Cycling to be banned on major routes through the city.

[asterix]

In a surprise move, [Calcutta] authorities have recently banned cycles - along with hand carts and other non-motorised vehicles - from 174 key roads and streets in the city during the day...

..Commuters make more than 2.5 million trips on bicycles in Calcutta every day. It is also the only major city in India where the number of cycle rides is greater than the number of car journeys.

..at a time when most cities across the world are encouraging their citizens to get on their cycles, why are the authorities in Calcutta telling people to get off them?

There is just not enough space for all kind of vehicles," says Dilip Kumar Adak, deputy commissioner of the city's traffic police department.

"Cycles slow down traffic and removing them will make the streets safer and traffic speedier.

No cycling signs have come up in many places in Calcutta
"It's not a blanket ban. People can still cycle on smaller streets."

No wonder cyclists are up in arms against the new rules.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24237390

Can you imagine them trying that here?!

 

[helston90]

"there is just not enough space for all kind of vehicles"
So we'll ban the smallest one- I'm sure there is logic there somewhere!

 

[mcshroom]

Unfortunately I can, and it's a depressing thought.

 

[gaz]

We already have a few bits of A road where cycling has been banned.

Aren't all of those on stretches of road that would be suicidal to ride on anyway?

 

[Twelve Spokes]

Total madness and an example of cars ruling the road.

 

[Davidc]

Aren't all of those on stretches of road that would be suicidal to ride on anyway?

No. A13 Essex.

 

[compo]

The A120 from Stanstead to Braintree is banned for cycling, as is the A130 between Chelmsford down to Southend. Both roads have perfectly acceptable alternative routes running pretty well parallel with them but I cannot see why the bans are in force. The only bit of the A120 I wouldn't fancy riding is the last half mile or so before the airport and where you would have to leave the main road to avoid ending up on the M11 motorway!

 

[Schneil]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-24237390

Can you imagine them trying that here?!

Quoting the article
"Average traffic speeds are down to 8mph-11mph (14-18kmph), compared to India's average of 13mph (22kmph)."

I've been to Kolkata, the roads there are very very busy. Even 25 years ago the congestion was crazy, nothing like over here. Being sat in traffic jams for hours breathing in soot Most roads especially in the outer areas of the city are really narrow, way too narrow for the volume of traffic.
They'll ban bikes from key roads, it won't make a difference, the ban'll be forgotten. No one will obey the ban anyway.

 

[mcshroom]

Sounds like they are banning the wrong set of road users to me

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I've cycled in Kolkata. I've ridden an Enfield Bullet 500 there too. Great fun.

 

[Black Country Ste]

We already have a few bits of A road where cycling has been banned.

Those roads aren't highways and probably required an Act of Parliament to build. I believe that's the case on parts of the A55, particularly the tunnels bypassing Colwyn Bay.

 

[ComedyPilot]

Looks like the authorities in India can't see the

for the

They ought to get tips from our 'cycle friendly' gov't.

 

[Matthew_T]

Aren't all of those on stretches of road that would be suicidal to ride on anyway?

Check out the A55 near me. From the Queensferry turnoff to Llandulas, you can cycle along it. But from Llandulas to Colwyn Bay, you cannot. No idea why as the stretch of road is no more dangerous than the rest of the road.
I very rarely use it and dont know anyone who has actually cycled the majority of it (I have only popped on once and twice and didnt like it).

 

[Bman]

http://goo.gl/maps/YDmbY

 

[Hill Wimp]

I have cycled a lot all over India and in many of the cities. I loved it apart from the pollution which had a lasting effect for many weeks after i returned home. Having been a cycle commuter in London certainly helped and to be honest i found that cyclists are pretty safe if you just appreciated that there were far more cars and it is driving by consent rather than by rules/law of the road.
Hundreds of people cycle all over India and especially in the cities and although i haven't cycled in Calcutta i would imagine that this could cause a lot of problems for people.