Trin Trin bicycle users in Mysuru can once again enjoy unlimited free rides, but up to 30 minutes.
The authorities have decided to bring back the offer after ridership of bicycles came down by almost half when the authorities decided to collect ₹5 for the first one hour after the first ride of the day, said Deputy Commissioner of Mysuru D. Randeep while briefing reporters on Monday.
When the public bicycle sharing (PBS) initiative was launched in June last year, the users were allowed unlimited free rides up to one hour as an introductory offer. The ridership of Trin Trin, which had crossed 1,000 per day, came down to around 500 per day, after the authorities began collecting user fee from the members after the first free ride of the day from December 1, 2017.
“A majority of the users were borrowing the bicycles for 20 to 30 minutes and returning them, thereby incurring no usage fee. Most Trin Trin users were using the bicycle for a short duration. Besides, using a bicycle for a longer duration requires more stamina,” said an official from Green Wheel Ride, which is operating Trin Trin.
As per the new fare plan, which comes into force from February 1, the users will have to pay ₹ 5 for usage of bicycle for duration between 30 minutes and one hour. While reintroducing unlimited free rides up to 30 minutes, the authorities have substantially increased the fee for using the bicycles for over one hour.
The authorities justified the huge hike in fares by stating that it was aimed at discouraging users from keeping the bicycle with them while visiting either a theatre or going to school or college. “The idea of the PBS is to encourage people to commute from one place to another in the city and not to keep the bicycle with them thereby depriving others as only a limited number of bicycles are available,” an official said.
