Pune: Once the backbone of Pune’s daily commute, cycling has seen its share of trips crash from an estimated 45% in the 1980s to just 3% in 2025-26.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.Additional Commissioner of Police Manoj Patil and his team studied the use of bicycles and motor vehicles on city roads. “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.“The latest 2025-26 figures put cycling’s share at just 3%, reflecting a sharp decline in its use for daily commuting,” Patil said.“Very few people now cycle to work, unlike in the 1980s and 1990s. As the city expanded and residential areas spread farther from the core, commuters increasingly shifted to two-wheelers for faster travel,” Patil said.“Secondly, as the number of vehicles increased, cycling became unsafe due to factors such as rash and negligent driving by motorists. Only a few roads offer safe cycling infrastructure,” he said.Amit Gadgil of the ‘Speaking Wheels’ cycling club told TOI, “Two of our members commute to the office by bicycle daily, one from Kothrud to Kharadi and the other from Baner to Hinjewadi.”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.”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.
