Young cyclists fail to comply with road safety rules

No checking mechanism in place to keep such riders off main roads

The reckless entry of young cyclists into State and national highways violating traffic rules has emerged as a serious safety threat in Kozhikode, with the police failing to adopt stringent steps to curb the practice. The majority of the youngsters who indulge in antics on the road are schoolchildren.

No safety gears are used by most such riders who leave the other motorists stunned by their stunts and violation of lane discipline. Expensive sports bicycles with advanced features to regulate speed are also used by many such youngsters.

“It is just luck that saves many such careless children with bicycles on the road. A responsible riding habit is yet to be part of their lives,” said autorickshaw driver T.V. Mahendran, adding that he had recently warned a high school student from Elathur for ramming his vehicle.

Within the city limits, many student cyclists are engaged in racing other vehicles on the road. Some also try to imitate professional riders who use imported bicycles with advanced features. Night riding is also getting popular among many students, but their cycles are often without proper lights and they do not wear reflector jackets.

A senior officer with the city traffic police said a proper guideline for cyclists was yet to be formed. “As of now, there is no such aggressive checking mechanism to ensure the fitness of cycles and punish violators. It may come at a later stage but parents and teachers have a big role to create awareness among young riders about responsible road use,” he said.

The Kerala police had recently come out with a cautionary note on their social media pages in the wake of a recent incident in Kannur district in which a boy had a narrow escape from getting crushed under the wheels of a bus. His cycle had hit a motorcycle while he was engaged in crossing the road recklessly.