RailEnquiry

MYSORE: Here is some happy news for bicycle enthusiasts in Mysore. The district administration is going all out to promote bicycling in a big way by introducing public bicycle sharing (PBS) system in Mysore before Dasara.

Authorities will float tenders by early next week inviting private players to assist them in the proposed project.

Perhaps this is the first tier-II city in India to embark on this green initiative.

Under the scheme, bicycle stands will be created across the city areas and about a dozen bicycles each will be stationed for public use. One can hire bicycles from any of these stations and then drop them at any other station.

Locations have been identified for the proposed project and authorities have covered important spots like railway stations and bus stands and even tourists spot like Mysore Zoo, Mysore Palace and St Philomena's church.

This will help authorities in promoting bicycling and help passengers save money in commuting. For instance, a person travelling from Kuvempunagar, an upscale locality, to the railway station can take a bicycle from a PBS bicycle stand nearby, leave the cycles at the railway station PBS stand and continue their onward journey.

This move will be most useful for early morning and late evening commuters as auto fares are usually double during the time and public transport is scarce.

Initially, authorities were planning to offer the service free of cost for the first one hour but that has been ruled out. The charges, however, will be nominal, said an official. Last month, deputy commissioner P S Vastrad held a meeting with managements of all educational institutions seeking their cooperation to set up bicycle stands at their campuses. Many had promised to offer space then.

No immediate ban

To a query, Vastrad said they don't have any immediate plan to ban movement of motorized vehicles in the central business district, especially in the vicinity of Mysore Palace.