Can Cycle Lanes be Justified in Jaffna Roads : A Case Study on Kalvinayakadu - Kokuvil Road (JFC006)

With the post-conflict development under Uthuru Wasanthaya programme the government is determined in developing and rehabilitating of Jaffna peninsula roads which have been neglected over past three decades. Funding is obtained mainly through World Bank, Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies. Although planning, designing, and construction of most of these roads are being currently carried-out, it is observed that not much priority is being given to the large cycling population existing in Jaffna peninsula. Through this study an attempt is made to highlight the large cycling population of Jaffna, and an effort is made to investigate whether it could justify dedicated cycle lanes to be considered in the Jaffna peninsula roads, by taking Kalvinayakadu - Kokuvil road (JFC006) as a case study. The results from the study showed that a cycle-lane could be justified along this road; suggesting that road planners and designers should consider introducing dedicated cycle lanes for Jaffna peninsula roads which could offer a better service and a safety standard to the committed cycle population which is customary to the area.