Dabbawalas launch petition to make city cycle-friendly

Struggling to adapt to congested city streets Mumbais iconic bicycleborne dabbawalas who have delivering meals across the city since 1890 have launched an online petition to ensure that dedicated cycling infrastructure is set up throughout the city They have also demanded secure parking facilities at strategic locations including suburban railway stations The dabbawalas believe that if most lastmile deliveries and shortdistance commutes were done on bicycles the citys air quality would improveThrough the petition the dabbawalas have emphasised the urgent need for cycling infrastructure at the ward level facilitating lastmile connectivity for only them but all Mumbaikars who want to cycleEvery day around 5000 dabbawalas deliver about two lakh lunchboxes to offices in Mumbai Their delivery method involves a unique alphanumeric colour coding system that helps them avoid errors and primarily involves the use of bicycles and local trainsUlhas Muke president Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust Roshan Kedar of Jhatkaaorg and Bhagwan KesbhatHowever off late the dabbawalas who have been ensuring your lunch reaches you on time by using zeroemission transportation feel unsafe on the roads as they lack dedicated cycling tracks They have also complained about their cycles getting damaged or stolenThe dabbawalas petition which went live on June 3 World Bicycle Day and in less than 10 days has garnered support from 3700 people in the form of signatures The petition has been addressed to the municipal commissioner transport commissioner and joint commissioner traffic The target is to collect 50000 signatures before submitting the petition to the authoritiesThe Waatavaran Foundation and Sustainable Mobility Network SMN conducted a perception study of Mumbais dabbawalas last year which revealed that 100 per cent of respondents were in favour of safe parking places while 89 per cent demanded dedicated bicycle lanestracks across the cityA survey of dabbawalas in nine Mumbai localities sought to learn more about the infrastructure for riding and the difficulties experienced while making deliveries It revealed that 92 per cent of respondents used bicycles as their primary mode of transportation The survey also emphasised the dabbawalas dedication to clean air and their forwardthinking position in advocating that lastmile delivery partners opt for bicyclesDabbawalas told midday that traffic is taking a toll on their efficiency and road safety is a cause for concern for all cyclists not just their peersUlhas Muke president Nutan Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Charity Trust said ldquoWe wish to use an environmentally responsible mode of transport for work Making Mumbai a city with cyclefriendly infrastructure would encourage others particularly other lastmile delivery partners to choose bicycles This will help the country achieve its zeroemission target Although we are aware of the difficulties involved creating parking for bicycles is simpler than for cars Planning authorities are doing so much to beautify the city so why cant we include cycling infrastructure which is the need of the hour We are optimistic that the government will help us and fellow Mumbaikars to continue to use bicyclesrdquoBhagwan Kesbhat the founder of Waatavaran Foundation said ldquoThere have been numerous plans and talks about having fullfledged cycling tracks in the city However creating tracks at random locations is of no help What we need is microcycling tracks in all wards Not only dabbawalas but also a person at Bandra station should comfortably ride a cycle to his destination This will be possible only if we have microcycling tracks which will facilitate lastmile travel with zero emissionsrdquoKesbhat stated that cycling on busy city roads is fraught with peril ldquoIn the absence of dedicated tracks cycling will be risky with speeding vehicles reigning on the roads which are not cyclefriendly The civic body and other planning authorities need to think in terms of making cycling or microcycling infrastructure the future of the city We need to build a narrative in the minds of Mumbaikars that walking or cycling is the best mode of lastmile connectivity This will be possible only if we have enough infrastructure for cycling or walkingrdquoRoshan Kedar campaigns manager of Jhatkaaorg who has helped the dabbawalas with the online petition said ldquoDabbawalas are suffering themselves but all their demands including the microcycling tracks have been put forth thinking not just about themselves but the entire city and Mumbaikars Their demands if fulfilled will be really beneficial for all in every way Through their campaign the dabbawalas are paving the way for other cyclists and cycling enthusiasts in the cityrdquoDabbaful of demands Dedicated cycling infrastructure throughout the city including wellmaintained cycling lanes and parking facilities at strategic locations Collaboration with relevant authorities and stakeholders to create safe and secure parking spaces for cycles at suburban railway stations Awareness campaigns and educational initiatives to encourage the use of cycles as an ecofriendly mode of transport