Bengaluru to get public bicycle sharing system in 10 Months

BENGALURU: In about ten months, Bengaluru could have a full-fledged public bicycle sharing (PBS) system.Once implemented, about 6,000 bicycles are expected to be made available at 350 unmanned docking stations in the central parts of the city.

On Wednesday, the state cabinet cleared the PBS System, estimated to cost Rs 80.18 crore. The proposal was submitted by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), a government body which is successfully operating the system ­ known as `Trin Trin' -in Mysuru.

The system allows citizens to pick up a bicycle from any of the docking stations. “Bicycles will be provided in places that see high footfalls such as bus terminals, metro stations, commercial and employment centres,“ Darpan Jain, commissioner, DULT told ET.

In Bengaluru, docking stations will be within a 30-sq-km radius that includes MG Road, Indiranagar, Lalbagh, Cubbon Park, Banaswadi, Koramangala, HSR Layout etc. “Our aim is to encourage cycling for short commutes of up to 3 km and bridge the gap of last-mile connectivity ,“ Jain said.

The commissioner said it would take ten months to implement the project. “We will select an experienced operator through the tendering process. This might take two months. For the full roll-out, we will need another eight months. In addition to the normal and geared bicycles, we are planning to provide battery-powered bicycles too,“ he added.

NEED NON-MOTORISED TRANSPORT POLICY
Welcoming the project, Sathya Sankaran, cyclist and member of Citizens For Sustainability (CiFoS), suggested that the BBMP come out with a non-motorised transport policy for Bengaluru on the lines of Chennai. “The city needs a policy which sets a modal share of nonmotorized transport such as walking and cycling. This will guide the decision-makers to take up projects,“ he said. The policy , Sankaran says, would protect cyclists and pedestrians.“Initiatives such as walkways and cycle tracks should be taken up to bring down accidents involving non-motorised transport users. The DULT should take the responsibility while the Bengaluru Traffic Police should enforce the policy,“ he added.