UP goes Netherlands' way, cycling to be promoted in cities

Lucknow Bicycle the election symbol of the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh will soon be part of a new development story inspired by the success of cycling in the Netherlands A beginning is likely to be made from NoidaBack from a weeklong trip to study how people in the Netherlands embraced cycling as a major mode of transport Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has asked officials to prepare a timebound programme to set up cycle tracks and stands in select cities and tourist hubs in an effort to control pollution and ease congestion on roadsSanjeev Saran principal secretary for infrastructure and industrial development said cycling tracks will be necessarily built in new citiesOfficials of Noida Greater Noida Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority YEIDA Agra Development Authority and Gautam Buddh University have been asked to get cracking on what is now emerging as the pet project of the chief minister he saidOther than cycle tracks stands will also be built according to the need so that people start using bicycles in crowded markets instead of fourwheelers an official told IANSA delegation from the Netherlands will soon undertake a tour of the state to partner in this process the official saidRama Raman chairman of Noida Greater Noida and YEIDA said cycle tracks and stands would be provided in Noida and Greater Noida in a timebound mannerHe also said cycling as a mode of transport would be started from the Gautam Buddha UniversityCycle tracks and stands will be developed inside the university campus for students to move between different departmentsAfter twothree months when students become habituated with the system power vehicles will be banned inside the campus Likewise advice of experts will be sought to develop cycle tracks and stands in the industrial sector Sector 18 and Labour Chowk Raman told IANSCycles will be provided to employees and workers of industrial units and officers after consulting the entrepreneursRaman said safe tracks will have to be built for children to use cycles to schoolHe said Metro rail commuters use fourwheelers to reach the stations and park their vehicles there to use again for returning homeIf cycle tracks are developed along the roads and stands are provided at Metro stations then people will certainly prefer to use cycles for commuting he saidGautam Buddha University vice chancellor JP Sharma and YEIDA CEO PC Gupta have concurred to the proposal of the state government and have assured all possible helpSources said cycling will also be promoted in a big way in the tourism sector especially in places where foreign tourist footfalls are sizableIt has been seen that most foreign tourists prefer cycle as a mode of transport when they come to visit places like Agra Varanasi and Kushinagar and we would like this to become their habit in India as well another official saidOfficials said cycling will be promoted through rallies and campaigns egging people to take to it as a preferred mode to move around especially in busy thoroughfares as it will help ease traffic pressure and congestion