Manipur Cycle Club-Road Safety Week and the situation in Imphal
13th January 2016
Today marks the fourth day of the 27th Road Safety Week 2016 with the Theme: Time for Action. Like in all states, the government of Manipur also organized some events to mark this occasion. Manipur Cycle Club was invited to organized a ‘Cyclothon’ where cyclists go around Imphal city to spread awareness on cycling and safety.
However, the cycling community feels that the Department and the government seem to take this important occasion lightly and merely an annual ritualistic event with no real intent to act on the issue. Even during this event, there seems to be no safety on the road where pedestrians can walk without the fear of big hit by a car or a cyclist who lives in constant fear of getting knocked down by fast moving vehicles.
The current road and street designs, the policy and the institutions, and the manner in which transport is viewed, all are in favor of motor vehicles. There is an urgent need to democratize the streets.
The walking space has narrowed down with several obstacles on the footpath making walking or road crossing highly dangerous. The department has done little to improve the walking space for pedestrians but instead have turned a blind eye to the ever increasing squeezing of existing space or being encroached by vehicles as parking space or being barbed by security just as the one in front of the PWD office.
Road side parkings have eaten up the little road margin used by cyclist and this has exposed cyclists to fast moving vehicles. We urge the department to do away with road side parkings, for the reasons that not only cars and motor bike owners are educated of the mess and risk they are creating to the city but also that owning vehicle does not necessarily entitle them of parkings.
The recent curbing of parking in the Paona keithel and Thangal keithel has created chaos and unprecedented confusion along the stretch from Keisampat to Khoyathong. It only exposes the myopic vision of the Government in handling this issue. A more comprehensive plan is the need for the city.
Cyclists will feel safe only when separate lanes are provided. MCC seeks the department to take pro-active steps in bringing policy change as well as implementation of the much needed push for Non-Motorized Transport (NMT) as central to the city’s mobility plan.
President
Ram Wangkheirakpam
Manipur Cycle Club
* This Press Relese was sent to e-pao.net by Ram Wangkheirakpam who can be contacted at wangkheilakpa(aT)gmail(doT)com
This Press Release was posted on January 14 2016
* Comments posted by users in this discussion thread and other parts of this site are opinions of the individuals posting them (whose user ID is displayed alongside) and not the views of e-pao.net. We strongly recommend that users exercise responsibility, sensitivity and caution over language while writing your opinions which will be seen and read by other users. Please read a complete Guideline on using comments on this website.