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Snehal Khatavkar 
Design research. Service design
  • With the increased use of motorised vehicles as a primary mode of transport, driving a motorised vehicle in India is attached with a status of achieving financial stability(upper level). A rebranding of the cycle being not just a cheaper mode of transport but also a more 'responsible' and 'cooler' mode of transport can attract more users. 

  • Even with substantial built infrastructure , automated PBS at affordable rates in the city,  the cycling trips decreased after the initial spurt. Understanding the motivations of a user to shift from Motorised vehicles to cycling for better engagement can help. One of the reasons to consider is the amount of physical effort invested in cycling. If the users can see a conversion of their efforts into a more responsible action the generation can be engaged into more cycling activities. 

  • The current generation is concerned about their cities, environment and the planet. 

USER GROUP RE-PRESENTATION  & ENGAGEMENT 

Project type : design  

Year: 2021

The  bicycle plan 

Case study - project analysis 

A project analysis report of the 'Pune cycle plan'. The report analyses the different reasons contributing to the cycle sharing systems eventual collapse. The overlaps between multi modal transport systems(urban design), the effect of urban form on cycle sharing systems, and service design were key motivations to undertake the project 

Reducing Congestion  

  • The report projected 9 to 25% conversion from motorized to cycling 

  • Ensuring the current cyclists don't shift to motorized vehicles

  • Short trips completed with walk and cycle 

Interventions within the scheme 

Safety 

  • Safe ,convenient, comfortable cycling conditions for existing and future cyclists  

  • Supportive safe behavior by motorists towards cyclists and pedestrians 

Re-establish Pune's identity as cycling city 

  • Pune was once famous as a city of cyclists till the 1970s. However, ‘transportation’ is a major civic issue now. Facilities for walk, cycle, public transport have not kept pace with the growth of the city. The number of private motorized vehicles has increased very rapidly in last 10-15 years. 

Understanding the scheme 

"Moving people safely and economically by emphasizing public transport and non motorized transport "

The pune bicycle plan commenced  in the year 2016 as an effort by the Pune Municipal Corporation to transform transportation in the city.

As per the plan 4 service providers were appointed to run cycles through a public sharing system. However by the end of 2019 the 3 cycle providers backed out citing various maintenance and financial viability issues closing down the cycling service networks in the city. As a supporter / believer in the concept of promoting cycling in the city as a major mode of transport,  the closing down of the service sparked attention and curiosity about the working and implementation of such a transportation system within the city

Interventions 

ISSUES FACED 

  • A lack of research into land use, regional data of users occupation, workplaces and daily activities was missing to plan cycling frequency, cycling dock stations and sharing systems. 

  • Streets like JM road and F.C road with heavy student population and recreational areas were revamped. Which resulted in only recreational use and no additional trips. On the contrary IT office sectors had successful increase in trips.  

  • Without designated docking options and only parking facilities the user is left wondering where to leave the cycle. This led to cycles being parked in random locations, failure to track and bring them back 

Analysis 

CYCLE  DOCKS AND TRIPS 
  • Designed for first mile and last mile connection,  the cycling network proves to be unsuccessful if the adjacent transportation schemes i.e. The BRT - bus rapid transit network and the metro is not running efficiently. 

  • The discontinuous footpaths and cycling tracks further discouraged users from shifting to cycles 

SYSTEM AND NETWORK

DESIGN INTERVENTIONS  

Cycling is a energy intensive activity and one the major reasons for users not opting cycling as a regular transport option. 

The efforts invested by users can be incentivized and converted into tangible rewards. 

Eg: A real time calculator of CO2 emission prevented with the number of trips a users makes. 

Trees planted or adopted as a reward of the users energy consumed.  

Engaging citizens through various routes and curated trips, and gamifying the process.  

DESIGN INTERVENTIONS  

Dedicated parking stations to combat unavailability of cycles, docking areas in safe locations (easily monitored) to avoid vandalism.   

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