The pilot project to prevent non-motorised vehicles (cycles, rickshaws, etc) from integrating with the rest of the traffic at roundabouts seems to have gone awry. Over the past few days, a number of teething troubles are being encountered at the Sector 30-20-19-27 roundabout where the pilot project was initiated. Police as well as engineering wing claim that the system is under observation and modifications will be made as per requirement.
The city has cycle tracks in most of the sectors on both sides of the road. These tracks, which were part of Le Corbusier’s plan for Chandigarh, were essentially built for non-motorised slow-moving traffic. However, a problem that is being faced is that the cycle tracks are not connected with each other. Due to this, the slow-moving traffic has to integrate with the rest of the traffic at the roundabouts.
Around 40 cyclists have died in the past two years after meeting with accidents, a majority at roundabouts. Following this, a proposal was mooted for providing a safe passage for the cyclists without having to negotiate with the other vehicles.
As per the proposal, around 100 metres before the roundabout a gap has been created in the median. Roads have been connected with the cycle tracks in such a manner that the non-motorised vehicles cross through the median and reach the other side where another cycle track is present. A little before the gap in the median, rumble strips have been constructed to slow down the fast-moving traffic and provide safe passage to non-motorised vehicles to pass.
Since the system has been put in place, several problems have been encountered. The cyclists and rickshaw pullers are coming in the way of fast-moving traffic as they cross the road through the median. The sudden appearance of these non-motorised vehicles on the roads and the rumble strips brings the other traffic to a screeching halt. This has caused accidents in the past few days.
SP (Traffic) Maneesh Chaudhary says, “The pilot project was initiated after a discussion with the engineering and architecture department. The cycle tracks are not connected due to which drivers of the non-motorised vehicles have to integrate with the remaining traffic. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had also taken a serious note of this. Since it’s a first-of-its-kind experiment, we will observe it for a few days. Modifications would be made accordingly.”
He says there has to be some sensitivity towards pedestrians and drivers of non-motorised vehicles. “There is a need to make the roads safe for the non-motorised vehicles as well. There have been a large number of accidents involving these vehicles. There is a need for creating awareness about the system,” he adds.
Due to lack of any awareness among the residents, there is chaos at the roundabout. Some cyclists instead of using the path that has been created still mingle with the traffic at the roundabout.
Superintending Engineer (B&R), Municipal Corporation, Mukesh Anand, who has been involved in execution of the project, says that signages have been put up to make the commuters aware of the crossing for the non-motorised traffic. He adds that there is a need to ensure safety of pedestrians and cyclists for which the project has been started.
This is how the system works
As per the proposal, around 100 metres before the roundabout a gap has been created in the median. Roads have been connected with the cycle tracks in such a manner that the non-motorised vehicles cross through the median and reach the other side where another cycle track is present. A little before the gap in the median, rumble strips have been constructed to slow down the fast-moving traffic and provide safe passage to non-motorised vehicles to pass.