Two-Wheelers Turn Srinagar’s Cycle Tracks Into Traffic Lanes
Srinagar, KNT: Dedicated cycle tracks developed across Srinagar under the Smart City initiative are increasingly being misused by two-wheelers, defeating their very purpose and raising serious concerns over the safety of cyclists and pedestrians.
Despite clear lane markings and exclusive cycling corridors along stretches of the Foreshore Road and other major roads in the city, motorcycles and scooters are routinely seen using the tracks to bypass traffic congestion.
The latest instance, captured on camera, shows two-wheelers travelling on a designated cycle lane, a practice that local commuters said has become a daily occurrence.
Cyclists alleged that the dedicated tracks, created at considerable public expense to encourage eco-friendly mobility and ensure safer cycling, have virtually become alternative carriageways for motorcycles due to poor enforcement.
Several locals said the problem is particularly noticeable along the Foreshore Road and other newly developed stretches where cycle lanes exist, alleging that the absence of regular monitoring has emboldened violators.
They urged the Srinagar Smart City authorities, Traffic Police and the Srinagar Municipal Corporation to launch sustained enforcement drives, impose penalties on violators and install physical barriers at vulnerable points to prevent unauthorized entry of motor vehicles into the cycle tracks.
Cyclists said unless strict action is taken, the objective of promoting non-motorised transport and providing safe infrastructure for cyclists will remain unfulfilled. [KNT]
