User:Tapaswini Bhavsar/sandbox

INTRODUCTION

Cycling is one of the most sustainable forms of transport and has tremendous positive externalities both for society and individuals. While always there may not be exact correlation between the user and the use of cycle. Whereas India is witnessing slow growth in cycle ownership. In India there is always negative correlation between economic growth and the usage of cycles, which shows that as incomes increases people opt for other modes of transportation. In 2001, 44% households owned bicycles whereas in 2011, only there was marginal increase in ownership i.e. 45%. Low income states are found to have highest level of cycle ownership and middle income states are having lowest level of cycle ownership. In India only four states, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Punjab and Chhattisgarh had more than 60% households owning cycles in 2011. During 2001 in Gujarat state the percentage of households having bicycles was between 35-50% whereas in 2011 it reduced to 20-35%. In Gujarat major cities such as Gandhinagar, Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara has started using smart bikes. The government has taken an initiative to raise awareness regarding environment and health wherein if people don’t want to buy bicycles they can rent it at very nominal prices for a fixed period.

Cycling Culture in Gandhinagar

Fifty one years after it was conceptualised, authorities in Gandhinagar have been working on a plan for new cycle lanes for the residents with the Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA). launching a pilot cycle sharing initiative — ‘Trin-Trin Green-Green (TT-GG)’ Project.The project is set to be launched on the original cycle tracks marked in the master plan for the first planned city of Gujarat which have now been encroached upon for vehicular traffic. the TT-GG Project is an estimated budget of Rs 60 lakh. the GUDA has planned 10 cycle stands at 10 locations on a public-private-partnership (PPP) basis. Under the project, people can hire bicycles from these locations and then return those at any of the 10 identified cycle stands in the city. “One hundred bicycles have already been given to GUDA by a Gujarat state enterprise for Rs 6.5 lakh. The 10 cycle stands costing around Rs 22 lakh have been sponsored by local real estate firms. The contract to conduct the project, which includes maintaining cycles, registration of users and getting the cycles insured, has been given to a Gandhinagar-based cycle firm through a national tender of Rs 25 lakh.” There were dedicated cycle tracks in the original 1965 master plan of the city. In fact, there were dedicated cycle tracks made of bricks. but the city planners have realised that over the years those tracks have been encroached upon for vehicular traffic. The bicycle sharing project will be implemented in three phases over 338 sq km area of Gandhinagar, including 57 km of roads within Gandhinagar Municipal Corporation limits. GUDA aims to improve mobility and provide eco-friendly transportation within the city, besides giving cheap and better transportation facilities to students, local people and government servants.

Journey

This project was initiated by Gandhinagar Urban Development Authority (GUDA) in 2014, from gandhinagar. In the beginning they only had 10 cycle stands and 100 cycles at places like gardens, parks, bus stands, commercial complexes etc. All over gandhinagar they had a great outset with around 400 rides and energetic crowd. Soon they increased the bicycles up-to 400 Gbikes at their stands and is known as the best project in non- motorized category as a public private partnership. It helps you to seek easy and healthy transportation in the city life for daily commuters and thus brings a better change for the economy and its welfare.

benefits

Using g-bikes in this manner can help the residents of gandhinagar value their public transport systems and enjoy a service like this. It would increase the mode share of cycling in gandhinagar. The best part will be to promote the awareness regarding such active transport which would help improving the public health. Another fact that the authority aims is towards transferring the image of cycle as a popular medium between both middle and upper class people. G-bikes are faster, cheaper and more flexible mode of communication. In colleges having huge campuses it is ideal to use such bicycles by students for transportation which would keep them fit both mentally and physically.

1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/guda-expands-gbike-service/articleshow/56653443.cms
2. http://www.itdp.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Gandhinagar-cycle-sharing-system-140115.pdf

Rajkot cycle sharing the Introduction

Cycle sharing started in Rajkot to ease traffic and reduce pollution. It was launched on world cycle day which is on April 19, in year 2015. They chose this day to celebrate the world cycle, Rajkot municipal corporation with radio mirchi and rotary mid-town library launched it for Rajkot citizens. The cycle station would be at Central Bus Stop (RMC Central office), Trikon Baug, Kishan Para Chowk and Indira circle at 150 ft Ring Road. It is to help public transport with last mile connectivity and reduce congestion by improving air quality by attracting private vehicle users.

When this project is launched there would be 60 unisex cycles. They, to encourage the public, would give 1st 2 hours for free and then charge rupees 5 per hour. The person who uses the cycle will have to provide their original identity proof and mobile number, i.e. contact details. The project is launched under purchasing power parity model with integration with Rajkot mass transport system. Some children do use these cycles on Sunday morning when their parents go for walking and they do cycling with their friends. When there was a cyclothon in Rajkot then people used this cycle for practicing.

