JOIN USThe Palike started the concept of Bike Sharing (or Cycles on Rent) as a pilot project from Saturday. The idea was put forth by online group Praja, along with IISc’s Centre for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning (CISTUP). The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) submitted a report based on the idea to the Palike, which is implementing it.
As many as 24 roads have been identified by BBMP to initiate the Bike Sharing project. However, the pilot project, which will be implemented for three months, will have only three cycle stands near M G Road.
So, what exactly will Bike Sharing mean to people who will use Metro? S Sathya from Praja explains: “Anyone who catches the Metro at Baiyappanahalli for example, can get down at M G Road and then walk to the cycle stand and rent a bicycle. They can ride on it around M G Road and then return it to the nearest cycle stand. The cyclist does not need to come back to the point from where he or she rented the cycle.”
The three locations where the cycle sharing stands have come up are: Naga Theatre (near St John’s Road), War Memorial (Near Brigade Road) and Koshy’s (Near Anil Kumble Circle)
The systems are all in place with a private agency handling the technology and investing on the cycles. Basavaraj Kabade from Traffic Engineering Cell, BBMP, says: “During the pilot project, there will be three cycle stands with six cycles each.” All three locations are at a walkable distance to the Metro station entrance on M G Road.
Smart cards will soon be issued to regular bicycle riders. With computerised card reading machines installed at all three stands, the user will not even need to use cash. But the best news for cycling enthusiasts is that for the first three months, all 18 cycles will come free of cost and smart cards will only be for safety purposes.