n Main Boulvard, Gulberg, a green strip on the extreme left of the road is hard to ignore. This freshly carved, dedicated lane for cyclists, the first of its kind in the city, is an initiative by Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa.

The green lane is supposed to address the issue of poor air quality in the city.

Early this month, the Lahore High Court had noted that measures needed to be taken to combat the growing menace of smog in the provincial capital, especially during winter months. The court’s Green Bench, led by Justice Shahid Karim, proposed a unique solution to address air pollution: the promotion of a cycling culture.

Given that Lahore now regularly experiences hazardous smog levels during early winter, encouraging environmentally friendly modes of transportation, such as cycling, has the potential to significantly reduce pollution levels.

So far, however, the green lane has attracted few cyclists. In fact, it is often occupied by three-wheelers that pull to the lane in order to pick or drop off their passengers, as if the green lane were an adda stop. Occasionally, it becomes a parking lane for cars.

“Cycling is the most sustainable form of transport, especially in cities. It should be promoted and protected as a means of commuting in Lahore,” says Advocate Rafay Alam, who is also an environmentalist and has previously led the famous Critical Mass Lahore tours in the city. His initiative encouraged lovers of cycling in Islamabad and Karachi also, to try and reclaim public roads from motor vehicles.

“Over the past decade, infrastructure projects in Lahore have promoted motorised transport over cycling and pedestrian access. This needs to change if Lahore is to become a sustainable city,” Alam says. “I appreciate the commissioner of Lahore and the LDA for taking the initiative. It’s a step, albeit small, in the right direction. What is needed, however, is protected cycle lanes.”

According to Alam, the painted strips on the road surface aren’t enough. For one thing, they are hardly safe. He says proper cycling infrastructure should be introduced, especially in and around the commercial areas of Lahore that would promote cycle access over access by motorised vehicles.

Last Sunday, an enthusiastic group of cyclists peddled on Main Boulevard, from Kalma Chowk to Jail Road. The activity had been arranged by the Parks and Horticulture Authority and the Lahore Waste Management Company.

According to Advocate Rafay Alam, the painted strips on the road surface aren’t enough. They are hardly safe. Proper cycling infrastructure should be introduced, especially in and around the commercial areas of Lahore that will promote cycle access over access by motorised vehicles.

The commissioner’s office has been working to collaborate with various departments to arrange weekly cycling events. On October 15, they collaborated with the Punjab Information Technology Board for what they called a Smog Awareness Family Ride, Lahore.

“I was so excited, I rented a bicycle for the event,” says Dr Lala, a participant. “Now I plan to buy one for my daily commutes. You know, when you hit the road on a bicycle, leaving your car at home, it’s quite a lifestyle shift.”

A PITB official tells TNS that a significant number of staff members participated in the event which covered a distance of 6 kilometres, commencing at the Liberty Roundabout, towards Siddique Trade Centre, and back. It was designed as a family event, and had special provisions for people with children, senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. Prominent government officials also joined in.

A noteworthy aspect of the event was that the participants were provided with bicycles on the spot.

eela Gumbad is regarded as the largest cycle market in Lahore. But the shopkeepers here do not have a rosy picture of cycle sales to paint. “If you stay here for the next three hours, you’ll notice that barely a single item is bought,” said one, who introduced himself as Rizwan.

“The [cycle] trade runs only on its little buyers, the children. It’s rare to have an adult walk in and purchase a cycle for themselves,” he continues.

It’s a tricky situation. You can’t promote cycling if the air is polluted and hazardous. Conversely, the air quality can’t improve unless measures such as giving up on motorised vehicles are effectively implemented. Prof Dr Rizwan Safdar of the Sociology Department of the University of the Punjab is of the view that cycling on city roads is not just a choice for the health-conscious, but a crucial step towards reducing air pollution and congestion and fostering a sustainable urban environment.

He appreciates the commissioner’s initiative with respect to creating dedicated lanes for cycling and says more of such lanes should be introduced on major roads of the city. Relating his experience with a bike-sharing programme in Germany, he urges the government and civil society to introduce similar initiatives that will make it convenient for common people to rent bicycles for short trips. Such programmes have been successful in many cities worldwide, he says.

The writer is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship