Parked Vehicles and Vendor Encroachments Emerge as Primary Cycling Obstacles in Maharashtra Cities
A comprehensive study conducted by the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP) has identified parked vehicles and vendor encroachments as the most significant deterrents to cycling in three major Maharashtra cities. The research, which surveyed 605 citizens across Pune, Nagpur, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, provides crucial insights into the challenges faced by urban cyclists.
Key Findings from the ITDP Survey
According to the study, which was conducted from July to September 2025, a substantial 56% of cyclists cited various obstructions as their main concern when using bicycles. Among these respondents, the breakdown of specific obstacles revealed:
- 72% identified vehicles parked on cycling tracks or lanes as the largest obstruction
- 66% pointed to encroachment by vendors on cycling infrastructure
- 55% mentioned moving vehicles on cycling tracks or lanes as a significant concern
The survey further highlighted that lack of strict enforcement of cycling infrastructure and rules ranked as the second biggest concern, cited by 54% of cyclists. Speeding vehicles followed closely as the third major concern, mentioned by 49% of respondents.
Demographic Breakdown and Cycling Patterns
The research encompassed a diverse group of participants, with 189 respondents from Pune, 159 from Nagpur, and 257 from Pimpri-Chinchwad. The gender distribution showed 356 male respondents and 249 female participants, providing a balanced perspective on cycling experiences.
Among the survey participants, 439 were regular cyclists who ride at least once weekly, while 166 identified as non-cyclists. The study revealed that nearly half of the cyclists use bicycles for daily, non-recreational purposes such as commuting to work, school, or college.
"Too many obstructions and lack of strict enforcement are the key deterrents for cycling in Maharashtra cities," explained Siddhartha Godbole, Deputy Manager at ITDP India. "Both are quite overlapping reasons but the latter includes enforcement of everything related to cycling like traffic rules, cycling boxes, tracks, or traffic signals."
Gender and Age-Based Insights
The study uncovered interesting gender-based differences in cycling patterns. Among female respondents, 59% reported using bicycles for commuting to school, work, or running errands, as opposed to recreational riding. This percentage was significantly higher than the 41% of male respondents who indicated using cycles for their daily commutes.
Age-based analysis revealed that 67% of respondents below 18 years use cycles to travel to schools and colleges. Interestingly, 40% of these younger riders selected "not enough shade" as a deterrent to cycling, highlighting comfort considerations among younger cyclists.
Infrastructure Variations Across Cities
The research documented significant differences in cycling infrastructure across the three surveyed cities:
- Pune leads with 91 kilometers of cycling infrastructure but suffers from weak enforcement
- Pimpri-Chinchwad has 50 kilometers of visible cycle tracks and lanes, though fear of accidents remains highest due to wide carriageways
- Nagpur has only 11 kilometers of cycling tracks, presenting the most limited infrastructure among the three cities
Non-Cyclist Perspectives and Potential Solutions
The study also examined reasons why some residents avoid cycling altogether. Among non-cyclists, 59% cited the absence of dedicated cycling infrastructure as their primary reason for not cycling, while 55% selected fear of road accidents as their main concern.
When asked about potential solutions that might encourage cycling, 72% of respondents indicated that continuous, safe cycle tracks could motivate them to start riding. Additionally, 61% suggested that strict enforcement of traffic rules might have the same positive effect.
Comprehensive Deterrent Analysis
The ITDP study provided a detailed breakdown of cycling deterrents, with the following percentages representing cyclists' concerns:
- Too many obstructions: 56%
- Lack of strict enforcement of cycling infrastructure: 54%
- Speeding vehicles: 49%
- Lack of continuous cycling network: 41%
- Air pollution: 28%
- Not enough shade: 21%
The research also identified major obstructions on cycling tracks, with parked vehicles (72%), vendor encroachments (66%), and moving vehicles on cycle tracks (62%) ranking as the top three concerns.
This comprehensive study underscores the urgent need for improved cycling infrastructure, better enforcement mechanisms, and thoughtful urban planning to promote sustainable transportation in Maharashtra's growing cities.
