Two-wheelers decry lack of dedicated lanes on Hyderabad roads

Hyderabad’s two-wheeler riders are facing increasing challenges due to the lack of dedicated lanes and poor lane discipline by larger vehicles. With monsoon rains compounding the issue, many bikers are forced onto pavements, risking their safety and that of pedestrians.

Hyderabad: Driving on the city roads is turning into a bitter experience for many two-wheeler riders, particularly due to the absence of any dedicated lanes on the carriageways.

Two-wheeler riders complain that most of the road space is taken over by three and four-wheelers, leaving little room for the two-wheelers to safely navigate. The problem is more serious on the busy stretches such as Banjara Hills road numbers 1, 2, 10 and 12, Khairatabad – Punjagutta road, Mehdipatnam, Masab Tank to pension office stretch, Malakpet – Chaderghat and Afzalgunj – Madina Building within the city limits.

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“The cars and three-wheelers take over a major portion of the road depriving two-wheelers of any space. When it rains, we have to struggle to find space on the main thoroughfares,” complained HJ Azam, a marketing executive.

“The drivers or occupants of cars and autos have the luxury to save themselves from rain. We often notice only one person is sitting in the car. But, the two-wheeler riders, despite wearing rain gear, get drenched while waiting for long durations,” said Rahmath Ali, a bike taxi driver.

The lane discipline is not adhered to when there are traffic congestions or slowdowns by the road users. “The cab and auto drivers veer to the extreme left, blocking the two-wheeler movement. Often, due to lack of road space, two-wheelers resort to pavements, endangering themselves and pedestrians,” complained Abdul Khadeer, a food delivery executive.

The extreme left of the carriageway is designated for two-wheelers, while the right is marked for four-wheelers and heavy vehicles.

When contacted, a traffic police official said that they are aware of the problem but not much can be done due to the current rain pattern.

“Awareness programmes are organised for the cab and auto drivers to sensitise them about the lane discipline. Physical barricades cannot be placed as they would further worsen the situation by reducing carriageway space,” said a traffic official. He added that the police are promoting use of public transport and carpooling alternatives too.