1 of 3 shortlisted stretches to be made cycle-friendly

According to a Chennai Corporation official, the decision was taken based on the recently concluded cycle handlebar survey, where cycling enthusiasts rode cycles on the three stretches and provided feedback on October 10.

The three routes are Little Mount Metro Station - Sardar Patel Road - Tholkappia Poonga - Corporation Park, Little Mount Metro Station - Sardar Patel Road - B Ramachandra Adithanar Road - Thiru Vi Ka Bridge - Corporation Park, and Little Mount Metro Station - Sardar Patel Road - OMR Service Road - LB Road - Corporation Park. “We will take up work in one of these stretches as a pilot project under Cycle4Change Challenge,” he added.

Meanwhile, Chennai Smart City Limited has tweeted that the cycle handlebar survey is not over and cyclists could ride on the three routes mapped for the survey and identify pain-points for cycling in those routes.

“Apart from the persons who had participated in the handlebar survey, other cyclists on the routes can submit their feedback and suggestions. This is to gather more inputs from road users and cyclists. The online survey will be live throughout the week,” the official explained.

Before the survey, the civic body conducted an online survey, in which residents had been asked to share their experiences of riding cycles on the city roads. The survey results suggested that around 70 per cent respondents expressed fear of being hit by speeding vehicles and 50 per cent pointed out potholes and traffic congestions impeding cycling on the roads.

On the other hand, the civic body had recently launched long-term plans to hire Chennai Corporation’s smartbikes under the cycle sharing system. Under the new initiative, users could rent cycles for up to a month.