It is not just excited youngsters who are borrowing the brand new Trin Trin bicycles from the docking stations across the City; even women and train passengers are pedalling their way to their destinations in Mysuru.
A college-going youth, who was dropped off at the docking station near Millennium Circle in Bannimantap in a motorcycle by his friend on Monday evening, was beaming with excitement as he undocked a bicycle and pedalled away on Nelson Mandela Road. “I love cycling, so I became a member”, he said while cycling away.
Another train passenger borrowed a bicycle from the docking station on Seetha Vilas Road and returned it at City Railway Station. He even called the Trin Trin Call Centre after boarding the train to thank them for the service that helped him reach the railway station conveniently.
Many women are also among the initial users of Trin Trin, India’s first public bicycle sharing (PBS) project launched by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Mysuru on Sunday.
Ever since Green While Ride, a Mysuru-based enterprise which is operating the project on behalf of Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) began registration of members on Monday, their personnel have had their hands full.
“We have had a very good response”, said Sagar S.M., who manages the Information Technology (IT) issues for Green Wheel Ride. Till 2 p.m. on Tuesday, more than 100 people had collected their smart cards after registering themselves by submitting their identity. More than 200 transactions (undocking of bicycles) had taken place till Tuesday afternoon. Also, more than 500 people had signed up online through the website or the mobile app including 30 who had made online payment.
Helpline busy
Trin Trin’s Helpline 0821-2333000 is also ringing incessantly. “A lot of people are not aware that they have to visit one of the six registration centres to obtain a smart card even if they register online”, Mr Sagar said.
Another reason for people to call the Helpline is their inability to undock the bicycle using the smart card. “The bicycle will have to be removed before the blinking of lights on the smart card reader stops. If the blinking stops, the card will be blocked for some time and user will have to wait for five minutes before making a second attempt”, Mr. Sagar said.
Trin Trin facility is available from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. “We can extend it upto 9 p.m. for borrowing bicycles and 10 p.m. for returning. We are waiting for feedback from the users before taking a decision”, Mr. Sagar said.
