Trin Trin, India’s first public bicycle sharing initiative which began in Mysuru five weeks ago, appears to be gradually gaining popularity even as it weathers minor hiccups.
As the number of registrations crossed 3,000 last Sunday, with a daily average of 70 to 80, the daily borrowing of the bicycles from the 44 docking stations has also increased.
While the bicycles were borrowed 219 times on June 11, the first Sunday after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah launched the scheme on June 4, it increased to 397 on June 25 and 730 on July 2.
“The number also varies depending on the weather…There are few takers when it rains. But, the numbers are gradually increasing,” said Sagar from Green Wheel Ride, the Mysuru-based company operating the scheme.
As the docking stations are unmanned, many borrowers, particularly children, are not following the procedure properly.
“The most common mistake is that the members, after sliding the bicycle back into an empty dock, are placing the smart card again on the reader. This unlocks the bicycle again and shown to be in use in our records at the Control Centre,” said Mr Sagar.
Though the members are shown a demonstration video at the time of issuing the smart cards on how to release and return the bicycle at the docking stations, the smart cards are often used by their children, who would not have seen the video.
The operators are trying to educate the users as far as possible. The cycles, which are shown to be in use, are locked by the operators when they visit the docking station.
Most parents are not aware that smart cards are issued even in the name of their children.
“They just have to sign a document on their child’s behalf and provide their own ID proof along with their child’s”, Mr. Sagar said.
While many are enjoying riding the Trin Trin bicycles, some older users find the seats and heights of the bicycles uncomfortable, a complaint voiced by Mr. Siddaramaiah himself during the launch.
Yet, Somanna, a 42-year-old driver with the City Armed Reserve (CAR), who resides in Gayathripuram, loses no opportunity to pick up a bicycle to commute.
“I use it not only to report for duty at the CAR office, but also when I need to go the market, bus stand or railway station,” he said.
Most people, who borrow the bicycles, return it within an hour as there is no fee for the first hour of usage.
Even if the members return the bicycles within an hour, the account recharge fee of ₹50 is valid only for one month. The account recharge fee of ₹50 will be deducted after a month even if a member does not use the bicycle or uses it for less than an hour every time she or he borrows.
Fortunately, there have been no instances of vandalism.
“Except for minor repairs of bicycle due to wear and tear, there have no instances of damage to our property. The tyre rims of a few bicycles were bent, probably due to riding on pot-holed roads. We have repaired them,” said Mr. Sagar.
