House debates: To cycle or not to cycle to office

BJP councillor Davesh Moudgil said that everybody knew about foreign countries having a good system but the point of presentation was valid only if a parallel presentation on how things could be implemented in Chandigarh was made.

“If you agree to come on bicycle to office, I assure you I would do the same. Charity begins at home. Why don’t you use a bicycle and leave your car. We have to set an example,” Moudgil told the commissioner.

Garg said that she could come as she rode a bicycle in Copenhagen.

On this, Moudgil replied, “Everybody rides a bicycle in Copenhagen, that is obvious. Why don’t you ride {it} here? Actually, there is no system. You begin and everybody will follow.”

However, no conclusion was reached. “I threw an open condition of councillors coming on cycle if she comes. However, the commissioner didn’t give a definite reply to it,” Moudgil told Chandigarh Newsline.

The councillors said that there was not any system to encourage cyclists and the cycle tracks were in a bad shape.

“Cars have become a status symbol now. If a person on cycle comes in front of a car driver, the latter abuses and mistreats him. This is not how we are going to change,” added BJP councillor Saurabh Joshi.

In her presentation, Garg not only emphasised how cycles were being used by people but also made a presentation on the segregation of waste there.

Asked whether she would be coming to office on bicycle, Municipal Commissioner Garg told Chandigarh Newsline, “I have often walked to office from my place or walked back home from secretariat office {holding additional charge of Special Secretary, Finance} just for myself. Wish we make our city cycle-friendly and we all can bike to our workplaces.”