Citizens discuss Pune Cycle Plan, promotion of cycling in city
The citizens also organised themselves in groups, with each group discussing suggestions for the draft cycle plan; how to work towards its approval and ensure that the draft Pune Cycle Plan is approved and implemented.
Citizens and citizen-activists from Aundh, Baner, Balewadi and Pashan attended a presentation on Saturday to understand the draft proposals of the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) Pune Cycle Plan and to discuss how cycling could be promoted in the area and the city.
The citizens also organised themselves in groups, with each group discussing suggestions for the draft cycle plan; how to work towards its approval and ensure that the draft Pune Cycle Plan is approved and implemented. Citizen-activists also discussed ways to create and manage an ABB (Aundh, Baner, Balewadi) cycling volunteers group and promotion of cycling among schools, colleges, neighbourhood groups and corporates.
The meeting at the Aundh-Baner Ward Office was organised by the Centre for Environment Education (CEE) to present the draft plan to the citizens and invite their suggestions. The plan has been prepared by the PMC in association with consultants and citizen groups from the city.
A new design to park and lock bicycles was also displayed. It will be tested on DP road in the coming days, said CEE’s director Sanskriti Menon.
Those present for the discussion decided to form an ABB Cycle Volunteers Group and reach out to individuals and groups who would be interested in promoting cycling.
Suggestions made at the meeting included introduction of a cycle track along the riverside and to Savitribai Phule Pune University, introduction of cycle signages as part of the road ecosystem, off-street parking for motorised vehicles so that on-street parking may be controlled and a number of activities to promote cycling by contacting chairpersons of housing societies to champion cycling in their premises and surroundings.
Citizens and cycle volunteers would be encouraged to be vigilant about encroachments on the cycle infrastructure and create a mechanism of reporting encroachments to the traffic police, PMC, media, and keep note of vulnerable areas.
A number of events around cycling are being planned to promote a mindset change in the city.