Parked vehicles and vendors on bicycle lanes are the main deterrent to bicycle use, according to a study

3 minutes of readingPuneUpdated: February 3, 2026 01:05 pm IST

In the cities of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Nagpur, 56 per cent of cyclists cite obstructions as the main impediment to cycling, according to a new study by the Institute of Transport and Development Policy (ITDP). These obstructions include vehicles parked on cycle lanes/tracks, encroachment by vendors and moving vehicles on cycle tracks. According to the survey, lack of strict enforcement of cycling infrastructure and rules was cited as the second biggest concern (54 percent) by cyclists, and vehicle speeding was the third biggest concern (49 percent).

Of the 56 percent who said obstruction was the biggest concern, 72 percent felt that vehicles parked on bicycle lanes/lanes were the biggest obstruction, followed by vendor encroachment (66 percent) and vehicles moving on bicycle lanes/lanes (55 percent).

The study was carried out from July to September 2025. In total, 605 citizens were surveyed, 189 of them from Pune159 from Nagpur and 257 from Pimpri-Chinchwad. 356 respondents were men and 249 were women. The total cycling infrastructure in three cities is as follows: Nagpur – 11 km, PCMC – 50 km, Pune – 91 km.

The survey included 439 cyclists who cycle at least once a week and 166 non-cyclists. Almost half of cyclists use their bicycle for daily, non-recreational purposes, such as commuting to work, school or university.

Siddhartha Godbole, deputy director of ITDP India, explained: “Too many obstructions and lack of strict enforcement are the main deterrents to cycling in cities in Maharashtra. Both are quite overlapping reasons, but the latter includes enforcement of everything related to cycling, such as traffic rules, cycle boxes, tracks or traffic signs.”

Among women surveyed, 59 percent use bicycles to go to school, work, or run errands rather than riding for pleasure. This is significantly higher than the 41 percent of men surveyed who said they use bicycles for their daily commute. 67 percent of respondents under 18 use bicycles to travel to schools and universities. 40 percent of these cyclists chose “not enough shade” as a deterrent to cycling.

Among non-cyclists, 59% of respondents cited lack of dedicated cycling infrastructure as the main reason they do not cycle, while 55% of respondents selected fear of traffic accidents as the main reason. 72 percent of respondents said safe, continuous bike lanes could allow them to ride a bike, while 61 percent said strict enforcement of traffic rules could do the same for them.

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Pointing out the differences between the three cities, Godbole said Pune has strong cycle lane coverage but weak enforcement, PCMC has visible cycle lanes/lanes but the fear of accidents is higher due to wide carriageways, while in Nagpur there are too few cycle lanes present in the city to even be used.

	Main deterrents for cyclists	Percentage (%)
1	Too many obstructions	56
2	Lack of strict enforcement of cycling infrastructure	54
3	Vehicles speeding	49
4	Lack of continuous cycling network	41
5.	air pollution	28
6.	There is not enough shade	21

Source: ITDP study in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur.

	Major obstructions	Percentage (%)
1	Vehicles parked in bicycle lane/track	72
2	Supplier Invasion	66
3	Vehicle movement on bicycle lane/track	62
4	Potholes or roads with poor surface	53
5	Pedestrians in bicycle lane/track	48
6	Poor surface handling of the track/cycle lane	48
7	Trees, DP Boxes, Transformers,	38
8	bollards	21

Source: ITDP study in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur.

City	Cycling infrastructure (kilometers)
Pune	91
Pimpri Chinchwad	50
nagpur	11

Source: ITDP study in Pune, Pimpri Chinchwad and Nagpur.

Soham Shah is a correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Pune. A journalism graduate with experience in fact-checking, he brings a meticulous, research-oriented approach to his current reporting. Professional Experience Role: Correspondent covering education and urban affairs in Pune. Specialization: Its main objective is education, but it also maintains a strong focus on civic issues, public health, human rights and state policy. Key Strength: Soham focuses on data-driven reporting on school and college education, government reporting, and public infrastructure. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Their late 2025 work highlights a transition from education-focused reporting to hard-hitting investigative and human rights stories: 1. Investigations and Governance “Express Impact: Mother’s name now a must for downloading birth certificate from PMC site” (December 20, 2025) – Reports on a significant policy change by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) following its reports previous statements on the inclusion of gender in administrative documents. “44-acre Mahar land controversy: In June, a Pune official sought land eviction at the firm behest of Pawar’s son” (November 9, 2025) – An investigative article on real estate irregularities involving high-profile political families. 2. Education and University Life Faculty crisis at SPPU affects research and administrative work: 62% of government approved posts are vacant, more than 75% in many departments (September 12, 2025) – A research paper on faculty vacancies at Savitribai Phule Pune University. “Maharashtra’s controversial third language policy: Why the National Curriculum Framework recommends a Class 6 third language” (July 2) – This in-depth article discusses the reasons behind why the state’s decision to introduce a Class 1 third language was controversial. “Decline in number of schools and teachers in Maharashtra but increase in student enrollment: Report” (January 2025): Analysis of discrepancies in state’s education data despite increase in the number of students. 3. Human Rights and Social Issues “Aanchal Mamidawar Was Brave After Her Family Killed Her Boyfriend” (December 17, 2025) – A deeply personal and hard-hitting article/opinion column on the “crime of love” and honor killings in modern India. “‘People don’t respect the disabled’: Meet the man who has become the face of racist attacks against Indians” (November 29, 2025) – Profile of a Pune resident with severe physical deformities who became the target of global online harassment, highlighting issues of disability and cyberbullying. Distinctive style Soham is known for his vision of civil liberties. His reporting frequently champions the rights of the marginalized, whether students fighting for university democracy, victims of regressive social practices, or residents fighting crumbling urban infrastructure (as seen in his contributions to “Breathless Pune”). He is adept at linking Pune’s hyperlocal issues to broader national conversations about law and freedom. X (Twitter): @SohamShah07 …Read more

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