1st April, 2024, Mumbai: The well-known actor and passionate cyclist Saiyami Kher expresses her worries about the safety of Mumbai’s bikers in the face of the city’s continuous infrastructure expansion. In her reflection on the growing risks that cyclists confront, Saiyami draws attention to the difficulties caused by the road’s narrowing as a result of the building of flyovers, metro tracks, and coastal roads, which leaves little room for bicycles to ride safely.
Saiyami Highlights The Urgent Need for Good Roads
Saiyami highlights the urgent need for steps to guarantee the safety of cyclists on Mumbai’s roadways in light of recent incidents, including the terrible death of a rider in Navi Mumbai by a speeding car. She says, “Almost the entire city of Mumbai is under excavation, making cycling there more and more dangerous. The latest incidents—which included fatalities—highlight the pressing need for action to address cyclists’ safety concerns. The fact that going for a simple bike ride or jog in this city can endanger one’s life is truly disheartening. I’ve been running marathons for more than ten years, and because of the terrible air quality in our city, I should only run indoors. In my limited role as a citizen, I don’t know what more to do to save trees. And all I can hope for is that this city will become more fitness-friendly.
Saiyami Shares the Importance of Using Safety Gear While Riding
Saiyami Kher highlights the value of wearing safety gear and exercising caution when cycling, having been a rider herself. But she emphasizes that in order to stop such mishaps and fatalities, extra safety precautions—like designating bike lanes—are necessary.
Saiyami Kher urges the relevant authorities to give the construction of safe cycling infrastructure in Mumbai a priority on behalf of her fellow bikers. In order to protect cyclists and advance cycling as a sustainable form of transportation, she impels the government to designate specific bike lanes and secure passageways.
What is the need for good infrastructure, according to her?
Saiyami Kher is an advocate for incorporating bike infrastructure into urban planning initiatives as Mumbai develops further. This would make the city safer and more welcoming for both commuters and cyclists.
-Sapna Meena.