This must stop!
The GLS stretch turns into a raceground after school gets over; students zoom on bikes for small bets, terrorising passers-by
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 03:47:11 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : (Cover Story) http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2009092020090920034711265c9430b2c)
Zip, zap, zoom... and the smell of burning rubber is all that’s left of bikers zooming past Law Garden Road. It’s not a preview of MTV’s Stunt Mania. These are students of G K Secondary and Higher Secondary School, also known as GLS, who race each other after school, leaving passers-by terrorised.
Grabbing eyeballs
He saw five groups of boys on power bikes like Bajaj Pulsar, Karizma and Honda Stunner, racing each other. The boys drove in a circle — from the National Handloom Corporation building to the GLS corner, taking a left turn to go around the Samartheshwar Mahadev Circle to the British Library Circle and back to school.
All along the way, the boys kept hooting loudly and zoomed on without a care for other commuters.
Said a vendor at Law Garden, “There are other schools and colleges on this stretch. Girls frequent this place to have snacks or just sit around and chat. These boys zoom down everyday after school to impress the girls. They honk loudly and do crazy stunts to draw attention to themselves. Some even speed and suddenly apply brakes in the middle of traffic to grab eyeballs. They do not give a damn about the safety of other drivers.”
Bet it’s wrong
These boys race for a bet. “It can be cigarettes, dabelis, cold coffee or chai. The one to come last treats the rest of the gang,” said another vendor.
They also dare female traffic constables posted along the stretch. “They use vulgar gestures and language to heckle women who are part of the traffic brigade. Unable to leave their post, the women have to suffer in silence,” said a traffic cop stationed near Samartheshwar Mahadev Circle.
‘Not our kids’
School principal D D Jogani admitted that races are held on roads around the school. “But they are not schoolchildren. People do race their bikes, honk loudly and apply sudden brakes to attract the attention of youngsters in this area. It disturbs students inside classrooms. We do try to stop them but it does not always work.
“I do not think that my school students race against each other because our admission forms and school calendar clearly state that they are not allowed to bring two-wheelers to school.” Yet, children drive to school and park their vehicles inside the campus.
When told about the photographs Mirror had, Jogani said, “If our students are involved, give us the names and we will take action.”
Educating youngsters
The ATCC blames the parents for giving their children the freedom to break rules. “If parents are worried about how their kids will travel from school to tuition classes, they could easily buy electric bikes that are not only eco-friendly but safe too. There is no need to give kids the keys to powerful bikes,” said Dr Pravin Kanabar of the ATCC.
He added, “Youngsters ape stunts shown on television and in movies. Road safety should be made a compulsory subject for schoolchildren. They should also be taught that accidents do not always lead to death. The children could end up losing their limbs. Can they deal with it?”
On Friday, Mirror reported about 10 underage bikers who received injuries while doing stunts. The condition of two of the thrill-seekers is serious.
It is not just students of GLS who perform dangerous stunts on their bikes. This trend is seen in the western parts of the city. Students are seen racing on IIM Road, from Doordarshan to Thaltej Crossroads, from Commerce Six Roads to CEPT university and also from Gujarat University Library to 132-feet Ring Road.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Sunday, September 20, 2009 at 03:47:11 AM (Ahmedabad Mirror : (Cover Story) http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2009092020090920034711265c9430b2c)
Zip, zap, zoom... and the smell of burning rubber is all that’s left of bikers zooming past Law Garden Road. It’s not a preview of MTV’s Stunt Mania. These are students of G K Secondary and Higher Secondary School, also known as GLS, who race each other after school, leaving passers-by terrorised.
A day after Mirror reported that traffic cops want principals to rusticate students who bring vehicles to school, this reporter received an e-mail from the Ahmedabad Traffic Consultative Committee (ATCC). It spoke of GLS boys racing their bikes after school hours. “They chase girls and drive at speed no less than 60 km per hour. Please help stop them,” the letter stated.
As part of the Mirror campaign against underage driving, this reporter kept a watch outside the school. And these photographs are proof of what he found.
Grabbing eyeballs
He saw five groups of boys on power bikes like Bajaj Pulsar, Karizma and Honda Stunner, racing each other. The boys drove in a circle — from the National Handloom Corporation building to the GLS corner, taking a left turn to go around the Samartheshwar Mahadev Circle to the British Library Circle and back to school.
All along the way, the boys kept hooting loudly and zoomed on without a care for other commuters.
Said a vendor at Law Garden, “There are other schools and colleges on this stretch. Girls frequent this place to have snacks or just sit around and chat. These boys zoom down everyday after school to impress the girls. They honk loudly and do crazy stunts to draw attention to themselves. Some even speed and suddenly apply brakes in the middle of traffic to grab eyeballs. They do not give a damn about the safety of other drivers.”
Bet it’s wrong
These boys race for a bet. “It can be cigarettes, dabelis, cold coffee or chai. The one to come last treats the rest of the gang,” said another vendor.
They also dare female traffic constables posted along the stretch. “They use vulgar gestures and language to heckle women who are part of the traffic brigade. Unable to leave their post, the women have to suffer in silence,” said a traffic cop stationed near Samartheshwar Mahadev Circle.
‘Not our kids’
School principal D D Jogani admitted that races are held on roads around the school. “But they are not schoolchildren. People do race their bikes, honk loudly and apply sudden brakes to attract the attention of youngsters in this area. It disturbs students inside classrooms. We do try to stop them but it does not always work.
“I do not think that my school students race against each other because our admission forms and school calendar clearly state that they are not allowed to bring two-wheelers to school.” Yet, children drive to school and park their vehicles inside the campus.
When told about the photographs Mirror had, Jogani said, “If our students are involved, give us the names and we will take action.”
Educating youngsters
The ATCC blames the parents for giving their children the freedom to break rules. “If parents are worried about how their kids will travel from school to tuition classes, they could easily buy electric bikes that are not only eco-friendly but safe too. There is no need to give kids the keys to powerful bikes,” said Dr Pravin Kanabar of the ATCC.
He added, “Youngsters ape stunts shown on television and in movies. Road safety should be made a compulsory subject for schoolchildren. They should also be taught that accidents do not always lead to death. The children could end up losing their limbs. Can they deal with it?”
On Friday, Mirror reported about 10 underage bikers who received injuries while doing stunts. The condition of two of the thrill-seekers is serious.
It is not just students of GLS who perform dangerous stunts on their bikes. This trend is seen in the western parts of the city. Students are seen racing on IIM Road, from Doordarshan to Thaltej Crossroads, from Commerce Six Roads to CEPT university and also from Gujarat University Library to 132-feet Ring Road.
