Almost eight years after authorities banned the cycles along with hand-carts and other non-motorised transport on the major roads in Kolkata, a non-profit group has written an open letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, urging her to revoke the ban.

In 2013, the West Bengal capital had imposed a ban on the non-motorised vehicles such as cycles and rickshaws while stating the rationale that the “slow moving” vehicles lead to traffic congestions. From 7 am to 11 pm, cycles are not allowed in Kolkata’s main roads but the rules were relaxed during the last year’s lockdown which was imposed as a measure to impede the spread of COVID19.

The letter was a part of the #BringBackCycles campaign which was launched by a Kolkata-based non-profit organisation named SwitchON Foundation.

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Noted writer Ruskin Bond, who was one of the eminent personalities who have sponsored the letter stated, “Cycles are making a comeback in cities across the world. They don’t pollute the atmosphere. They don’t cause traffic jams. We need them in Kolkata and every other town and cities”.

Also, Saugato Roy, a Member of Parliament from the Dum Dum constituency and a leader from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, also supported the letter and said, ““I am all for cycles. I want cycles back on the roads of Kolkata. This would reduce pollution and save fuel. All over Europe, cycles are the new rage. Let cycles come back. Our party MPs went by cycle to Parliament on the first day of the monsoon session”.

The decision to ban cycles from the major roads of Kolkata in 2013 had attracted the ire of the environmentalists and the poor people alike.

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Reportedly, the average traffic speeds in Kolkata are to 14-18 kilometres per hour (kmph), compared to the national average of 22kmph.

“There is just not enough space for all kind of vehicles,” Dilip Kumar Adak, deputy commissioner of the city’s traffic police department had been quoted as saying while the decision was announced in 2013.

“Cycles slow down traffic and removing them will make the streets safer and traffic speedier,” he had said.

‘Traffic police personnel at greatest health risk due to air pollution’

The letter also quoted a study titled, ‘Evaluation of impact of ambient air pollution on respiratory health of traffic police in Kolkata’ which is conducted by the researchers from Sister Nibedita Government General Degree College for Girls, Kolkata & University of Kalyani. The study found that high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) resulted in reduced lung function, more for police personnel towards north Kolkata followed by south and central zones.

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“A total of 228 police personnel participated in the study of which 128 undertook pulmonary lung function tests. Researchers found that traffic constables were at a higher risk group, likely to develop respiratory dysfunctions. PM 2.5 and PM 10 were found to be associated with decreasing respiratory and cardiovascular health of traffic police, leading to the risk of death,” the study noted.

The survey also showed greater instances of traffic cops with restriction of lung expansion, obstruction, and narrowing airways as compared to the general population.

“From the study we found PM 2.5 and PM 10 are key polluting agents in Kolkata. Although ambient air quality varies across locations and with seasons, traffic cops working were found to be seriously vulnerable due to long term exposure,” Subhashis Sahu, Head, Department of Physiology, University of Kalyani and co-author of the study was quoted.

Sahu explained that traffic cops working especially in Central Kolkata frequently complain of respiratory ill health. “The longer exposure to a polluted environment causes more impairment of pulmonary function parameters,” he said, adding that for improvement of air quality, less polluting transportation such as cycles was key.