KOCHI: Though the city is trying to find a break-through to the perennial problem of traffic by demolishing and renovating the North Overbridge under the ROB project, objections are many. In a recently held Council meeting it was decided that the Corporation would not give approval for the Metro Rail project, unless alternative systems are in place for diverting traffic and the traders displaced from the area are rehabilitated.Adding to the already existing woes comes the sudden Rs 5 a litre hike in petrol price, the biggest-ever increase in petrol prices, and the eighth since the prices were deregulated in June last year; a convenient excuse yet again for autorickshaw drivers in the city to demand more money.“When a price hike is announced there is a big hue and cry against it. There is no use of protests and processions unless each individual chooses to reduce the oil consumption,” said a traffic police at Kaloor Junction.Setting an example is Chandrahasan, Assistant Editor of Ernakulam Public Relations Department and the son of former Member of Parliament K C Vaduthala.For years, he has been commuting to office from his home in Vaduthala on a bicycle, a thought-provoking and exemplary habit. Today people consider walking or cycling even half a kilometre demeaning. From junior staff to senior officers, people from every walk of life who can reach their work place by bicycle use most modern cars and motor bikes. In some families, each member takes a vehicle out on the street,” said Chandrahasan.People in the developed nations in the West and in fast developing countries like China still use bicycles for commuting. But in today’s college campuses, forget about offices and business centres, we hardly find any bicycle.Even though India is the second largest producer of bicycles in the world, a prejudice against bicycle as a means of transport exists in some segments of the population, especially in Kerala, generally stemming from the status symbol aspect of the motor vehicle.“We have instances of famous personalities like former President A P J Abdul Kalam, RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, Prof C Ravindranath, the newly elected MLA from Puthukkad, and many others who used cycle as their favourite means of conveyance,” said Chandrahasan.“Commuting by bicycle has many advantages,” said P S John, a physical trainer. “Cycling is one of the most effective exercises, to shed off those extra calories and get rid of flabby abs. Besides saving a lot of money, it reduces air and noise pollution. Cycling is therapeutic for the mind and spirit, is fun and can make you happy. This will also help reduce the ever increasing traffic problems in the city and the cycle requires less parking space.”In many countries there is a separate lane for cycles. Pune is the first city in India to have dedicated lanes for cycles. Bicycle riding is fast becoming popular in the metro cities of India. The Delhi Government has decided to construct separate bicycle lanes on all major roads to combat pollution and ease traffic congestion."Kochiites dream of seeing their city transform into a world-class metro overnight. But only few have the courage and willingness to contribute concretely to the change,” said Chandrahasan.
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