Pune car free day - 22nd September world car free day
Written by moza on September 22nd, 2008 in Awareness, Life, Thinking.
Pune car free day
Pune car free day 2008
22nd September is observed as the world car free day. Some civic groups plan to celebrate the day in Pune by organizing a bicycle rally on that day.
Date: Monday, 22nd September 2008
Time: 7.30AM - 9.30AM
The rally will be held on Monday, 22nd September 2008. It will begin at 7.30AM from four different locations in the city, and all four groups of cyclists will converge at Sambhaji Park on J.M. Road. It is expected that the rally will be completed around 9.30a.m.
The rally routes, along with contact persons for each route, are given below:
Starting point Route Contacts
Starting point : Aundh: Pulse/Ozone, ITI Road
Route : Pulse/Ozone - Parihar Chowk - Bremen Chowk - University chowk - Agriculture College/Mhasoba Gate - F.C. Road - Ghole Road - Balgandharv Bridge - Sambhaji Park Ashok Sreenivas: 98509-73916; Sanskriti Menon: 98224-55250 (Cycles can be rented from a store which is located on the Spicer college - Khadki road at the left turn towards Dapodi.
Contacts : Call Reena Ginwala at 98230 34544 for more info)
Starting point : Camp: Near GPO
Route : GPO - Moledina Road - Sassoon hospital - Maldhakka chowk - Juna Bazaar Chowk - Old Sangam Bridge - Sancheti Hospital - Modern Cafe chowk - Sambhaji Park
Contacts : Ulhas Joshi: 98220-23850; Shiv Mathur: 98811-22064
Starting point : Kothrud: Karve Putala
Route : Karve Statue, Karve Road, SNDT main gate, via Canal Road, Bhandarkar Institute Road, Goodluck Chowk, J.M. Raod, Sambhaji Park
Contacts : Kshitij Patil: 99700-46303; Shweta Vernekar: 99607-32645
Starting point : Old city: Shaniwar Wada
Route : Old City: Shaniwar wada, City Post chowk, behind Mahatma Phule Market (Mandai), Shivaji Road, Swargate, Tilak Road, Alka Chowk, Garware Chowk, Goodluck Chowk, J.M. Road, Sambhaji Park
Contacts : Devaki Erande : 98233-80025; Apoorv Ranade : 97666-27013
Frequently Asked Questions?
1. Why have the rally on Monday morning? Will this not impede traffic?
This rally stems from the need to reduce the dominance of cars, and in the Indian context, 2-wheelers on the roads. You will have noticed that cyclists and pedestrians have almost no space left on the roads. Not just vehicle operators, but even authorities increasingly look at cyclists and pedestrians as “impediments” to the flow of traffic. However sustainable transport policy is based on giving primacy to public transport and non-motorized transport, meaning cyclists and pedestrians. What this means is that there is not much point in having a cycle rally on a holiday or during non-peak traffic hours. The intent is for cyclists to say, “hey, I need my fair share of the road space too!”.
Of course that having been said, we will finish by 8:30 am, so we are not completely stopping traffic, but we need not be apologetic about it.
2. Even if I ride a cycle today, I’m hardly likely to ride again, so what’s the point?
You would want to cycle if Pune were like this!
True! The rally will be pointless if it merely gets a few or even thousands of cyclists out on the road on just this one day. If we want more people to ride a bike on a regular basis then we must have a cycle-friendly city, one where I would want to bike, want to leave my vehicle at home. Pune just isn’t like that right now, but we want it to be. The rally is a way to emphasise this and hopefully get more people demanding changes.
3. I don’t have a cycle, how do I join? Is it possible for you to provide a cycle?
Unfortunately we cannot provide a cycle. See if you can rent one (and post here locations and contact of such cycle stores) or borrow one for the day. There is sure to be an unused cycle in disrepair somewhere that you could get fixed up before the rally. You still have time!
A Bicycle shop at Khadki (perhaps the biggest at Khadki) placed in the same complex of where the Guruprasad Gas Agency is (Indane LPG Gas Distribution Agency), lends Bicycle on rent at a very nominal price (may be Rs 3/- per hour).
4. Is it legal to have a cycle rally?
Yes. As long as one gets the permission of the Police. We have already sent such a letter to the Commissioner of Police.
Many civic groups, schools and colleges are expected to participate in the rally, apart from some luminaries in the city.
Make sure you, your family and your friends are there, and help make Pune a green, clean and people friendly city!!
Make sure you keep your Monday morning of 22nd September free! And arrange for a cycle if you don’t have one. And spread the word to others.
