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| Govt may ask employees to opt for Bicycle riding while going to offices | | Making JK’s twin capitals smart | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Nov 20: At the onset of implementing the much hyped smart city project for the twin capital cities of Jammu and Srinagar, the government is mulling to ask the government employees posted there to use bicycles while attending the duties.
As per the sources, the government is making strenuous efforts to make bicycle riding as an essential mode of transportation in Jammu and Srinagar, citing the spike in the level of pollution, frequent traffic jams and people’s health into consideration.
Sources privy to the development told Early Times that the project was taken into consideration a few years ago but was shelved due to utter non seriousness of then government. However, at present, sources said that the Governor administration has shown keen interest in the concept and is mulling to issue formal orders in this regard. Official sources added that the government has been mooting several proposals to decongest the city roads and get the pollution levels low post COVID 19 lockdown. Also, many experts had suggested to the government authorities that if cycle riding is made an essential component of city transportation, it may help in adding beauty to the cities and make people healthy in more ways than one.
It is being noted during the discussions on the subject that short car trips (over distances that could easily be bicycled) are much more polluting than longer trips on a per-mile basis because 60 percent of the pollution resulting from auto emissions is released during the first few minutes of operation of a vehicle.
It is being stated further that upgrading an existing transportation network to advance greater bicycle usage is less cost prohibitive than all other forms of conventional transport except perhaps walking and that Bicycle usage is beneficial to a neighborhood’s or community’s micro-economy as riders tend to frequent those businesses and services located within a smaller radius from their homes. “Bicycles (or variations thereof like velomobiles) are easily adaptable for nearly all types of riding surfaces and climates. The use of bicycles instead of motor vehicles can help reduce sprawl and revitalize aging urban areas. Bicycles can be repaired and maintained for reasonable costs, often by the owner themselves. Bicycling can be an excellent way to combat childhood and adult obesity,” says Riyaz Ahmad Wani, a Srinagar based veteran cyclist. He added that it is going to be a wonderful idea to make cycle riding essential for government workers in the first place.
“Even if the government doesn’t make it a compulsory feature, the advisory alone will do the work. It will transmit the message to the people that government is encouraging such novel practices. People will love this concept. I am sure about this,” says another cyclist. |
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