Bhopal: PBS project unlikely to find many takers

Bhopal: PBS project unlikely to find many takers

Staff ReporterUpdated: Thursday, May 30, 2019, 06:32 AM IST
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Bhopal: Going by the response of denizens Free Press talked to, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation’s upcoming Public Bike Sharing (PBS) project is unlikely to find many takers. While a section welcomed the idea but when asked whether they would personally use hired bicycles to travel to and from their offices, educational institutions, markets etc, their answers were an emphatic NO. And the reasons ranged from difficulties in riding bicycles in a city strewn with hillocks and hills, to waste of time, to high hiring charges. Some even said that the BMC had embarked upon a hare-brained scheme and the money being used for it would be better spent on providing other essential services like ambulance, fire engines et al.

Risky

I have lived and worked in the USA and Europe. Much of Europe, specifically the Netherlands, is famous for its bike culture. The BMC has imported 500 German bikes for public use. In my view, the fleet will have limited use as a means of transport due to lack of dedicated bike tracks. To ride bikes on roads bustling with buses, trucks and cars is a risky proposition. Bike riders will be exposed to vehicular pollution which will not be good for their lungs. I envision these bikes will be used more for recreational purposes rather than for commuting.

Suhsma Agrawal, IT Manager

Too expensive

Not only is bicycling time-consuming but the hiring charges are also impractical. As per the scheme, if we a non- member hires a bike, he will have to pay Rs 10 for the first 30 minutes. Aadhe ghante mein kya hoga? Even we can’t visit Lake View Boat Club properly. Even OLA cabs don’t charge that much. The hiring charges should be not be more than Rs 5 per hour. Only then, may be, I will go for it. After all, why will I use a bicycle if I can cover the same distance in lesser time and in more comfort in a public transport bus?

Keshav Rout, 29, school teacher

Don’t want to inhale carbon monoxide

Cycling is good for health but it is not possible to use bicycles for work, especially in a city like Bhopal. There are lots of inclines in the city and there is no lane for cyclists. Also, it is risky because very few road users follow traffic rules here especially in the Old City. A bicycle rider is very vulnerable on roads, especially after dark. Also it is unhealthy to ride bicycle in areas with heavy traffic, given the fumes released by mechanised vehicles. The effort required to pedal will only make her inhale more pollutants.

 Rachna Shewani, 35, model and make-up artist

Frankly speaking, it is not possible when it is very hot – as it is now, or when it is raining. It is only possible in the mornings and evenings and when the weather is pleasant. I can cover at the most 5 km by cycle. Anything longer, and I would prefer either a personal vehicle or if that is not available, a public transport. And what happens if I have to travel with another person. If both of us will hire bikes, we will end up paying more than what we would have paid even if we had hired an auto or maybe even a taxi.

Manoj Bardhan, 41, technical head of Aura Mall

Hubs only on select routes

It is a good scheme but not practical. Also the hiring charges are quite high which are not affordable, especially for students. It is a waste of time, money and energy. Moreover, the hubs will be available only on a fixed route. What if I have to go to place where there is no hub around. Then, I will have to keep the bike with me till my work is done. And that will cost me too much.

Siddharth Barik, 20, student

Will reach office exhausted

People should use bicycles. It is good for health and the environment. But for me, I won’t go for them. It is not practical. I can ride bicycles for short distance like 3 to 5 km but not more that. I use a car to travel to my office. If I will ride a bicycle to reach my office will not only be a waste of time and energy but will also affect my work efficiency. How will I work in my office if I reach there exhausted? It will slow down life. I seriously doubt if the scheme will be successful.

Sanjay Banerjee, 50, administrative manager, Aura Mall

Hiring charges will be more than film ticket

See, I am a film buff and visit theatres often to see films. If the charges are what you tell me then if I will hire a bike from near Professors Colony, where I live, and go to say, Jyoti Cinema to see a film, it would take me more than three hours and I will have to pay Rs 120 as hiring charges. That will be more than the Rs 100 I would pay for my ticket. Do you think I am a fool?

Chetan Pathak, 18, commerce student

Time is money

It is a bit inconvenient especially for me because I mostly wear saris. It is quite tough riding a cycle in sari. Secondly, it consumes more time. Nowadays, time is money. As a woman, I have to manage home and office both. I always try to save time. I’m in favour of cycling and it is good from the fitness point of view but given the time and energy it will require, I don’t think I would go for it for commuting. And nor would most like me. I don’t know what prompted the BMC to take up the scheme.

Pragati Shrivastava, 36, head of Nari Sashaktikaran Group

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