Public bike share programmes, which helped major cities around the world fight traffic problems and reduce pollution, made a debut on Monday, August 15, in Mumbai with a project to rent out bicycles starting in the north eastern suburb of Ghatkopar. Even in Hyderabad under the able guidance of our IT Minister KT Rama Rao at some places in Gachibowli the IT people are using cycles to do away with the traffic snarls and for some physical exercise.
It is reported that some state Governments are planning to have special lanes for the cycle riders to encourage them and also reduce the pollution from time to time it is reported. After seeing the success of the pilot project, the organisers will see to it that one can ride a cycle from one place and keep it at the other end.
“This is a small experiment where we are starting with 20 bicycles which will be operating across five dedicated depots,” Kisanrao Gopale, the man behind the project supported by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai said.
The Corporation has given space for the cycling depots at five different places witnessing large footfalls on an experimental basis. People will have to pay Rs. 5 per journey, which is less than bus transport and also the “share rickshaws” unique to the city.
Under the programme, a registered person can hire out a bicycle from a depot and go to another. It helps fight traffic snarls, is pollution free and also makes the person more fit.Appealing the people to donate bicycles, Gopale said he would like this experiment to be scaled up.
