PUNE: In the wake of the recent incident in which a teenager biker was crushed to death under the rear wheels of a Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML) bus, city-based NGO Pedestrians First has demanded that the public transport utility equip its buses with properly fitted bottom sideguards to avert such causalities.

Stressing that several old buses in the PMPML fleet were still without bottom sideguards, the NGO exhorted the need for such measures to prevent any pedestrian, cyclist or two-wheeler rider from coming under the rear wheels of buses during accidents.

Pedestrians First convener Prashant Inamdar has also brought to the notice of PMPML authorities some safeguards to be followed while placing mechanical guards on buses.

Foremost is that the bottom sideguards should cover the full distance between the front and rear wheels of buses without any gap.

The NGO has advised not to use sideguards made of two sections, having a large gap between them so a person can easily pass through it during a possible accident.

It has suggested maintaining proper clearance between lower end of sideguard and road surface.

Pedestrians First has stressed the need of rigid fixing of the sideguards on buses and their proper maintenance.