Revolutionizing School Commutes: The Cycle Bus Initiative

A Unique Commute

Picture this. A group of children are travelling home after school, with a “driver” in the front. Only, they aren’t in a traditional school bus; there are tens of wheels, many drivers and no passengers. This is a cycle bus, a safe and fun way to travel to and from school.

Trial Run by SPTM and Parisar

Save Pune Traffic Movement (SPTM) and Parisar recently conducted a trial run of a cycle bus at BVB Paranjape Vidyamandir in Kothrud. Two volunteers — experienced cyclists — escorted a group of five to six children wearing helmets and with stickers on their bikes back from school in the trial run.

Promoting Safe and Sustainable Commuting

“The idea is to get children to cycle to school. We often hear of lone cyclists being hit by speeding vehicles. Such a collective commute would increase the visibility of cyclists and reduce chances of cyclists facing hostility from other vehicles,” said Tanzeel Allapur, the project associate at Parisar.

Inspired by International Initiatives

Inspired by similar initiatives abroad, SPTM conducted a study in 2022 on the cycling habits of children in Pune.

The cycle bus initiative presents a unique solution to promote safe and sustainable commuting for school children. By encouraging collective cycling, it not only enhances visibility but also reduces the risks faced by individual cyclists on the roads.