Cycling history of Ahmedabad

A young Chartered Accountant was pursuing his dreams in metro Mumbai when a turning point idea changed his life. Travelling in public transport was an everyday hardship Arjit Soni faced as he found the trains and buses overcrowded and time consuming. Like other people  in Mumbai, who could afford to shift, Arjit too decided to shift to the three-wheelers and taxis for a better commute. To his amuse he found that he was being over charged. A few days passed and the situation continued to be even more difficult. After talking to people he got to know that the reason for the high prices were the traffic and less of parking space. After research on this matter he thought of the  concept of bicycle leasing program which aimed to reduce traffic on road and provide affordable access to bicycles for easier trips in urban areas.

To kick start the idea, Arjit decided to implement this program at his native place, Ahmedabad in 2014. Though the business plan was structure, a big challenge before Arjit was, receiving funds and infrastructure support from private sector and government . A successful meeting with the then Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) Commissioner Mr. Guruprasad Mohapatra opened new ideas. The next meeting with the then Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Narendra Modi made plan approved and kicked the program into full gear.

Today AMC has offered to provide infrastructure support by providing free bicycle terminal area at the Janmarg BRTS corridors for next five years. A proposition from Hero Cycles Ltd to offer 1000 uniquely designed ‘unisex’ bicycles for the pilot project addressed another big hurdle. Funds from investors narrowed down the challenges and finally the program was launched in May, 2014 as MYBYK bike share program.

Challenges

The real challenge that lays ahead is the acceptance of this program by a larger crowd and availability of seed funds for program sustainability. The team is making efforts to educate and create awareness amongst the masses for promoting non-motorised transport and improve air quality in the city. The vision is clear which is to make Ahmedabad a livable city in coming years.

What makes MYBYK different from other bicycle sharing/rental programs?

What makes MYBYK different from other bicycle sharing/rental programs? “MYBYK is the only program in the world where the users have the option to keep the bike with them for as long as they want (for as long as they have a valid subscription)”, says Arjit. The program is simple, wherein the user needs to register with MYBYK by paying base charges of Rs. 200 and MYBYK opens a prepaid account with members. Based on the subscription plan chose by the member, they are required to maintain the required balance in the account (which works as a security deposit). All subscription plans come with unlimited usage. Unlike conventional bike share systems, MYBYK does not charge its members on pay-as-you-go basis. Members can use MYBYK to commute from their ‘Origin’ to ‘Destination’ or they can drop the bicycle at the nearest point of any at the MYBYK station,public transport terminal and pick another bicycle from the point close to their destination.There are yearly, half yearly and quarterly subscription plans that charge INR 1800, 1000 and 600 respectively. All maintenance cost is covered by the subscription plans including insurance. If the rider comes across any problems, he/she can drop the bike at nearest station and replace it with another one. Currently in the introduction phase, MYBYK offers facilities for members to drop the bicycle at one station and pick up from any of the four at BRTS station namely, Shivranjani, Andhajan Mandal, Memnagar and Sola and which will soon expand to five more terminals namely Thakkarbapa Nagar, Soni Ni Chawl, CTM, Jashodanagar & Isanpur. In seven months since its launch, MYBYK boasts of 600 active members in the city. Though the users belong to different age groups, data analyses indicate that majority of the (50 per cent) active member belong to the age group of 25-35. MYBYK in 2015 “MYBYK is planning to expand this program by adding five new terminals in eastern Ahmedabad with support from Ahmedabad Municipal Coperation (AMC)”, The new feature to be incorporated in the bikes would be the Geo Fencing Kit. This kit will consist of a solar battery and an installed GPS and GSM system. This kit is a vehicle tracking anti-theft device which will ensure safety of bikes. Here the user will be asked to download an app on their smart-phone.

Vadodara

Vadodara was the first city of Gujarat to start the cycle sharing system. This system was introduced by Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) with the help of Ahmedabad-based Centre for Green Mobility (CGM), a non-profit organization. The main motto was to facilitate environmental friendly transportation. An experimental project was set up in Kamati baug garden, the heart of the city. The project was then spread to other parts of the city including areas like Fatehgunj, Sayajigunj, Kamatibaug Road and Pratapgunj, after receiving positive feedback from commuters. The cycle sharing system is a simple concept in which a registered user is issued a smart card using which he or she can select and hire a cycle from any nearest station rack, ride the cycle to the destination and leave the cycle back to any nearest station of his or her choice. Furthermore, in Vadodara, 60 to 70 percent trips are shorter routes ranging from one to three kilometer and providing cycles for commuting makes it easier to travel for short distances. Cycles provided in Kamatibaug are a mix for both the elderly and the kids and special sports unisex cycles are also made available making it easier for each type of commuter.