Bicycle-friendly plan set rolling, civic body, Dutch NGO take lead…..Ajay Khape
The civic body is roping in Netherlands-based Interface for Cycling Expertise (I-ce). It has signed an agreement with I-ce to carry out the Bicycle Partnership Programme till 2010. A training and awareness programme would begin shortly.
I-ce has selected Pune over other cities for the programme that ensures inclusion of cycling in the urban development and transport policies, a civic official said. Experts from I-ce would begin the promotional campaign through public awareness and training of civic officials and finance it.
PMC would construct a 117-km cycle track along the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). It is ready in many parts of the city, officials said.
I-ce is an international NGO for low-cost mobility and integrated cycling planning and the programme aims at supporting 30 to 50 cities in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The partnership, under coordination of I-ce, has secured a subsidy from the Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The city recognises the need for a more comprehensive vision for its urban transport system and the programme is meant to deliver expertise in response to the demand.
Under the programme, parties agree on a multi-stakeholder approach, involving civil society organisations, universities and partners from the public and private sector.
The partnership will focus on planning and design of cycling and pedestrian pathways and facilities, capacity building for planners, engineers and other key stakeholders.
The responsibilities of I-ce will be to make available international expertise including funding for professional coaching of city officers and providing peer-to-peer reviewing of plans and designs, as per the agreement.
It will conduct workshops and interactive training sessions on issues like strategic planning for cycling, design approaches and issues related to involvement of stakeholders.
PMC will be responsible for organising and providing logistics for meetings and workshops with the international experts. PMC also has to provide local staff, cross-sector coordination, regular funding for implementation activities, ensure stakeholder involvement, share relevant data for assessment of impact of cycling facilities and relevant information among others. It has to prepare reports on a half-yearly basis on the progress made.
Municipal Commissioner Praveensinh Pardeshi, keen on promoting the idea, has declared every Tuesday the s cycling day at the civic headquarters.
The PMC is also planning a hire and ride bicycle programme as seen in Paris. PMC efforts had received boost with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the UN approving the proposal for developing cycle tracks on (BRTS) routes.