Cyclists on Indian roads – bane to the country

I had been thinking of writing an article on this, but somehow kept prolonging. Today, a rush of blood, forced me to write.

Today while crossing the road by foot at Mylapore Luz signal, I was almost hit by a cyclist who was going in a direction for which he didn’t have the green signal. He came from nowhere and gave me a stare as though it was me who tried to violate the signal. I just shouted and cursed at him and he replied me with the most polite word used in Chennai (starts with B…) and carried on. I was fuming for few seconds and then calmed myself that ‘we are like this only’. I slowly reconciled myself that I should not be having this rush of blood when someone violates because it is me who gets affected mentally and it spoils rest of my day thinking about that. All I should be saying hereafter when similar things happen is to keep my cool and just curse our country's fate and continue walking or driving.

I agree that motorists also do violate some of these, but the number of people who do is negligible compared to cyclists.

Today, the reckless cyclists have created such an impact that even law abiding people irrespective of their age always have an apprehension that a cyclist could ram into them from anywhere.

Being a cyclist, it is of the greatest advantage in a city like Chennai. He

need not have any kind of document to prove that the vehicle belongs to him

can drive on any side of the road

need not treat one-way differently

need not have lights and if it is there, need not be switched on. It is for the others to watch and drive

can violate signals

can escape even if he gets caught by traffic police - the maximum they do is flatten the cycle's tyre or detain him for some time

doesn’t have to respect anyone on the road

can quickly project his arm and move whichever side he wishes to go.

need not have bell installed and can signal all his requirements using his mouth as whistle.

The cyclists little realize the risk they are taking by doing all these kind of violations. I wonder how come, in spite of all these, the number of accidents involving cyclists is low.

There are only two solutions – either the cyclists should reform themselves, which is near impossible or they deserved to be hit on the spot moment they violate –using your vehicle itself or whatever weapons you can lay your hands upon. If that can teach other cyclists a lesson to obey the law, it can be thought of as the best solution in today’s scenario.

Can't help quoting the dialogue in the famous movie Nayagan - "Naalu peruku nallathu pandrathuna, entha karyamum thappu illa"; translates to "No job is a bad job if it does good to few people".