In a significant policy reversal, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) has decided to discontinue the city’s first experimental bike lane project after it failed to deliver the desired results. The initiative, launched with much anticipation, was aimed at easing traffic flow on one of Lahore’s busiest arteries—Ferozepur Road.
The pilot project stretched between Kalma Chowk and Lahore Bridge, where dedicated lanes for motorcycles were created. To physically separate motorbikes from cars and buses, curb-stone dividers were installed along the road. The idea was highly inspired by traffic management models from other countries, where separate lanes for two-wheelers minimize accidents and smoothen traffic.
The Reality Check
However, the reality in Lahore played out differently. Instead of solving traffic block, the new arrangement created bottlenecks for cars and buses while motorcyclists often ignored the designated lanes altogether. Many drivers found themselves stuck in longer traffic jams, especially during peak hours.
Officials admitted that the project backfired. “The dividers on one side of the road were removed last night to reconnect traffic with the main lanes. The remaining section from Lahore Bridge back to Kalma Chowk will also be dismantled within the coming week,” an LDA representative confirmed.
A Visible But Failed Attempt
Even after the dividers are gone, painted markings and bike lane symbols will remain on the road for some time—a reminder of Lahore’s first, though unsuccessful, attempt at separating motorcycle traffic.
For daily commuters, the short-lived project was frustrating. “It actually made things worse. Instead of a smoother ride, we were stuck longer,” said Hamid, a shopkeeper who travels on Ferozepur Road every day.
Lessons for the Future
Urban planners keep on giving strong arguments that the failure lies not in the concept but in the execution. Pakistan has one of the highest motorcycle-to-car ratios in the world, and segregated lanes could help in minimizing accidents if executed with proper enforcement and design adjustments.
The episode strongly manifesting the severe challenge of managing Lahore’s exploding traffic. While the bike lane experiment may have been shelved, it has ignited a much-required conversation on sustainable urban transport solutions for Pakistan’s largest cities.