BMTC opens bike, cycle rentals from Shantinagar bus depot

Taking a further step in fixing the last-mile connectivity issue, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation on Wednesday launched bike and bicycle rental services from the Shantinagar bus stop.

Joining forces with private partners, the bus company launched 'Metro Bikes' and 'Rent On Go' bike renting services and 'PEDL' and 'Yulu' bicycle rental facilities, allowing commuters to reach their destination easily and cheaply. These companies have been given space to pitch their services to the commuters.

"The service is named 'Sidda Seve' (Ready  Service)," Transport Minister H M Revanna said.

Metro Bikes, which recently began providing bike rental services from 36 metro stations, wants to take the service to all city bus terminals.

"The objective of this initiative is to fix the first- and last-mile connectivity issues so that public transport becomes a convenient mode of commute," Metro Bike co-founder Anil Giriraj told DH, assuring that his bike rental service will soon be available from all bus terminals.

The service has won widespread approval from the commuters. "This is good, especially since different companies, including those offering bicycle rentals, is in one location," said Ramakant Prasad, who travels home from Shantinagar bus terminus every day.

"It's convenient, safe and affordable. Good mobility is the need of the hour in a city and it's about time there are more such public-private transport initiatives," Prasad, who tried the service after having taken autorickshaw rides home every day, said.

"My office is a short distance from the bus terminus, so taking an auto or a cab is time-consuming and expensive. They have long waiting periods. Bike and cycle rentals are cheaper since you ride it yourself," said Jagannath, a commuter.

Making its intent to simplify connectivity issues clear, the BMTC is planning to introduce app-based ticketing from home to destination, which would save enormous time for the commuters.

"Our initiatives are two-fold to tide over connectivity issues," BMTC managing director V Ponnuraj said. "Tying up with private cycle, bike, auto and cab rental services is one, and the other thing is to develop an app to issue tickets for the first mile - BMTC - and for the last-mile fares."