Cycle Safe Promoting cycling in Pune by enhancing safety for cyclists

A project by Centre for Environment Education, Pune

Aims 1. Understand

– Extent to which cycling is a mode of transport for school students

– Constraints they face– Concerns of parents

2. Highlight the issues

3. Help plan actions at school level and city level

Cycle Safe School Project

• Discussions + questionnaire survey conducted in 3 schools

• Questionnaire given to – Students (number)– Parents (number)

• Discussions– Pre-survey sessions to

introduce the survey– Post-survey sessions to

present results and help the school formulate some actions

Key Findings – Many students cycle, many want to cycle!

How do you come to school?

Do you like cycling more than other

modes

Do you cycle for other reasons?

43% cycle to school

regularly

79% Yes!

78% Yes! For tuitions, running errands

for fun or play, with friends, cycle racesgoing short distances

Kilometers to schoolUpto 5 km = 91%More than 5 km = 9 %

35% have had

accidents while cycling

to school

What are the positive and negative aspects of cycling? (only students, only parents, both students and parents)

Positive aspects Negative aspects

Physical issues • Exercise• Keep body fit• Build up muscles• Keep weight in balance• Increase stamina • Increase height• Maintain health • Refreshment

• Fatigue• Exertion• Uncomfortable due to weather

conditions (rainy season)

Issues related to traffic and transportation

• Cycling is eco-friendly• No use of fossil fuels • No pollution• Uses only little road space and

therefore reduces congestion• It is time saving because a cycle

can cut through heavy traffic• Makes less noise than a motor

vehicle

• Lack of road safety (threat of accidents)• Lack of road discipline (traffic rules are

not being followed) • Lack of proper cycle track• Road crossings are difficult • Other modes of transportation are

easier • Congestion• Cyclists are not being respected by

motorists• Air pollution • Road is not well maintained• School has given a free bus ticket

What are the positive and negative aspects of cycling? (only students, only parents, both students and parents)

Issues related to cycling itself

• Fun• Cycling with friends• Low maintenance• Convenient for short distances• Cheap• Easy• Cycling as a hobby • Economical • Outdoor experience

• Cycle is slow in speed compared to motor vehicles

• Cycling is not convenient for long distances

• Parents do not allow their child to go by cycle or parents are worried

• Cycle can get lost or stolen• A car is a status symbol, a cycle is not • Cycling is time consuming• Child gets bored by cycling• Heavy school bag is difficult to carry

on a cycle

Cycling for personal benefits

• Being independent • Building confidence• Taking up responsibility• Developing a sense for traffic• Learning to know the traffic

rules• Learning to know the city• Learning self discipline• Learning decision making

+ -

Non-cyclists students - If you cycled to school regularly for some time in past

Why did you stop?

Physical reasons• Fatigue, Exertion, Uncomfortable weather

conditions (rains)

Reasons related to cycling itself• Cycling was time consuming, child got late

for school• Child was bored by cycling• Cycle got lost or stolen• Family shifted home and now the distance

to school is too short or too long for cycling

Other reasons• Other modes of transportation are easier• School has given a free bus ticket

Traffic and transportation related

• Congestion• Lack of road safety (threat of

accidents)• Lack of road discipline (traffic rules

are not being followed)• Road is not well maintained• There is no proper cycle track

• Parents do not allow their child to go by cycle

Non-cyclistsIf you don‘t prefer cycling: Why don‘t you prefer cycling to other modes of

transportation? (student questionnaire)

19% Motorists are inconsiderate19% Too much traffic18% No cycle track15% Difficult road crossing 3% I don’t like polluted air

14% Distance too long 5% Other 2% Weather conditions 2% Don’t know which route to take 2% Not cool

rather negative

treatment;

55%treatment

depends on motorist;

8%

rather positive

treatment ; 8%

not responded;

29%

n = 509

Positive aspectsGiving way

CooperativeProper

NeatKindGoodOk

Negative treatment• Not paying attention to

cyclists• Ignoring cyclists• Treating cyclists as inferior• Not respecting cyclists• Honking• Overtaking• Going fast• Not following traffic rules• Not giving way• Not giving space• Threatening• Not stopping• Shouting/ Insulting• Rushing• Inconsiderate• Impatient• Careless• Rude / Harsh

Cyclists - How do motorists treat you?

Paud Road

Paud Phata Road

Karve Road

Canal Road

Kinara Hotel

Describe any difficulty you are facing on your cycle route!

More Vidyalya Complex

Vanaz Corner

Dahanukar Colony

Karve Statue Chowk

Cummins

Karsihma Society

Jog School

Anand Nagar

Ideal Colony

MIT School

Paud Phata Chowk

Dashabhuja Ganpati Temple

SNDT College

Swad Hotel

Nal Stop

Explanation

Road name

Name of a Society/ Chowk/ Landmark

Road is not well maintained (holes, obstacles)Difficult road crossingNo cycle track or improper cycle track (obstacles/ 2-wheelers/ people on the track)No signal or non-functional signalCongestion

• Proper cycle track• Motorists should be

more considerate• Cycle parking• Traffic signals for

cyclists• Better maintained

roads• Easier road crossings• Less air pollution• Other

Proper cycle track23%

Mo-torists should

be more con-

sider-ate17%

Cycle parking15%Traffic

signals for cy-clists15%

Better main-tained roads15%

Easier road

cross-ings14% Other

1%

Preferences

What would be a motivation for you to cycle more or to cycle at all? (Students)

What would reduce your concerns about your child cycling? (Parents)

Proper cycle track; 22%

Motorists should be more consid-

erate; 15%

Cycle parking; 10%Traffic signals for

cyclists; 15%

Better main-tained roads;

15%

Easier road crossings; 15%

Other; 1%

Less air pollution; 7%

Promote Safety Promote Cycling