Govt. spends Rs.103.56 per km for a vehicle due to traffic jams   

By Chaturanga Samarawickrama

The Environment Minister said that the Ministry will take steps to promote the use of bicycles as one of the steps to reduce air pollution.   

The decision was announced following a discussion on the ‘Bicycle for the Healthy Life’ programme implemented by Ride for Life’ to promote the use of bicycles in transportation. 

He said a Cabinet memorandum has been prepared to promote the use of bicycles as one of the steps to reduce air pollution.   

A survey was conducted by experts has revealed that the government has to spend Rs.103.56 per km for a vehicle traveling during traffic jams in cities, said Minister Amaraweera. However, using a bicycle can save Rs.236.48 per km and the profit to the government is Rs. 339.98, the Minister said.   

Therefore, steps will be taken to provide an eco-friendly approach to the promotion of bicycle use due to its ability to reduce air pollution, prevent wastage of time as well as control many non-communicable diseases due to cycling.   Accordingly, it has been decided to set aside a lane on each road for cycling and to introduce a regulatory programme to provide certain promotional benefits to cyclists through institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Environment.   

The Government is seeking the assistance of the parliament to extend this initiative to other public and private institutions. He also said the President has decided to give priority to electric vehicles if vehicles are to be imported within the next year. He also said the bicycle which was considered as the vehicle of the poor has now become the vehicle of the rich.