KARACHI: It’s 11.30am and traffic police constable Rashid Ali is excited to be starting another new day at work. A senior member of the newly formed Cycle Staff of the Sindh traffic police, he collects his shiny new blue bike and other safety riding gear, including the matching blue helmet, gloves and sunglasses, from the Abdullah Haroon traffic section and is on the job by 12noon.

“I was taught to ride a bicycle at five or six years of age by an elder cousin. At the time I was so small that I couldn’t even reach the pedals while sitting on its seat and pedalled while standing. I have always enjoyed riding a bicycle even after I grew up. So when Traffic DIG Iqbal Dara thought about a bicycle squad, I was among the first to opt for it,” Rashid Ali tells Dawn.

“Of course, getting in was not as simple as they weren’t just looking for traffic constables who could ride bicycles. We were picked for our attitude and pleasant nature because other than tending to traffic and blockades, we were also to spread awareness regarding road safety and abiding traffic rules and who would listen to anyone nasty with attitude?” he laughs.

“I am grateful that I was selected in the Cycle Staff and issued a bicycle and gear. It is a nice Chinese 3x8 24 speed bike, more complicated than my older cousin’s, which did not have any gears from what I remember,” Rashid Ali beams.

‘I can pedal on congested roads and pavements, something which I couldn’t do if I had a car instead’

“So you can find me any day on my beautiful duty bike on Abdullah Haroon Road or Zaibunissa Street, where besides controlling traffic, I also have my wheels to get on to see what is holding up traffic ahead, etc. I can pedal on congested roads and even on pavements, something which I couldn’t do if I had been assigned a car instead.

“And what’s more, I’m admired and approached for what I do. Kids come to me and ask me about my handsome pair of wheels. Sometimes they also dare to request me to let them borrow it for a quick round of the block, which I have to politely refuse after which we compromise on selfies with them, as these days you will also find us carrying the Pakistan flag with pride,” he smiles.

The section officer at the Abdullah Haroon traffic section, Mohammed Nawaz Sial, is traffic police constable Rashid Ali’s direct supervisor. Besides Rashid Ali, there are four other constables on bicycles that come under him. “We specifically needed to depute traffic police on bicycles in congested areas of the city, especially the market areas. Our Cycle Staff was introduced during Ramazan and since then these men have been instrumental in solving many traffic issues while helping in the smooth flow of traffic. Of course, we wanted constables who could maneuvre the bicycles very well, and we were lucky enough to find such men amid us,” says the section officer.

Traffic DIG Iqbal Dara, whose brainchild the Cycle Staff is, says that he has seen policemen on bicycles abroad, especially in the United Kingdom “but not specifically for minding traffic”.

“Here we thought of bringing up such a force to depute our men in the city’s congested areas such as market areas. But too often there was a need felt for them whenever there was a traffic jam or when traffic got stuck in a bottleneck,” he explains.

“We gave bicycles to regular traffic or foot constables but those who knew how to ride bikes. That way they were equipped to handle such traffic issues. Then this cycling is also environmental friendly and good for health,” he adds.

The DIG adds that the constables have been equipped with walkie-talkies so that they can quickly cycle to a point up ahead where there is any issue hindering the flow of traffic and inform their colleagues regarding it.

He says that currently there are 20 constables who have been given the bicycles and they work in batches of five in district South, including Zainab Market; district East, including Tariq Road; district West, district Central and the main city, including the Electronic Market.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2021