21/08/2022
Dear Cyclist/cycling supporter,
The Pune Municipal Corporation has published a notice last month (attached) announcing its intention to incorporate the Comprehensive Bicycle Plan in the city's Development Plan, and asking for suggestions and objections from the public.
The Bicycle Plan was made in 2016 and approved by the General Body of the PMC in 2017. It proposes a city-wide network of cycle tracks, cycle lanes and cycle-safe streets as well as a public bicycle system (cycles that are available for rent - which had been started for a while), designated cycle parking locations and design guidelines for cycle tracks. Though the bicycle plan is truly comprehensive, it has hardly been implemented over the last 5 years.
Against this background it is really important that the bicycle plan should be a part of the Development Plan.
Unlike a plan approved by only the PMC General Body, anything in the Development Plan is legally binding. Which means that if any road is taken up for construction henceforth and if the Development Plan map shows a cycle track on it then it has to be built. Not doing so will be illegal.
So we believe that the Bicycle Plan should absolutely be incorporated into the Development Plan and we should send letters of support for this. We should insist that the cycle track network should be shown on the DP Maps. This will further ensure that no road will be allowed to be constructed without a cycle track (if it is supposed to have one).
We want to ensure that the PMC gets many letters with this suggestion.
A draft letter is attached here (https://www.dropbox.com/s/fdmlsnek3fhxsbj/Suggestions%20Letter%20for%20Bicycle%20Plan%20in%20DP%20-%20Aug%202022.docx?dl=0) which we request you to fill up, sign, scan and send it to [email protected]
Since the letter has to be physically submitted before Aug 27th 2022 in the Pune Municipal Corporation, please send it to us no later than the 25th August and we will print it and submit it to the PMC on your behalf.
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What happens next?
Once the PMC receives all suggestions and objections, it will conduct a hearing for which you will be invited. You do not have to attend, but if you can, it is an interesting experience and we encourage you to do so. You have a chance to say what you want in support of your letter. If you are a cyclist or a concerned parent you can relate your experiences and insist on a well implemented cycle track network.
The PMC will then send its recommendation to the State Government, which will approve the change in the Development Plan and publish another notice saying that this has been done.
Pune will be the first city in India to develop a comprehensive bicycle plan and make it a part of the statutory Development Plan. Let's make that happen.
Thanks.
On behalf of:
Sujit Patwardhan and Ranjit Gadgil, Parisar
Pranjali Deshpande, Independent expert on sustainable mobility
Harshad Abhyankar, Save Pune Traffic Movement
Sanskriti Menon, Centre for Environment Education
