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‘Pool cycle’ to pedal into City
Ajith Athrady, New Delhi, Dec 20, DH News Service :
For those wishing to travel short distances by bicycles in the business district of Bangalore, Paris-style, here’s good news.
The Union Ministry of Urban Development is planning to introduce the concept of “pool cycle” in the Garden City.
As envisaged by the ministry, the pool cycle system will be operated by private agencies and NGOs. The ministry will fund them to procure bicycles to operate the service.
Bicycles will be stationed at important points like bus stands, parks and shopping areas. Paying a nominal fee, anyone can take a bicycle for a short-distance ride and park it in a designated area.
The agency which gives bicycles on hire can also display advertisements on them to earn revenue. The agency will have to own and maintain bicycles.
“If the agency is able to earn more revenue through displaying advertisements, the government may ask it to provide bicycles to the public without charging any fee, ” a senior official in the Urban Development Ministry said.
“The pool cycle system, which exists in France, is being tried out in Bangalore on a pilot basis,” the official said.
If the project turns out to be successful, it will be implemented in other cities also. The agency will provide identity cards to regular commuters and all the bicycles will be fitted with GPS system to track their movements.
“Suppose a person wants to go for shopping travelling a distance of one kilometre, he can hire a bicycle instead of using his bike,” the official said.
As the ministry wants to implement this idea in association with the BBMP, it will also rely upon the civic agency to make separate bicycle tracks on select roads and provide space for parking in major areas.
As one agency will be given licence in one area, it should ensure that its bicycles move in that particular area only.
An NGO in Bangalore has already come forward to join this initiative and the ministry has asked it to submit a proposal in this regard, the sources said.
“As the bicycle is a pollution-free vehicle, which also helps the riders to keep physically fit, the government wants to encourage this mode of travelling,” Ramachandran, Secretary, Urban Development Ministry, told Deccan Herald.
Having a bicycle lane would be amazing! But what I feel is without having a separate lane also, one can ride the bicycles. Only things what we have to do is, always stick to the extreme left of the road and believe me, nobody will even care bothering you. I have been cycling from almost a year now, and I have not faced any such difficulties!
There is nothing new in this concept. Cycles were always available for rent in Bangalore. It was not a fashion statement or fitness hype product. It is those few who had never used cycles in Bangalore, saw the same concept abroad and is now trying it. Many in Bangalore think anything "Outside India" is a great idea. I have also seen many in Bangalore which has tropical climate wearing clothes fit for temperate climates because people in France, US or UK wear it.
Using cycles on hire instead of posseing is good. This can be tried first. This helps lot of people who have to spend minimum Rs 14/- even for a short distance and also reduces pollution. Waiting for buses and wasting time also can be reduced. But the main bottleneck is havoc of reckless drivers of buses and other vehcles. Unless separate lane for cycles are made many cyclists have to sacrifice their lives. This is the main problem I anticipate.
B S GANESH, 22426335
70 / 9, BASAPPA LAYOUT, HANUMANTHNAGAR, BANGALORE 560 019
I welcome this concept. People will be healthy. There will be conservation of petrol and diesel and Bangaloreans will be contributing their mite on CLIMATE CHANGE which is increasingly becoming important. Similar concepts may be adopted in other cities of India and thus help people to have reduced dependence on public transport, cars and autorickshaws.
Fantastic idea, the last time I was in Paris I enjoyed every minute of it riding bicycles with the very same concept... in-fact taking this as an opportunity it will not only make people fit we will also be compelled to make bicycle lanes. Bravo
Certainly good efforts in the right direction...
In June 2009, the New York City Department of Transportation completed the City’s ambitious goal of building 200 bike-lane miles in all five boroughs in just three years, nearly doubling the citywide on-street bike network while reshaping the city’s streets to make them safer for everyone who uses them. The same period also saw unprecedented expansion and innovation of the overall network, including the installation of 4.9 miles of bike paths physically separated from car traffic lanes, 20 sheltered bike parking structures and 3,100 bike racks, accompanied by a more than 45% growth in commuter cycling in that time.
The idea is good, but to make it happen, the public, the agency, the BMP all have to work hard and this is one of the way for us to do our part in protecting our Earth.
Few years ago, this system was introduced in some parts of Singapore and I was also one of the person to use it, free and limited for one hour, an access card was given to us, which had to be inserted into the stand to retrieve the bicycle,but unfortunately some of the users misused them very much, the maintenance was also getting worst and one fine day they sent me a letter saying that the service will be closed.
I wish the very best to all those who are putting in their effort to begin this service and change our make it a pollution free city.
This sounds like a good idea on paper, no pun intended...however, how about making the roads more bicycle friendly ? For this concept to work, riders need to feel safe on roads and looking at the current conditions, that is a not the case.
