Note: The source for the population data and asset ownership is Census 2011, which has the electoral ward divisions prevalent in Pune in 2007-2012 as the units for population distribution in the city.
Figure 26: Percentage of households with cycle ownership across wards in Pune Bicycle Theft: 21% of the cyclists have lost their bicycles due to theft which is a considerable number as theft and vandalism discourages cyclists to opt for cycling as their main mode. Bicycle Type: 77% of the cyclists are either using or are willing to use a non-geared cycle. About 80% are willing or able to spend INR 3400 to buy a new cycle or are have a cycle in that price range. However, it should be noted that 21% of them are still using geared cycles which costs more. Considering the price of geared cycles, it may be inferred that cyclists of middle and upper income categories use cycles for their regular work commute. Existing Rental Systems: Cycles can be rented in Pune from at least 13 locations. (See Figure 57: Map showing Cycle Shops Located in Pune City). The discussion with the representatives of shops and rental services revealed two trends: 1. A declining trend of sale and rental of the older cycle models, and of renting cycles for daily work or recreational cycling 2. An increasing trend of sale and rental of newer models, and of renting cycles for weekend cycling events and recreational trips, especially among young professionals. The key features of cycle sharing systems as per the Government of India toolkit for Public Bicycle Systems are:
A dense network of stations across the coverage area, with a spacing of approximately 300 m between stations Cycles with specially designed parts and sizes to discourage theft A fully automated locking system at stations that allows users to check cycles in or out without the need for staffing at the station Electronic tags to track where a cycle is picked up, the identity of the user, and the station where it is returned. The identity of the user is associated with that of the cycle to ensure security Redistribution of cycles to ensure availability of cycles and empty docking points Real-time monitoring of station occupancy rates through information technology (IT) systems, used to guide the redistribution and provide user information through the web, mobile phones, on-site terminals, and other platforms Pricing structures that incentivise short trips, helping to maximize the number of trips per cycle per day 51
