Join for Cycle Satyagraha & Open Letter to CM - Solution to Ban on Cycling & NMT in Kolkata, 8:30 am, Sunday, 8 September
Ekta Jaju
Kolkata is getting on the streets to urge the West Bengal Police to lift the Blanket Ban on Cycles and Non-motorized Transport in Kolkata and develop new infrastructure and solutions to support Non motorized transport. This campaign is initiated by Switch ON and Ride to Breathe, and supported by Public Relations Society of India, PUBLIC, Greenpeace, WWF Kolkata, and South Asian Forum for Environment. Join us!
Date - Sunday, 8 September 2013
Time - 8:30 am
Start Point - Victoria House ( Chowranghee Square)
End Point - Press Club Kolkata
Bring - Your cycles, if you have them
Contact - 842 010 0260
We have also written an Open Letter to the Kolkata Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, to request her to revoke the ban and setup and head a Non-motorized cell in Kolkata, where local authorities can work with experts to find a holistic solution to Kolkata’s development that focuses to provide safety to pedestrians and Non Motorised Transport through building of cycle tracks, and public cycle scheme and sharing systems.
Please sign the petition and support the cause.
Who should come?
- Anybody who walks on the streets and breathes the air
- Anybody who has gotten stuck in the jam and gotten late for an important appointment
- Anybody who feels the pinch of increasing fuel prices
- Anybody whose health suffers or is concerned of the ever rising pollution in Kolkata
- Anybody who can't live without their newspaper or that cup of milk/tea
- Anybody who is passionate about cycling
Why the ban doesn't make sense?
This ban just doesn't make sense when the rest of the world is building cycle lanes and moving toward a more sustainable and equitable modes of transport.
- The petrol prices are sky rocketing, making it impossible for common man to afford private transport. Promoting alternative means of transport like cycling, is imperative.
- The City faces acute road congestion, with the average speed of traffic between 14 - 18 km (the humble cycle is much quicker)
- Kolkata has become the pollution Capital of India, vehicles being the biggest cause
- Non-motorized transport is imperative to most services we take for granted including milk, newspaper etc.
What are the Solutions?
By promoting cycling through cycle lanes, cycle sharing and regulations - the Government will not just help the traffic, but also the health of common man and the environment.
Join Us!
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Thanks and regards,The Cycle Satyagraha Team