Drawing inspiration from Kochi Metro Rail, Chennai Metro Rail too plans to give commuters biycles free of cost to ride from next month.
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they have tied-up with the Kochi-based Athi’s Bicycle Club that has put up cycles in Kochi Metro Rail. There will be 10 cycles in each of the following stations: CMBT, Vadapalani, Ashok Nagar, Ekkatuthangal, St. Thomas Mount, Shenoy Nagar and Nehru Park. “We will expand this further to other stations too as the demand improves. We want to encourage commuters to take to cycling and hence, this initiative,” an official said.
M.S. Athirup, a 27-year-old engineer and founder Athi’s Bicycle Club, started cycling as a hobby and eventually made it his profession. He has indulged in 14,000 hours of cycling across the country.
“Commuters just have to send a message to a number with their details to register, then, they have to send another message to another number to take the cycle. This message will give them a number to unlock the cycle. The stands in the stations will not be manned and commuters can take it whenever they want,” he added. Commuters need not leave the cycle in the same station where they took it from; it may be left in any of the above six stations.
Cannot be stolen
“The cycles cannot be stolen because, during registration process, the identification proof is given and contact numbers are verified. We can track anyone if a cycle goes missing,” he said adding that no cycle has gone missing yet. The club has provided cycles to Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi’s Infopark and Kochi Metro Rail.
