The Times of India        13.10.2010

PMC wheels out public bicycle system plan

 PUNE: The city may soon get a public bicycle system (PBS) to promote cycling.

All roads seemed to lead in that direction with the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) inviting tenders for the PBS on Tuesday when a workshop on the viability of such a system of eco-friendly transport was organised by two non-governmental organisations __Janwani and Parisar__ in association with Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, India (ITDP).

GTZ is a German organisation that works for sustainable development. The ITDP promotes environmentally sustainable and socially equitable transportation. Both work in several countries including India.

The workshop which drew at least 50 experts debated on how to implement the system. While the actual take-off is months away, experts and the participating NGOs have warned that unless there is proper planning and ownership of the project lies with the civic body, the project would rake in criticism as it happened with other transportation projects including the Bus Rapid Transit System in the city. The experts backed proper branding and designing of the project for the desired success.

Various NGOs said that although the PMC has developed bicycle tracks in the city they are in a bad state, or they have been encroached upon, thus rendering them useless. Bicycle-friendly infrastructure was necessary, they added.

Ranjit Gadgil of Parisar made a presentation on the PMC’s proposal. The NGO had assisted a city-based agency to draw up a report on the project. According to him, the civic body has planned 25 stations with 300 bicycles where citizens can either hire or hand over their bicycles after their trips. The civic body has planned the project on a develop-build-own-operate-transfer basis. There would be no rentals charged for two hours. Cyclists would have to pay the proposed Rs 700 as membership fees to avail of the facility.

Gadgil highlighted the pitfalls . He said that the no-rental facility would mean there would be no bicycle available for others and the membership charge would discourage casual users. He added that at present there is no commitment from the civic body about making any investment in the project which is not indicative of the PMC’s ownership in the project. “The civic body has not come out with details regarding the long-term plans for the project. If there no such planning, it would not generate confidence among private agencies to implement it,” he said.

The project would need proper commitment on the ownership, and a monitoring committee to ensure that it is implemented with all the basic requirements and features, Gadgil said. “The civic body should involve experts and look at examples all over the world where such projects have been planned and run successfully,” he said.

Surveys conducted by Parisar say that people liked the PBS idea with many saying that it would reduce pollution and congestion. They have suggested that the charges for the bicycle should be taken per day rather than an hourly basis, cycles should be available early in the morning so that students attending coaching classes in the city where it is difficult to park, can reach their destinations.

Citizens had queries about bicycle thefts and why would people with cars and drivers and senior citizens use bicycles. Surveys among the target users showed that for employees, the preferred destinations were the railway stations or core city areas.

Santosh Kodukula of GTZ said that the area of implementation has to be decided and that the system has to be integrated with other modes of public transport. He emphasised that the bicycles and the locking system should be of quality make, adding that there should be a proper business and marketing plan for the project.

Nitin Warrier, ITDP’s city programme manager, said for the successful implementation of the PBS high-quality infrastructure was necessary. “Effective management for collection and distribution of bicycles, besides proper branding and marketing of the project are a must,” he added.