‘Less than 10% of PMC's goal achieved': How cycle tracks fail cyclists in Pune city

Indian Express

7 days ago

In 2017, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) came out with a Comprehensive Bicycle Plan with an aim to create a 824- km cycle network and to increase the modal share of cycling from 3 per cent to 25 per cent by 2031.
However, according to ground research by NGO Parisar based on the PMC data, only 83 kilometers of tracks have been built till date, and many of them have faded away or are not operational anymore.
PMC's plan envisioned 824 km of cycle network across the city with 531 km segregated cycle track, 154 km marked or painted cycle lanes, 75 km independent cycle ways/ greenways, 54 km or currently existing cycle tracks that are to be retrofitted, and 11 km of footpath and cycle track merged.
Less than 10% of this goal has been achieved, observed Parisar.
Tanzeel Allapur, Project Lead-Sustainable Mobility at Parisar, said, 'The plan is very good. If some other city wants to do it, they should look at the Pune bicycle plan. But in implementation it has absolutely not met the goal that it set out to do. We have nowhere reached track length or increase in modal share envisioned. The cycling department at PMC was merged with the road department, so there is no dedicated authority to look after it as well.'
Ranajit Gadgil, avid cyclist and programme director at Parisar, said that comprehensive coverage of cycling tracks is really lacking in the city as some officials did not follow through on the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan.
'Cycle tracks need to be in really good condition and designed exceedingly well for cyclists to be able to use them. If there are problems with that cycle track—continuity, lack of ham, obstacles, host of other things—cyclists will just not use them. They will just start using the carriageway,' he explained.
On roads like Fergusson College Road and Jungli Maharaj Road, where cycling paths exist along with the footpaths, better marking and distinction could help pedestrians keep off the paths, said Gadgil.
'If there are enough cyclists using that cycle track, then pedestrians sort of know that people are cycling on this. It is a chicken-and-egg problem,' Gadgil added.
Kiran Wargale, a Pune-based cycling enthusiast, flagged safety concerns for cyclists in the city. 'Most roads in the city are extremely unsafe for cycling. It's unfortunate, especially for a city that was once known for its vibrant cycling culture. Apart from a few exceptions like Aundh Road, Pashan–NDA Road, and some stretches in Pimpri-Chinchwad, the overall infrastructure is in a very bad state,' he said.
'Poorly maintained cycle tracks, damaged roads where no tracks exist, and the constant threat from unruly traffic, especially heavy vehicles pose serious risks. As a result, many cyclists are forced to ride on the city's outskirts, but even reaching those areas on a cycle involves significant danger,' he added.
Another cyclist Ashwin said, 'There's no real thought given to integrating cycling into the city's transport planning. Cycle lanes, where they exist, are mostly encroached and abruptly end. It feels like cyclists are invisible in the bigger mobility picture. Instead of being encouraged as a sustainable and healthy mode of transport, cycling is treated as an afterthought. Non-existent cycling infrastructure is a sign that the city is moving in the opposite direction of sustainable development.'
Rahul Nene, founder of cycling group Speaking Wheels, however has a different view.
He said that the focus should be on increasing awareness about cycling rather than focusing on building cycling tracks.
'Rented cycles with proper safety mechanisms need to be reintroduced so that more people are out on the roads and driving. Currently there is not enough demand for cycling tracks, they are empty when I drive on them. Only once there is more awareness and the demand is created, we can think of building cycling tracks,' he opines.
(With inputs from Sushant Kulkarni)
Soham is a Correspondent with the Indian Express in Pune.
A journalism graduate, he was a fact-checker before joining the Express. Soham currently covers education and is also interested in civic issues, health, human rights, and politics. ... Read More