Gadkari asks Paswan to help improve safety for cyclists

To improve safety for cyclists, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has asked the Consumer Affairs ministry to update norms pertaining to bicycles.
In a letter to Consumer Affairs Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Gadkari expressed concern over a large number of cyclists who are killed in road accidents.
He said the Road Ministry is working with the Department of Consumer Affairs and Bureau of Indian Standards to improve the safety of bicycle riders.
Gadkari said the new norms will have to be mandated for compliance in the manufacturing of bicycles through stringent quality checks.
He has requested Paswan to personally intervene in the matter for an expeditious solution and put an end to misery on the roads.

Gadkari said: "Bicycle users happen to be one of the most vulnerable road users, susceptible to high rate of road accident, in 2012, 6,600 cyclists were killed in road accidents."

Poor visibility of bicycle riders due to lack of proper reflective devices installed on the bicycle is the most critical reason for the high rate of accidents with motorised vehicles, he said.
"Installation of retro-reflective tapes on bicycles will help make bicycles a safer mode of transportation on various busy roads, particularly during late hours," said K K Kapila, Chairman, International Road Federation.
He said these tapes were being put free of cost in league with various corporates and manufacturers under their (corporate social responsibility) CSR programme.