Council Presentation Toolkit
A ready-to-use template for presenting cycling infrastructure proposals to your ward councillor, municipal corporation, or smart city committee.
The 5-Slide Presentation Structure
You don't need 30 slides. You need 5. Councillors have short attention spans and long agendas.
Slide 1: The Problem (1 minute)
Template:
"In Ward [X], [number] women commute daily. Zero safe cycling lanes exist. Last year, [number] cycling accidents were reported on [street name]. Our street audit scored this route [score]/20 for cycling safety."
Attach: Photo collage of the problem street (broken roads, no lanes, dangerous intersections)
Slide 2: The Solution (1 minute)
Template:
"We propose a [type] cycling lane on [street name] from [point A] to [point B] — a distance of [X km]. This includes: [list 3-4 specific items like bollards, lighting, signage, advanced stop lines]."
Attach: Simple map showing the proposed route (use Google Maps screenshot with drawn line)
Slide 3: The Cost (30 seconds)
| Item | Quantity | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Bollard-separated lane | [X] km | ₹[Y] lakh |
| LED streetlights | [X] units | ₹[Y] lakh |
| Signage + paint | [X] intersections | ₹[Y] thousand |
| Total | ₹[Y] lakh |
Comparison: "This is [X]% of the cost of the [recent large project, e.g., 'flyover approved last quarter']."
Source costs from the Street Audit Toolkit cost reference
Slide 4: The Evidence (1 minute)
"Cities that built this infrastructure saw:"
| City | What They Built | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Paris | 1,000 km protected lanes (2020-24) | Women cycling up 400% |
| Bogotá | Ciclovía network | 65% women participation on Sundays |
| Pune | 1 km pilot (JM Road) | 43% increase in women cyclists in 6 months |
| Copenhagen | Full network | 55% of cyclists are women |
"Investing ₹1 in cycling returns ₹5-11 in economic value (WHO HEAT Tool)."
Slide 5: The Ask (30 seconds)
Template:
"We request:
- Approval of the proposed cycling lane on [street]
- Budget allocation of ₹[X] from [fund source: ward discretionary / Smart City / AMRUT]
- Timeline: Construction to begin by [date]
- Written response within 30 days
Signed by [X] women residents of Ward [Y]."
Attach: Petition with signatures (minimum 50)
Supporting Documents to Bring
Print and staple these together as a leave-behind package:
- The 5-slide printout (1 page per slide, A4)
- Street Audit Scorecard — filled in, with photos (see Street Audit Toolkit)
- Petition with signatures, names, and ward numbers
- One-page cost sheet with sources
- One-page evidence sheet with city case studies and citations
- Your contact details — name, phone, email, organisation name
Funding Sources to Reference
Don't just ask for money. Tell them where the money can come from:
| Fund | What It Covers | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Ward Discretionary Fund | ₹2-5 crore per councillor | Direct request to councillor |
| Smart Cities Mission | Cycling infrastructure in 100 Smart Cities | Proposal to Smart City SPV |
| AMRUT 2.0 | Urban transport infrastructure | State-level application |
| National Urban Transport Policy | NMT (Non-Motorised Transport) component | City transport department |
| CSR Funds | Corporate social responsibility (2% of profits) | Approach local companies directly |
| MP/MLA LAD Fund | Local area development | Request via MP/MLA office |
Common Objections & Your Responses
| They Say | You Say |
|---|---|
| "No budget" | "The ward fund has ₹[X] crore. I'm asking for [Y]%, which is less than [recent expenditure]." |
| "No space on the road" | "Remove 1 parking lane. One parking lane converted = 2 cycling lanes. Net gain: move 10x more people." |
| "Nobody cycles here" | "Nobody cycles because it's dangerous. Build the lane first. Paris had the same argument — women cycling grew 400% in 4 years." |
| "Women should take the bus" | "34% of women report harassment on public transport. Cycling gives independent, safe mobility." |
| "It's a national/state issue" | "Ward-level cycling lanes are within your budget and authority. I'm asking for local action." |
| "Let's do a study first" | "We've done the study. Here's the audit. [Hold up the scorecard.] The data is clear. What's needed is action." |
Presentation Tips
- Arrive 15 minutes early — set up, get comfortable
- Dress formally — it communicates seriousness
- Bring 3+ women — never present alone
- Speak slowly — nerves make you rush
- Make eye contact with the decision-maker, not the floor
- Use their name — "Councillor Patel, as you can see..."
- Don't read — know your 5 slides, speak naturally
- End with the specific ask — not "please help" but "approve this lane by April"
- Leave the printed package — they will look at it later
- Send the follow-up email within 24 hours with everything attached as PDF
Template Downloads
Copy this page and adapt it for your ward. Replace all [bracketed text] with your local data. The entire presentation fits on 5 A4 pages.