Bhubaneswar: With an increased interest in Bhubaneswar Smart City United’s (BSCU) Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) initiative ‘Mo Cycles’, concerns are raised over the programme’s lack of safety measures and its round-the-clock availability to the riders.
“Last night my son was hit by a speeding car while he was riding on a Mo Cycle near Sachivalaya Marg. Although he suffered only minor injuries, it could have been worse,” said Aarti Patnaik, the victim’s mother.
Although such cases are few and far between yet the above incident could be a harbinger of what may come with the rise in bicycle riders. As suggested by Capital Region Urban Transport’s (CRUT) reports, about 2,000 riders in the city have already used the Mo Cycles. With 11 users per cycle per day, the city has joined the list of one of the best PBS along with cities like Lyon, Barcelona and Mexico.
However, road safety expert, PS Das, said despite being a great initiative the Mo Cycle programme lacks dedicated bicycle tracks. More so, unaware riders who undervalue the use of helmets or proper gears while riding are also a threat to themselves and others.
“In countries like Australia, New Zealand and Argentina where PBS is in existence for a long time, the authorities penalise the riders sans helmets heavily. Apart from that, the bicycle tracks are properly demarcated and separated from the road with barriers,” he added.
Das mentioned that in a survey conducted by the University of New South Wales in Australia there was a 23 per cent reduction in head injuries after protective gears were made mandatory in the country. The report also stated that chances of a serious head injury reduced by around 70 per cent and of fatal head injuries by 65 per cent.
Besides the safety measures, experts have also raised concerns over the 24X7 availability of Mo Cycles and its accessibility in high-risk areas. Riders are reportedly pedaling as late as 11 pm in accident-prone zones of the city.
Indicating the risks involved in late night bicycling, Sandeep Mohanty, an avid bicyclist, explained that during night the visibility is obscure especially when the cycle has no headlamp or reflectors.
Responding to the safety concerns, a CRUT official said the Mo Cycle initiative is at a very nascent stage and with the increase in riders the organisation will work with respective agencies and authorities for safer cycling.
However, applauding the Mo Cycle initiative Dileep Panda, project head of the city-based NGO called SAFE suggested that the users can feel at home while bicycling if they are made aware of use of helmets and provided proper riding tracks.
“The encroachments on the tracks should be removed and should be made everywhere and not just within the city. Mere painting the road red won’t help as during gridlocks motor vehicle owners intrude these tracks. A strict restriction on travelling to certain areas as highways or accident prone areas should be enforced. Apart from this bicycles should be made available only between 9 am and 9 pm,” Dileep added.
