Soon, use cycle as public transport

DDA approves scheme for entire city

In a bid to reduce vehicular congestion, a bicycle sharing policy as a mode of public transport providing last-mile connectivity across the city has been approved by the Delhi Development Authority on Tuesday.

The policy that enables cycle sharing system as a form of public transport system allows a large number of short trips in the city on bicycles through closely spaced stations, said the DDA in a statement.

The decision was taken in a meeting on Tuesday under the leadership of DDA chairman Lieutenant Governor.

Cycles will be taken for short durations so that each bicycle can be shared by more number of people on daily basis, it added.
The bicycle sharing policy is different from cycle renting, said Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

“In the case of renting, a cycle has to be returned at the same point from where it has been hired. But this is not the case with this policy,” said the DDA.

The features of the new policy include a dense network of stations within the range of 300 m which will be three-minute walk away from each other.

“Cycles will be of specially designed parts and sizes to discourage theft. Cycles will have a fully automated locking system at stations that allows users to check cycles in or out with no need of staff at the station,” it added.

Tracking equipment
“Also, they will be fitted with Radio frequency identification devices (RFIDs) to track where a cycle is picked up, where it is returned, and the identity of the user. A Real-time monitoring of station occupancy rates through General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) will be used to guide the redistribution of cycles.”

As per the policy, real-time user information will be provided through various platforms including the web and mobile phones.

“The pricing structures will be such that incentivise short trips, helping to minimise the number of trips per cycle a day,” it said.

There will be a single ‘common mobility card’ which can be used for Metro, DTC buses, feeder vans as well as this bicycle sharing policy.

Private players will be roped in to devise a revenue model where the profit cab be shared.
All the three corporations will prepare a policy considering cycle sharing as a public transport project for social welfare and not to be treated as a sole revenue generation project.
The land owning agencies will consider providing space for stations at nominal rates to the operators.

“It was proposed that all road owning agencies like DDA, MCD, DMRC should provide technical guidance, space for stations and revenue rights, institutional and policy, support and viability gap funding if required.”

The DDA had initiated a pilot project in Dwarka on November 13, 2014.
“Various challenges faced by operators in regularising cost as well as maintenance of cycles had been discussed extensively.