Why should 2-wheelers
be banned on flyovers?
As authorities evaluate the safety measures for the six-lane elevated corridor in Porvorim, it is learnt that two-wheelers are likely to be banned from using the flyover which connects to Atal Setu Bridge where two wheelers are already banned. The question that arises is, why should two-wheelers be banned. Two-wheeler owners pay road-tax and contribute to the transport system just as other motorists do. A policy that allows a six-lane public corridor to be used by cars while excluding two-wheelers therefore has consequences beyond traffic management. A two-wheeler ban should also be viewed through the lens of equitable access to public infrastructure. What evidence shows that banning them is safer than providing a dedicated lane for two-wheelers? Goa has other major bridges, including the Zuari bridge, where two-wheelers have historically been part of the traffic. Imagine a six-lane Porvorim corridor not having a dedicated lane for two wheelers. Are we designing roads around the needs of all road users, or are we designing them only for those who can afford four wheelers?
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
