The Pondicherry urban agglomeration comprises two municipalities, namely Pondicherry and Ozukarai, and covers an area of 56 sq km. The urban agglomeration has a population of 6,57,2091 and a density of 11,684 persons per sq km. Pondicherry is well known for its French colonial architecture, waterfront promenade, and the Manakula Vinayagar temple. The city is a major tourist destination, with over 12 lakh annual visitors from India and abroad.

Public transport service in Pondicherry is concentrated along national and state highways such as East Coast Road (ECR), Cuddalore Road, Villipuram Road, and Tindivanam Road. These roads serve as entry points to the city and connect to the other major regions in Tamil Nadu. However, the city core, including the historic French and Tamil quarters, has limited public transport service. City residents predominantly rely on two-wheelers and cars to reach these areas, and mobility options for tourists are limited.

Cycle sharing has the potential to improve accessibility in the central Pondicherry and other areas not served by the conventional bus-based public transport system. Cycling is common in central Pondicherry, both on the part of local residents who use their own cycles to reach schools, workplaces, and markets, and tourists who hire cycles from local rental shops or use cycles provided by hotels. A cycle sharing system can build on this existing cycling culture and make the mode available to a larger segment of residents and visitors.