Following the Dilsukhnagar blasts, for which bicycles were used to carry explosives, organisations promoting bicycle-riding are pressing for mandatory registration of bicycles and issuance of licence to riders as a measure to control use of bicycles by terror elements. But authorities say there is no provision under the relevant laws to register a bicycle.
Though law-enforcing authorities say that a bicycle does not come under their purview, bicycle, a prized possession in the bygone days, was licensed by local authorities. But with the use of bicycles coming down year by year, the procedure has been ignored.
“In the past even bicycles had a licence issued by gram panchayats or local authorities. The authorities used to have details of the vehicle’s owner and others,’’ an old-timer recalled.
With terror elements using bicycles for their operations, the Active Bicyclers Association is demanding that bicycles be compulsorily registered and a licence issued to the owner/rider. But it is likely that their demand will be accepted as there is no such provision in the law.
“There is no such provision in the Motor Vehicles Act. Only vehicles which are motorised and have a motor of more than 22 cc can be registered,’’ joint transport commissioner (city) G Panduranga Rao clarified.
Transport officials also feel that registering a bicycle will not deter terror elements from using it. “Even a disposed of bicycle can be used for such activities,’’ another officer said. Police too have expressed a similar view. “At some places, terrorists used scooters to plant explosives. Though scooters are registered, it did not stop them from using them,’’ a police officer said.
Police say bicycle is an easy mode of transport to carry and plant explosives as they are rarely checked. ``It is easy to get an old bicycle in the market at a very low price, ‘’ an officer said.
The Active Bicyclers Association, which put forward the demand, however, said their demand was to promote cycle riding. ``Our demands include payment of Rs 5 lakh ex gratia to a licensed bicycle rider in case of death or mishap. This will promote bicycle riding,’’ they said.