Surat civic body launches cycle sharing project

Surat: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has started bicycle sharing project to help reduce traffic congestion and provide an effective last mile connectivity to people living in the areas of old city. So far it was operational on an experimental basis only at Chowk Bazaar and Rang Upvan since February.
“We have placed 22 cycles at one place and eight at another. It is expected that at least 15 cycles from one stand and six from the other would be used by people as a mode of last mile connectivity here,” an officer of the civic body said.

Four more cycle stands will come into existence at Udhna, Majura, Athwa and railway station in the next 15 days. The first one hour is a free ride on bicycle for a person, but he or she needs to deposit Rs500 with the authorities concerned. Nominal charges will be levied from July when the project would be implemented in full. SMC plans to set up 40 cycle docking stations near bus stops for people to ride bicycles home located at a distance of 2km. SMC plans to purchase 1,140 bicycles and all of them will be fitted with GPS.

Rajesh Pandya, deputy commissioner, SMC, said, “We are eagerly awaiting setting up of new cycle docks across the city. We hope people to start making use of this environment- friendly and cheap mode of transport.”