By Kshitiz Siwakoti, Kathmandu, Feb. 7: Laxmi Prasad Regmi is a packing plastic vendor who conducts his business every day on a cycle. He is afraid to ride a cycle because motorists are dangerously overtaking close to him.

 “Nobody respects the cyclists' right to the road,” Regmi shared his grievances.

As a cyclist carrying his commodities, he finds it cumbersome to stand in long traffic jams. “Since everyone overtakes unnecessarily which causes traffic jams, so I feel exhausted standing in traffic jams,” Regmi added.

Shiva Gurung is an avid cyclist who always rides a cycle within the valley. He feels that cycling in Kathmandu is either daunting at best or dangerous at worst. “I always feel bullied by motorists as most of them come so dangerously close that I barely get my space to ride,” Gurung Said. He also feels that motorists never respect him when he is riding a cycle.

Both Regmi and Gurung made it a point that in the lack of cycling track in the roads in the Capital City, the roads here for cyclists are like death traps because those riding motor vehicles neglect the rights of the cyclists.

President of Nepal Cycling Association, Gopal Sundar Lal Kakshapati, said that the majority of the problems faced by cyclists could be solved if the government builds a dedicated cycling track. “The segregation of a dedicated cycling track in Lalitpur district stands as a shining beacon of example for the entire country,” says Kakshapati.

“In order to boost the confidence of people for riding cycles, it is imperative that the government recognise and prioritise the use of cycles as a mode of transport,” he said. 

With regard to the expansion of roads to accommodate the growing appetite of motorists, Gopal Kakshapati says that the roads in Kathmandu are spacious enough. He feels that the problem is with the management of roads. “I have seen many European Cities with narrower roads than Kathmandu and they can still accommodate a dedicated cycling track. If narrow roads turned into one-way roads, a cycle track could be accommodated,” says Kakshapati.

According to Vice-President of Cycle City Network Nepal Nivesh Dugar along with lack of a dedicated cycle lane, another fundamental problem is that due to poor street lighting it is difficult to ride a cycle once dusk approaches.

He highlighted the lack of cycle repairing shops within the valley. “If the government would provide the infrastructure required for safe cycling this would increase cycle usage and in turn encourage businesses to emerge dealing in cycles and repairing,” Dugar said.

Cycle City Network Nepal organises a mass protest called Critical Mass, where every last Friday of the English month participants ride cycles in droves. The intention behind this protest is to urge the government to provide a safe cycling atmosphere in Kathmandu. Critical Mass started in San Francisco in the year 1992 and by the year 2003, this event was held in more than 300 cities. 

According to Saroj Basnet, Vice-Chairperson of the City Planning Commission of Kathmandu Municipal Corporation, designs regarding the construction of a dedicated cycle lane from Maitighar to Tinkune is ready and the work will begin as soon as it is approved by the Department of Roads. “We plan on dividing the pedestrian lane between a dedicated cycling track and the pedestrian lane,” he said. 

“Once that section of the track is constructed, we plan on extending it further by constructing another one between Jadibuti and Pepsi Cola,” said Basnet over phone. 

According to the Commission, it is difficult to build a cycle track in many places as the existing roads are too narrow for motorists. He told us of a plan to build a cycle track from Tripureshwor to Maharajganj, but since the road is narrow in this area they plan on connecting these two areas by constructing a different cycle route. However, as of now, they are awaiting approval from the Department of roads to start the construction of a cycle lane from Maitighar and Tinkune.

The chief of the Division Road Office, Kathmandu, Kuber Nepali, said that a report has been sent to the Department of Roads and is awaiting approval from the Department. He also pointed out that the Division road office has been collaborating with Kathmandu Metropolitan City for the construction of dedicated cycle lanes. 

Nepali also highlighted that they do not want to build a demarcated cycle lane on the main road itself as in Lalitpur district for it is not safe for the cyclist. He said that a different and dedicated lane needs to be constructed for cyclists as that would make cycling much safer.

“We will allocate the tender to construct a cycle lane from Maitighar to Tinkune as soon as we receive approval for the same from the Department of Road," Nepali said.

(Kshitiz Siwakoti is an intern with the TRN Online)