No takers for DU cycles
SLOW PEDAL
Four years after its launch in 2007, hire-a-cycle service at Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station near the Delhi University (DU) is yet to gain popularity among the students.
Majority of students prefer to catch cycle rickshaw or walk down to cover short distances from the metro station.
Started by a Delhi-based private firm Planet Advertising, the service currently provides 21 cycles that can be hired at a nominal rate of Rs 10 for four hours between 7 am to 8 pm. Girish Kumar, who has been working at the cycle stand for the past four months, informs that on an average 10 to 15 students hire bicycles on a daily basis.
“Although the average is decent, there are days, when not a single student uses the service,” Girish says. Final year student Arun says, “Although I have never availed of this service, but now, I think I will give it a try.”
The rental cycle service witnesses a dull phase, especially during extreme summers and winters and plummets further when the University’s vacations begin.
“Holiday season and extreme climates affect the service adversely,” rues Girish, and adds that the average daily earning from the service is Rs 150. Students find it convenient to opt for a cycle rickshaw than peddling on their own.
However, students who don’t study at DU, give it a try once in a while. “I came here to buy some books and decided to hire a bicycle for fun,” says Sonia Batra, a final year student at Indraprastha University. Officials at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) inform that their only association with the service was to provide space for a cycle stand.
“Our only lookout was to provide a cycle stand outside the Vishwavidyalaya Metro Station,” informs Mohinder Yadav, spokesperson of DMRC. When asked about the plans to revamp the service to attract more number of students, S Narayan, manager, administration, Planet Advertising informs that there are no such plans in the pipeline as of now.
