Couple of months back, there was a great exciting news in our city Hyderabad for the 42 kms (21 kms One side) Exclusive Bicycle Track in our city along the stretch of ORR in the western part of Hyderabad, along with Solar Panels, matching the world class and one of a kind in India. The Actuals – Minister inauguration for Civil Work to happen soon and it is expected to be in our hands by early 2023. Looking forward to that!
This week, we have been hearing news about “Model Cycle Lanes” in our city. What are these Model Bicycle Lanes? Can we ride on it? Actually, not yet. It is only about 50 meters and we cannot use it for riding as of now. These are only models and it is being piloted or tested. Where are these done? One in Serilingampally Zone (Opposite AIG Hospitals), another in Balanagar Road (Kukatpally Zone), another in Tolichowki (Khairatabad Zone).
I reached out to TSMAUD, HUMTA, GHMC offices to concerned officials about what is the plan and what are the next steps? Who has implemented it? This is a testing pilot step by all the Zonal Commissioners in our city.
Some of them still yet to come back, but Two different Zonal Commissioners were kind enough to call me directly and update me about what is happening. Heartfelt Thanks for that! – “this is a Pilot try, under the direction of Minister KTR gaaru. He will evaluate these models and identify the best one for model for making this in different parts of the city.”.
When asked about #ComprehensiveBicycleLanesNetwork in our city, which is the real solution, but not bits and pieces of Bicycle Lanes here and there, there is no such real plan for across the city as of now, but only bits and pieces in km stretches. I explained to them about a proposal from HUMTA (Hyderabad Unified Motorized Transport Authority) which has about 150 kms Bicycle Lanes across the city. Actually, as per master plan 450 kms stretch inside the city, but for now 150 kms to be taken up. Both the Zonal Commissioners were kind enough to note this down and have been very receptive on this. Hoping this will be taken forward positively.
I requested Zonal Commissioners to connect with HUMTA for this proposal and requested for holistic implementation across the city as #ComprehensiveBicycleLanesNetwork, rather than bits and pieces. I should be able to go from point A to point B in our city, without any problems. For example Gachibowli to Banjara Hills for work should be possible by Bicycle via Bicycle Lanes.
In other hand, there are quite a few criticisms in Twitter and orally in WhatsApp that the implementation of these models are not done right. Design is not according to standards etc., like Tree inclusion on the footpaths, Width of the lane, Concretization is not done, instead tar is used etc., It is said that this is waste of public money and just for photoshoot these are being done. These small stretches will end up for Vendors or Parkings etc.,
All said and done, this is a good start. I am happy Government is thinking about this. Message to Government – Our Community #CyclingCommunityOfHyderabad is always there to help in ideas, thoughts, usage of the implementation – pre-implementation, during-implementation and post-implementation and we are seriously looking forward to #ComprehensiveBicycleLanesNetwork across the city and that is the real solution.
Thank you
Hyderabad Cycling 