City-based cycling community leader Vijay Malhotra gives us an exclusive in-depth review of the the newly inaugurated 5.25 km-long Coastal Road cycling track after an early test drive by invitation from the BMC
Cycling community leader Vijay Malhotra
Initial thoughts
The track had stirred quite the anticipation in the community after the Bandra Kurla Complex cycling track failed to impress. We were expecting a track for recreational cycling, as opposed to commuting; and that’s exactly what we received. This will be the third promenade that cyclists will make a beeline to, after Marine Drive and Bandra Bandstand. Unlike the BKC track, this one offers a clear path, devoid of trees jutting out, or breaks in continuity. It’s a major win for children and senior citizens who might find it difficult to navigate complex routes.
What’s good
Right off the bat, it was great to see dedicated cycle parking spots on the promenade. For cyclists who drive from far off suburbs, there is a spacious dedicated vehicle parking space near the Worli Dairy entry point that opens to the promenade. Ramped approach ways to the track means it is easier not only for cyclists like me, but also wheelchair users to reach the promenade.
A senior cyclist enters the promenade via an underpass
The ride on the 5.25 km-long route itself was smooth, with an even surface split into two spacious lanes. I felt like I was cycling closer to the sea, compared to my previous rides on Marine Drive and the old Worli Sea Face promenade before it underwent this revamp. Placing the track at a safe distance from the road seems to have been a good idea. Senior citizens and children will feel safer cycling, or even learning how to cycle on this track.
The magic, as it has always been in Mumbai, is the sea. Cycling here and watching waves crash as you pedal your way with cool wind in your hair is a feeling you need to experience firsthand to understand. I urge every Mumbaikar to try it at least once.
Open to suggestions?
One of the first recommendations I shared was the placement of reflectors in the ramp area leading to and from the promenade. Anti-skid mats are also the need of the hour, given Mumbai’s rainfall, and the track’s proximity to the sea.
The cycle stand at the promenade, where regular police patrolling promises to keep a watchful eye on riders. PICS COURTESY/VIJAY MALHOTRA
While some might believe less is more, we could use some artwork in areas like the pedestrian underpasses.. Motion sensor-enabled lighting can be used to create an immersive experience while also saving electricity.
In many parts of Europe, sensors are devised to capture cyclist data. Numbers on how many cyclists use the track, and at what time can help the authorities in the upkeep of the track.
Closing comments
The new track is the first step in the right direction for Mumbai. Show up with your friends, family or solo, but leave it like you were never here. The ball is now in our park to ensure the track is not littered, vandalised, or misused.
The spacious underground parking lot at Worli
I had a conversation with the civic authorities about our community members who have lost their lives to cyclist-motorist accidents. We discussed the case of the late tech entrepreneur Avtar Singh Saini whose fatal accident on Palm Beach Road in Navi Mumbai last year shook the city, and the cycling community in particular. While the new track is here, I hope the city fosters a new sense of cyclist-motorist harmony as well.
Pro tips
>> While the track is open till midnight, meaning there is enough room and time for everyone, cycling in daylight is always safer for beginners
>> With monsoon clouds still above us, keep in mind this handy to do list:
Vijay Malhotra
1) A shower cap under your helmet
2) All-weather shoes. Do not cycle in slippers.
3) Waterproof lights
>> In case of accidents or emergencies, the nearest hospitals along the track are:
1) Subway 4: Breach Candy Hospital or Jaslok Hospital
2) Subway 11 and 14: Siddhachal Hospital, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg.
ENTRY POINTS Subway 4: Bhulabhai Desai Road; Subway 11: Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road; Subway 6: Haji Ali Junction; Subway 14: Bindumadhav Thackeray Chowk.
TIMINGS 7 am to 12 am
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