Almost six months after introducing Trin Trin as the country’s first public bicycle sharing (PBS) initiative in Mysuru, the authorities have tweaked the tariffs. Even though the first ride of the day up to one hour is free, the authorities have decided to charge the users ₹5 for the first one hour after the first ride of the day.
“Earlier, the users were allowed unlimited rides up to one hour. Now, only the first ride up to 60 minutes in a day will be free. Not cumulative for one hour. Whether you ride for 15 minutes or 60 minutes, it will be just one ride that will be free. The users will be charged when they take out the bicycle the next time”, said a representative of Green Wheel Ride, third party vendor operating the project.
When Trin Trin was launched in the first week of June this year, the authorities came up with the inaugural offer of allowing free unlimited rides up to one hour cumulatively. The users had to pay ₹5 only for use between one hour and two hours. Though the offer was initially announced for just three months, it has been almost six months since Trin Trin was launched.
The fares for use of bicycles between one hour and two hours, two hours to three hours, and three hours to four hours too have been changed. “The authorities are expected to make an announcement on the revised fares anytime soon,” the sources said. But, Trin Trin’s official website (https://www.mytrintrin.com) had uploaded the revised fares on Sunday evening. The revised fares will come into force for new users from November 20, but for existing Trin Trin members, the new fares will come into force only form December 1, according to the website.
Meanwhile, a total of 7,327 members have registered themselves as Trin Trin members so far. The 450 bicycles, which can be taken on rent from about 45 docking stations across the city, are borrowed anywhere between 850 and 1,000 times a day. On most days, Trin Trin bicycles are borrowed between 900 and 1,000 times except on holidays and rainy days when it dips to around 850 per day. The bicycles are mostly used by commuters going to school, colleges, and offices, said a source in Green Wheel Ride.
