Making Cities Work

2015

Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) Policy

Context & Problem

Delhi’s earlier cycle rental attempts failed due to absence of a clear policy, weak financial viability, and lack of integration with public transport. Short urban trips were still being made by motorised modes despite high potential for cycling. There was a need to treat cycling as a public transport service, supported by safe infrastructure, institutional ownership, and long-term operational funding rather than one-time pilot projects

What Was Done

• Defined PBS as a public transport system enabling one-way, short trips through a dense network of stations every 300–400 m.
• Established institutional roles for local bodies, a nodal implementing agency, and private operators with service level agreements.
• Proposed integration with a Common Mobility Card to ensure seamless use with metro, buses, and other modes.
• Created flexible revenue models combining user fees, advertising, sponsorships, and viability gap funding instead of high license fees.
• Standardised requirements for stations, depots, redistribution vehicles, and operations control centres to ensure reliable daily availability.

Key Highlights & Learnings

• PBS must be treated as social transport infrastructure, not a revenue-generating concession.
• Dense station spacing and active bicycle redistribution are essential for usability.
• Performance-based contracts with incentives and penalties ensure service quality.
• Integration with existing smart cards and transit systems dramatically increases adoption.
• Dedicated NMT cells and cross-agency coordination are required for long-term management and scaling.

2026

Technical Assistance and Advisory Support for NMT Cell

Context & Problem

Pedestrian and cycling projects were being taken up in isolated stretches without a unified vision, standards, or monitoring system. Multiple agencies handled roads, utilities, and maintenance, leading to fragmented decisions and slow implementation. There was a need for a central technical unit to guide planning, standardise designs, prioritise projects, and coordinate delivery of safe, continuous NMT networks.

What Was Done

• Define the structure, mandate, and workflows for a dedicated NMT Cell to anchor pedestrian and cycling planning within the city administration.
• Prepare standard design templates and guidelines for footpaths, cycle tracks, crossings, and junctions to ensure consistent, safe implementation.
• Develop a citywide NMT network plan with prioritisation criteria based on safety, demand, and connectivity.
• Establish processes for corridor audits, concept designs, and pilot projects to enable quick, scalable improvements.
• Set up monitoring, review, and documentation systems to track progress, quality, and long-term maintenance of NMT projects.