imposed on the environment-friendly mode of transport on several city roads, suggested Kolkata Police introduce a campaign similar to the ‘Safe Drive, Save Lives’ initiative that promotes safe driving behaviour among motorists.
“We have in our way carried out a campaign to educate cyclists about traffic rules and discipline.
Till now, pedestrians and cyclists have not been a priority and feel they don’t belong to the system.
A campaign that addresses them can change that perception and lead to traffic compliance,” said SwithON Foundation managing director Vinay Jaju.
Reiterating its appeal to remove cycle restrictions from city roads and integrate cycle-safe infrastructure into the current transport system of the city, Jaju cited studies that have already been submitted to the police that shows cycling to be a safe mode of transport when compared to motorcycles and cars with average speeds than can either match or exceed the latter to debunk old notions and adopt fresh ideas.
“It is our strong belief that integrating cycling in our current transport fleet along with strict rules and measures and including them in sensitization campaigns can benefit Kolkata’s transport system greatly.
We have already started such sensitization campaigns and will be happy to work under your leadership to successfully reach and sensitize all cyclists,” he reasoned.