Metro commuters baffled as Aqua line doesn’t allow cycles, other two lines do

The refusal of authorities to allow bicycles on Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 while having no problem with them on other lines has revived a debate regarding accessibility to Mumbairsquos growing Metro rail networkA citizenrsquos social media post on fullsize bicycles being banned on the newly opened Metro 3 last week has triggered the debateldquoThey did not allow me to bring my cycle inside the Bandra Colony Metro station What shall I do now Cycles arenrsquot mentioned on the list of donrsquots at the station I dont understand the issue here How are they promoting convenience for Mumbaikars They are not even ready to show the rule or regulation prohibiting cycles from the Metrordquo said Mayank GaggarFiroza Dadan Mumbairsquos first bicycle mayor Cycling enthusiast and Bhuleshwar resident Ravi Agarwal Mayank Gaggar and his cycle at Bandra Colony Metro stationStating that bicycles being permitted on the Metro 2A but prohibited on Line 3 seemed contradictory Firoza Dadan of Smart Commute Foundation Mumbairsquos first bicycle mayor called this inconsistency a clear case of discrimination ldquoWhen the prime minister inaugurated the Metro lines at Andheri bicycle stands inside their trains was showcased However bicycles are now disallowed in the new Metro lines A clear policy is essential for addressing first and lastmile connectivity in a congested city like Mumbairdquo she emphasisedCyclists confusedVijay Malhotra a YouTuber and cycling blogger who posts on Pedal and Tring Tring said ldquoAt the moment cycles are allowed on Metro Lines 7 and 2A which is confusing It is very disappointing that bicycles are not permitted on the Aqua Line In Europe especially the Netherlands trains and bicycles make a successful combination giving freedom of lastmile connectivity and promoting active mobility If Indian cities like Mumbai have to deliver on climate action goals bicycles have a crucial role to play in minimising emissions congestion and noise pollution Sustainable development cannot be built around carcentric infrastructure alone people should be given the choice to take their desired mode of transportVijay Malhotra YouTuber and bloggerThe Aqua Line authorities have let down the already struggling cycling community which often faces road safety concerns In a mega city the authorities should have a holistic approach to development This is a classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing where one Metro line allows the use of bicycles while the other doesnrsquotrdquoChirag Shah Thanersquos bicycle mayor and a member of the Wheels and Barrels Cycling Club said lastmile connectivity is everything on the Metro ldquoIt is very sad to learn about the Aqua Line 3 not allowing cycles If we are talking about sustainable transportation the MMRDA should allow bicycles for the sake of lastmile connectivity They should also keep provisions for bicycle parking as major European cities allow bicycles in trains and on Metros We have been pushing for Railways to allow cycles but have met with little successrdquoCase studiesCycle enthusiast and professional photographer Rohit Mahadev who stays at Borivli and takes the Yellow Line Metro 2A while carrying out assignments said he was disappointed with the Aqua Line 3 not allowing bicycles ldquoMy work is centred around Andheri Yellow Line 2A allows bicycles and has space for them in coaches But when I took the new line I was not allowed to bring my bike This is not fair I thought the Aqua Line would be a boon for cyclists heading to Bandra but I have to get down at Andheri and ride to Bandra nowrdquo he saidCycling enthusiast Ravi Agarwal who stays at Bhuleshwar said one of his friends had managed to take a foldable bicycle on a Metro 3 train but was told while exiting that even such cycles were not allowed ldquoRegulations should be standard across all Metro lines It is important to have common rules for a public utilityrdquo he saidMetro 3 statementExplaining why it has prohibited cycles Mumbai Metro Aqua Line 3 said in a statement ldquoIt will be a very heavily loaded Metro with 72000 passengers per hour per direction or Peak Hour Peak Direction Traffic Once fully operational it would be difficult to accommodate bicycles hence they are not allowedrdquoWhich Metro lines allow cyclesWhile fullsize bicycles are allowed on Red Line 7 and Yellow Line 2A in the afternoon foldable bikes that can pass through scanners have been allowed on the GhatkoparVersova Metro Blue Line 1 Bicycles are not allowed on the Aqua Line 3 whose trains arenrsquot equipped to ferry the vehicles