LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has directed the implementation of designated “diamond lanes” for motorcycle riders on all major roads in Lahore. This initiative is inspired by the model she observed during her recent visit to China.
Just recently, the chief minister briefed his cabinet on the concept and ordered senior minister Maryam Aurangzeb to put it into action in order to curb the increasing number of fatal incidents.
During her visit to Nanjing and Zhanjiang, the chief executive reportedly informed the minister that she had personally noticed bike lanes.
According to him, the CM believed that the most common cause of mortality and disability among motorcyclists was head injuries. She emphasized the need to provide safe and secure routes for bike users, as bikes are a significant source of mobility.
Pilot Project
“In Beijing, there are two lanes for bike riders and scooters, entirely separated from main expressways by wide sidewalks,” the CM reportedly observed.
The senior minister met with Lahore officials to discuss the plan’s execution in accordance with the chief minister’s directives.
According to the source, the project will be initiated on three-lane highways after a combined tour of the main roads in the city by the LDA DG and Lahore’s Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Athar Waheed.
With this goal in mind, the CTO formed task forces of city traffic cops and instructed them to collaborate with other agencies, such as the LDA and TEPA, in order to compile a feasibility study.
“We are working on the project to create separate lanes for the bikers on the city’s leading arteries,” the CTO told on Thursday.
According to him, these lanes would be referred to as “diamond lanes” and motorcyclists would be taught to use them. The use of the bike lanes would be reserved for bicycles only, he stressed, and violators would face hefty fines.
He claimed that other three-lane roads would be included in the trial project after its successful inauguration on Ferozepur Road.
In response to a question, he stated that there was a significant effort to prevent encroachments. “Presently, 13 teams of traffic police are in the field and many roads have been cleared with the coordination of LDA and other relevant departments.”
The CTO announced that all DSPs supervising the anti-encroachment efforts have had cameras fitted in their cars.
“I have obtained access to the Safe City system to personally observe the encroachment drive and traffic congestion points in the city,” stated Mr. Waheed. According to the CTO, he had previously requested that the senior officers of the Lahore police department end the long-standing practice of placing pickets on roadways, which has been a source of frustration for drivers for many years. According to the CTO, he had taken drastic measures to eliminate incursions.
When asked about the “controversial” move to let the traffic police arrest people who break the rules, he said that only circle heads had been given handcuffs to use on people who cross roads. “These handcuffs will not be used against motorists.”
