ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has decided to launch the first ever cycling track in the capital city to facilitate cyclists. A launching ceremony in this regard is expected to be held in the second week of this month. Implementing the brain child of CDA’s Member Administration Salman Waraich, the civic body is going to launch a five -feet wide bicycle track in Islamabad. The track would be laid down on the Constitution Avenue, Margalla Avenue, and some roads of Sector F-6 in the first phase of this project. The purpose as briefed by the officials is to facilitate the cycling enthusiasts as well as to provide an alternative and environment friendly mode of transportation in the capital city. According to details, a cycling track is already available alongside the Constitution Avenue between the green belt and the footpath while a “Solid White Line” would be used to bifurcate the cycling track and main road. The “Solid White Line” usually requires the people to stay within the lane and also marks the shoulder of the roadway. While talking to Daily Times, the Director Urban Planning Ijaz Ahmed Shaikh said; “Although, I am unaware of the decision, but there is the provision of cycling tracks alongside the roads in the master plan.” He further briefed; “The master plan does not indicate such things exclusively but these are the modalities provided as cross sections in the right of the way.” On the other side, the critics of the said decision are of the view that the authority should launch a proper integrated system throughout the capital if it is interested in providing a proper alternative mode of transportation. A resident of Sector G-11, Yasir Mehmood, has commented; “How is it possible for me to paddle a distance of around 10 kilometres all the way from G-11 for cycling on CDA’s established track? The CDA should launch such tracks in the whole city to provide an alternative transport system,” he added. However, the General Secretary Islamabad Cycling Association, Mr. Haroon, declared the CDA’s move as a first step and expressed his hope that the civic authority would subsequently expend the cycling tracks to the whole city. He said: “Only laying a track is not enough for the promotion of cycling, but we need relevant legislation and massive awareness in this regard.” A senior official of the CDA on the condition of anonymity informed that once in the era of General Pervez Musharraf, the Government of China was offered to provide a complete cycling track throughout the urban areas of Islamabad, but the move was not finalised because the Chinese felt that there was not enough potential and need for such a system in Islamabad as cycle users were very limited in number. Meanwhile, it has been learnt by Daily Times that a PC-I is also under preparation in the Roads and Market Maintenance Directorate of the civic body to lay down a comprehensive cycling track in the city. The said a PC-I was being prepared on the demand of the Planning Commission of Pakistan, but it lying delayed for months as it was not in the priority list of the higher-ups. Bicycles were first developed in the mid-18th century and quickly became a popular form of transport, although the early designs, with a huge front wheel. In 1885, the first modern bicycle with a chain and gearing that allowed the wheels to be of equal size appeared. Few years ago, even in Pakistan, it was a major mode of transportation in Pakistan but availability of motorcycles at cheap rates and unavailability of facilities reduced its use.