A group of cyclists met the deputy commissioner (traffic) of Calcutta police at Lalbazar on Thursday and reiterated their demand that cycles be allowed on all roads in the city, some of those present at the meeting said.

The police have banned cycling on arterial roads of Calcutta. Cyclists were allowed on arterial roads after the Covid outbreak started in March because many people were forced to cycle to work and other places in the absence of public transport.

But recently the police launched a drive to stop cyclists on arterial roads. Sources have said that over time this would be followed by prosecution.

Metro reported on Wednesday that cyclists and cycling enthusiasts had written to Calcutta’s police commissioner with an appeal that bicycles be allowed on all city roads.

“After we wrote to the police commissioner, we were asked to meet the deputy commissioner (traffic). During Thursday’s meeting, we told him that the restriction on cycles should go. Cycles should be allowed on all roads. We told him how many cities across the world are promoting cycling,” said Gargi Maitra, a member of Bengal Clean Air Network.

Several cyclists have said that riding bicycles has become a necessity for many now, especially the poor. During the pandemic, people can avoid crowded public transport by cycling to work. “We are not talking about recreational cycling. We are talking about cycling for need, cycling as a safe mode of transport during the pandemic,” a cyclist said.

Raghu Jana, the convener of Kolkata Cycle Samaj, a platform for cycle owners and cycling enthusiasts, said the police should stop imposing fines on cyclists for riding on arterial roads. “I told the deputy commissioner that the police should not fine people for riding bicycles on roads. Fine only if a cyclist violates a traffic rule,” said Jana.

Rupesh Kumar, the deputy commissioner (traffic), told Metro: “I met them (cyclists) and listened to what they had to say.”

The cyclists also referred to the annual phenomenon of poor air quality in the city in winter and stressed the urgent need to reduce tailpipe emissions.

“Cycles are a good alternative to vehicles powered by diesel and petrol. Cycles do not pollute the air. Cycles take less space than cars but move more people,” one of them said.