Monsoon look: Pothole pandemic hits Chandigarh bicycle tracks

By Piyush Sarna
CHANDIGARH: Monsoon-beaten tracks impede cycling just when it is becoming a big hobby for building immunity against Covid-19.The last few spells of rain have scooped a big section of the bicycle track that leads into sectors 44 A and B. Municipal corporation chief engineer Shailender Singh said: “I am unaware of it but it might be due to the old issue of storm water's logging.” Harkirat of Sector 8, who had an accident on a bicycle track recently in Sector 9, recalls that: "Hitting a huge pothole that appeared in front knocked me off the seat, injured my right leg, and broke my bicycle.My friends tell me this pothole hasn't been filled in years. I'll be either scared of picking up a bicycle again or wearing a helmet every single time."
Sector-34 morning cyclist Ajaydeep Singh Baidwan, who picked up the hobby during the unlock, said: “In monsoon, water gathers on the bicycle tracks. Also, despite bicycle tracks on both sides of the road, people continue to ride on the wrong side. It is dangerous.”
Even though gymnasiums have reopened, people are still afraid to get back to indoor training, so cycling keeps them in shape for the while. This city has a bicycle track length of 110 kilometres, a lot of which is battered and dangerous for the riders.