Tucker Valley Road in Chaguaramas, a popular training ground of cyclists, has been resurfaced. Works Minister Rohan Sinanan said the project was done to provide a designated area for riding apart from the nation’s highways.
There was a 300 per cent increase in cyclist fatalities last year and Sinanan said his ministry was “trying to identify certain areas where cyclists are very comfortable and do the road networks in such a way they would prefer to go in these areas rather than onto the major highways.”
He said the project was done bearing in mind what the road would be used for.
“This is why the speed bumps were designed differently. To make it comfortable for them,” he said.
Sinanan said in the future the needs of cyclists will be considered when roads are repaved and refurbished.
Arrive Alive President Sharon Inglefield welcome the initiative.
“The cyclists have lobbied hard for this. The minister announced at Arrive Alive’s World Day of Remembrance last year November that he was going to do something for the cyclists and we are hoping this would become a safe zone with some shoulders with some designated cycling lanes which means you have to pass a law so that the vehicular traffic slows down to no more than 35 kilometres per hour,” she said.
“We need some signage as well. The humps are great to slow down traffic but we also need some signs to remind drivers about their behaviour.”
Inglefield said she hoped to see similar initiatives across the country to encourage cyclists to ride in safe zones.
Cyclist Julienne Subran, who was on hand for the reopening of the road, said: “I never use the highways. I have a fear of riding on the highways so this is great. It’s an awesome space to ride on.”