December 6th 2025.
An NGO, Parisar, recently conducted a thorough audit of Pune's cycling infrastructure and the results were eye-opening. The audit, which focused on the city's cycle tracks, revealed a significant gap between the promised standards under the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan of 2017 and the actual reality on the ground.
According to the report, which was released in 2024-25, the cycle tracks on 19 major roads, spanning a total of 35 kilometres and divided into 77 segments, are facing various issues such as discontinuity, poor maintenance, and safety concerns. This is a cause for concern, especially at a time when Pune is hosting the annual international cycling event, the Pune Cycle Grand Challenge, and is expected to do so every year.
The findings of the audit highlight the urgent need for a safe, continuous, and world-class cycling network in the city. It is clear that there is a significant gap between Pune's aspirations and the present situation, which needs to be addressed promptly.
In another development, the BCCI has shifted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Super League matches from Indore to Pune due to logistical reasons. This decision comes at a time when Parisar's audit report has shed light on the major gaps in Pune's cycling infrastructure.
The audit was carried out by trained volunteers who cycled across each 500-metre segment, documenting their experience as everyday cyclists. Their assessment focused on three essential parameters - continuity, safety, and comfort - which determine the usability of a cycle track in practice, not just on paper. While continuity received relatively better scores, safety and comfort performed poorly at most locations.
The report notes that many tracks suffer from issues such as broken interlock tiles, uneven or damaged surfaces, inadequate drainage, and encroachments, which force cyclists to frequently dismount. Safety is compromised due to the absence of segregation from traffic, poorly designed junctions, inadequate lighting, missing signage, and frequent obstructions from parked vehicles and roadside vendors. In several places, even where cycle tracks physically exist, their everyday usability remains severely limited.
The audit also highlights that Pune's cycle tracks do not consistently follow the design standards laid down under the Indian Roads Congress' IRC:11-2015, which is made statutory under the Motor Vehicles Act. The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the binding nature of these guidelines, making it mandatory for local authorities to comply with them.
Parisar's report emphasizes the need for Pune to build a continuous, citywide cycling network rather than disconnected fragments that serve little practical purpose. It calls for stronger markings, better signage, and design improvements that can encourage behavioural change among motorists and cyclists. The organization suggests using painted cycle lanes as a quick, low-cost intervention in the short term, followed by the phased development of fully segregated tracks.
Governance and enforcement emerge as critical gaps in the report. Parisar recommends reinstating the Non-Motorised Transport Committee and the Bicycle Department within the Pune Municipal Corporation, along with a public dashboard to track maintenance issues and obstructions. It also calls for strict action against parking and vending on cycle tracks.
To strengthen community participation, Parisar proposes digital reporting tools that allow cyclists to report problems in real-time and encourages local groups to adopt stretches of cycle tracks for monitoring and upkeep. The report also highlights the need to create safe school zones with dedicated cycling access to reduce peak-hour traffic and improve safety for children.
Moreover, the audit stresses on better integration between cycling and the Pune Metro, particularly through the creation of secure cycle parking spaces at stations, instead of relying on the limited option of carrying bicycles inside trains. It also recommends the formation of a Pune Cycle Partnership, a citywide platform to drive awareness, support new riders, and implement soft interventions that promote cycling as a daily mode of transport.
Lastly, the report identifies several high-growth localities such as Kharadi, Kondhwa, Mohammedwadi, Yewalewadi, Mhalunge, Dhanori, and Lohgaon as priority zones where cycle track development can have an immediate impact. It suggests using credit notes and public-private partnerships to accelerate infrastructure creation in these areas, especially where new layouts and short-distance travel patterns offer natural opportunities for cycling.
As Pune gears up for more global attention through the Cycle Grand Challenge, the audit by Parisar serves as a stark reminder that the city must urgently upgrade its cycling infrastructure if it hopes to position itself as a true leader in sustainable mobility. It is essential that all stakeholders work together to bridge the gap between Pune's aspirations and the present reality, and create a safe, continuous, and world-class cycling network for the city.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
