Mumbai may aspire to be the cycling capital of India, but when it comes to the ground level, there is still a long way to go in terms of infrastructure and safety. Recently, the case of death of former Intel country head Avtar Saini (68) has come to light, who died after being hit by a speeding cab while riding a bicycle on Palm Beach Road, Navi Mumbai. This fatal accident is just one in a list of many occurring in the city, as Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor Firoza Dadan says: “Unfortunately, we see drivers becoming increasingly sleep-deprived, which leads to fatigue while behind the wheel. Doze off and lose control of the vehicle.”
Dangers: Drivers sleeping while driving, open roads, stray dog attacks
Talking about the accident, Firoza says, “The avatar was wearing his helmet and he was in a group, which is something I always recommend cyclists to do because when you ride in a group Do this, especially in the morning when there is heavy traffic, if you are alone there is no other help for you. Also, in the early hours, if a hit-and-run occurs someone else present there can confirm what happened. “Before dawn, the roads are so clear that drivers drive faster and we see most of the accidents happening around junctions.”
She highlights another problem facing cyclists. “Another problem is that when stray dogs attack from the left, you immediately move to the right, putting you in the way of fast-moving vehicles, so stay in a group.”
Potholes, no proper signals lead to disaster
Chembur-based insurance professional and cyclist Anita Gupta, who was in the same group of cyclists as Avtar Saini, says, “Avtar’s death was shocking for us as he was always a very cautious rider. As was his habit, he had his full gear on. It made us think, “If this could happen to him, what would happen to others?”
Highlighting a major risk area for her community, she says, “A lot of the roads in the city are in poor condition, making it risky for us cyclists. Not only do potholes pose a threat, but manhole covers that are poorly placed are also dangerous.” She adds, ”The other issue is that taxi and private vehicle drivers do not give proper signals before taking a turn. , which does not alert the cyclist. We are sharing the same road as there is no separate space for us, so they should maintain adequate distance from cyclists, blow horns and give adequate signals while taking turns, making it safe for both.”
There should be dedicated cycling tracks on highways
Mumbai has witnessed a series of bicycle-related accidents for quite some time now. Businessman and avid cyclist Brijesh Singh of Mulund Riders Club has shared some of the incidents he has seen happening with cyclists.
“Once, on the Mulund-Airoli flyover, when a group of our riders tried to go on the flyover, a car suddenly collided with it. He died on the spot. In another incident, three cyclists were on the highway when a tempo came from behind and suddenly turned and hit them, seriously injuring them. The man, who has been cycling for a decade, has one argument: “We should create dedicated cycle tracks on highways and cyclists should also always wear reflective gear.”
Be visible to others, avoid listening to music while riding
While entrepreneur Pankit Faria believes that such accidents keep happening, discouraging and scaring first-time cyclists and newcomers to cycling, Chetan Shah, president of Mumbai Cycling Enthusiasts, shares advice for cyclists. Are.
“Wear all the correct gear and make sure you are visible to motorists. Whenever you stop or turn, signal to fellow riders behind you, as I have seen many cyclists crashing into each other. Although many accidents are not caused by speeding, my advice is to drive slowly. Cyclists also wear ear buds while riding and listen to music which proves fatal. Keep your attention on the road while riding.”
Always carry an ID containing the cyclist’s blood group and emergency contacts. Also, always walk in groups and maintain a safe distance from vehicles
-Firoza Dadan, Mumbai’s first bicycle mayor
