World Bicycle Day: Differently abled cyclists in Mumbai call for no-risk rides

While the Mumbai Police have been encouraging cyclists to participate in the Sunday Streets initiative persons with disabilities in the city have suggested that with more such initiatives theres an increasing need to ensure the safety of the riders especially those with special needs As the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week takes place from May 1317 middaycom spoke to a few cyclists about their experience pedalling in the cityFor 47yearold amputee Vinod Rawat discouraging remarks from people while cycling is frequent While some appreciate his zeal others question him for risking his life to ride with an artificial limb Vinod was six years old when he was hit by a truck driver while returning home from school in Bhandup He lost one leg in the accidentRawat says As a child I used to see people cycle and wished to do the same someday In 1997 my life turned around after I received an artificial limb The first thing I did was to learn cycling In just a few hours I was able to maintain balance and within a couple of days I was cycling by myself It was like a dream come trueAbout his experiences of riding in the city Rawat who works as a project manager at Jaipur Foots Mumbai branch says A few days ago while I was waiting at the signal near Kala Nagar a man told a pillion rider Look at him he doesnt have a leg yet wants to cycle Such comments however have little effect on him says the cyclist I have overcome all odds and cycling is a part of my life irrespective of what people say After hearing such comments I smile back at them instead some even give me a thumbsup for my courage he addsVaseem Mohamad Patel a graphic designer with midday and a hearingimpaired cyclist has similar tales to share about his everyday challenges There are very few cyclefriendly streets in the city and those which exist are in bad condition with poor signages Theres always a fear that I may hurt myself while riding Many speedbreakers do not have proper indicators or are not maintained properly Some of the manholes have grill lids which can cause a mishap since the cycle tyre can get stuck in it says the Bandra resident demanding that the authorities need to install better infrastructure for people like himSpeaking about the difficulties faced during peak hour traffic in Mumbai Patel says You will find more cyclists in the evening as they are either returning from work or are out pedalling to stay fit This however is also a peak traffic hour in Mumbai If we have more dedicated cycling tracks it would not only make cycling riskfree but also encourage people of all age groups to take up the activity To encourage cycling it should be allowed in gardens and parks tooCyclists among most vulnerable road usersAccording to a data analysis report on road accidents released by the Mumbai Traffic Police in December 2021 cyclists were among the most vulnerable road users in the city in 2020 apart from motorcyclists and pedestrians as the three together accounted for 93 per cent of overall deaths in Mumbai motorcyclists 49 per cent pedestrians 42 per cent and cyclists 2 per centRecalling an incident a couple of years ago Mohan Sreenivasan another cyclist with a hearing disability says While riding past a signal an autorickshaw made a sharp swerve in front of me instead of letting me pass As a result I lost my balance and fell but luckily got only a cut on the knee Imagine if there was a vehicle behind meThe 51yearold who has been cycling since his growing up days in Bombay Centralrsquos Reserve Bank of India quarters rues the fact that the authorities have only focused on building metro and flyovers but cycling tracks are yet to be given the attention they need Such tracks would not only attract avid cyclists but can also be used to commute to schools colleges and workplaces inspiring people to switch to cycling both as an exercise and a costeffective mode of transport he saysLack of facilities for cyclistsAs a cyclist with hearing disability Sreenivasan says cycling on Mumbairsquos roads is fraught with risk as he cannot hear the traffic Moreover motorists donrsquot have the patience to wait for me to make way There have been instances where they have attempted to overtake me after honking Of course they do not know that I canrsquot hear It would help if the authorities educate motorists about something as simple as recognising hand signals by cyclists leaving sufficient space for them on the roads and slowing down on narrow streets he saysRawat who has so far taught cycling to 40odd people with disabilities agrees People in Mumbai need to be more respectful towards cyclists I have noticed that some motorists are arrogant who keep honking to overtake Just like other countries the cycling culture is booming in the city as well hence more tracks safe parking spaces and better infrastructure are the need of the hour he saysAbdul Rab Kazi founder of Everest Cycling Culture a group with 3100 cyclists from Mumbai of which five are with disabilities says Few people cycle to work because of poor lastmile connectivity In trains too its nearimpossible to carry a cycle or even park one at the stations Apart from infrastructure we need to generate awareness among motorists to encourage the use of bicycles as a mode of transport Expounding on measures to ensure the safety of members with disabilities in the group Kazi says We keep two or three cyclists around them to ensure safety in traffic In case of an injury or tyre puncture they can get immediate response from fellow cyclistsOn cycling gaining popularity Mumbais cycle mayor Firoza Suresh says In recent times the number of cyclists has increased especially during Covid19 times as more people have taken up the activity for leisure To ensure safety people must always wear a helmet and reflective jackets while riding during the night In the case of a disabled cyclist a simple informative message on the jacket could prove helpful