Traffic Woes Worsen in Pune: Evening Hours Most Affected, VIR Mobility Calls for Smarter Commute Choices
Pune, 15th April 2025: VIR Mobility, the startup behind India’s bold new e-bike brand VIR Bike, has released data-backed insights from its community-led traffic monitoring initiative, VahanScore—and the findings are a wake-up call for urban commuters.
According to weekly traffic data collected between Ramwadi Metro Station and Wagholi Croma, evening traffic consistently shows higher commute times than morning across all days, with Mondays and Fridays among the worst-hit. Car users during evening peaks are spending an average of 35–38 minutes on what should be a short intra-city trip—while two-wheeler riders aren’t far behind, with average times crossing 30 minutes.
“These patterns reveal a critical truth—our roads are choking, especially during peak hours. This isn’t just about lost time; it’s about rising stress, fuel consumption, and carbon emissions,” said Ravi Kumar, CEO of VIR Mobility.
Key Insights from the Study:
– Evening peak (4:45 PM – 7:45 PM) sees up to 20% longer travel times than morning peak (8:00 AM – 10:45 AM).
– Car commuters consistently lose 35+ minutes per trip in evening traffic.
– Fridays and Mondays emerge as the most congested days; weekend traffic, especially Sundays, shows some relief.
– Even bike commuters, typically faster in urban settings, clock over 30 minutes in evening congestion.
– The traffic data was gathered over 45 days, every 15 minutes, by three students from IIEBM Business School—Deshna, Roshni, and Harshita—as part of an urban mobility internship with VahanScore.
Why It Matters
The data, sourced from VahanScore’s traffic monitoring volunteers and digital mapping, underscores the need for micro-mobility solutions like electric cycles that are compact, clean, and congestion-proof.
“VIR Bike isn’t just a product—it’s a timely intervention,” added Kumar. “The future of urban mobility in cities like Pune isn’t four-wheeled. It’s electric, assisted, and agile.”
To access traffic records or contribute to traffic accountability in your area, visit www.vahanscore.com
