Bicycle and helmet
Two-wheelers now dominate Pune’s commute, accounting for 37% of daily trips. The historical and projected modal share data highlight the city’s shift towards motorised transport, with cycling and walking, once the mode for nearly 80% of daily commutes, witnessing a steep decline. “Cycling accounted for 45% of trips in the 1980s, followed by walking at 35%. By 1995, cycling’s share had declined to 37.2%, while walking accounted for 32.3%. The decline continued, and cycling’s share fell to around 11% in the 2008 Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) survey,” he said. In contrast, two-wheelers saw a sharp rise, with their share increasing from 10% in the 1980s to 38% in 2008 and 37% in 2025-26, making them the city’s dominant transport mode. Car usage grew from under 1% in the 1980s to 2.5% in 1995, around 10% in 2008 and 10.25% in 2025-26. Walking declined from 35% to 23.5% during the same period. Meanwhile, public transport usage changed little, rising from 8% in the 1980s to 15.5% in 1995 before falling to around 13% in 2008 and 11% in 2025-26.
Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil and his team studied the use of bicycles and motor vehicles on city roads. He added, “Heavy traffic makes cycling feel unsafe for many people. Parents should encourage children to cycle to school as it helps them learn to navigate traffic and become better drivers later.