Noida community reacts to Expressway road accident
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Noida community reacts to Expressway road accident

Many residents say that it was a risky decision to cycle on the Expressway.

Noida community reacts to Expressway road accident

The morning of May 17, 2022, started with a piece of shocking news. A group of cyclists was hit by a Canters truck at Greater Noida-Noida Expressway at Sector 94, Noida. About half a dozen cycle riders group from Noida, Sector 137 got injured in the accident. The Police of Noida Sector 39 reached the spot and the injured riders were taken to Felix Hospital for treatment.  Many residents say that it was a risky decision to cycle on the Expressway.

Credit: Supplied

Rajiva Singh, President Nofaa and a cyclist who was present on this morning cycle ride told us more about this accident. He says, “I was 2 km ahead of this group. Nearly 3-4 cars informed me that my friends have met with an accident and asked me to take a U-turn. As it was an Expressway, it was not easy to take a U-turn immediately. I slowly took a U-turn and saw that a group was assisting the injured cyclists."

Credit: Supplied

He continues, "3-4 among 10 cyclists were taken to Felix Hospital. We called the police and an ambulance also reached the scene. Cycles have been damaged completely but thankfully nobody has lost their life. Some cyclists have been discharged from the hospital in an hour but 1-2 cyclists who were severely injured have been shifted to the Jaypee Hospital."

Credit: Supplied

CitySpidey reached out to the residents of Noida and Greater Noida and Noida to talk about the incident.

Brajesh Kumar, Founder of 7X Traffic Welfare, a team of volunteers who work towards road safety, says, “Is it safe from the point of safety to walk or cycle on the Expressway? Why do these people not cycle on the service lane? There was a time when cycling on Delhi Noida Direct Flyway was forbidden because the speed of vehicles used to be high there. Everyone knows what is the speed of vehicles on an expressway”.

Joginder Singh, RWA President, Amrapali Zodiac says, “ Why do cyclists use expressways for cycling? These roads are not meant for cycling but high-speed vehicles. If any slow speed vehicles come in the range of any high-speed vehicles, there is a risk for fatal accidents."

Nakul Tarun, Disaster Manager says, “As a disaster manager, I would say that any place other than a cycle track is unsafe for cycling. Especially an Expressway."

Drawing conclusions from the accidents, Rajiva says, "Unfortunately, GBN does not have good cycling infrastructure. Whatever infrastructure was created years back, is no more maintained. Cyclists are left with not many spaces to ride. In my opinion, both, the expressways and service lanes are equally prone to accidents. The narrow service lanes in the city also do not have any restrictions for heavy vehicles nor is the speed regulated.

Here, expressways are wider and appear to be a considerably safer option to cycle. However, I agree that high-speed traffic can become a high risk for cyclists. A dedicated cycling corridor during the morning hours could everyone."

Abhishek Kumar, President Nefowa and a cyclist for 2 years say, "It is a warning trigger for everyone to understand what mistakes they are doing while cycling. I won't pass a judgement on the cyclists but I think it is a wake-up call for the cycling community to reassess cycling on city roads."