KOCHI: The public bike-sharing programme launched by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) in association with Athi’s Bicycle Club has evoked good response in the first two days of its operation.
Since its launch on Monday, 50 people have used bikes, while over 400 have signed up.
“Owing to the limited number of bikes, not all new registrants have been able to access them. But that has not dampened their spirits as the number of registrations keeps growing by the minute,” said M.S. Athirup, founder of Athi’s Bicycle Club.
To begin with, as many as 30 cycles have been deployed at bike racks set up at Menaka (opposite Taj Gateway Hotel and near KTDC reception centre); South railway station - Vivekananda Road (next to station entrance); North railway station (under North bridge); and Kaloor-Kadavanthra road. The bike rack at Menaka has proved to be the most popular point with most number of movements logged there.
More bike and bike racks will be added in connection with Kochi Metro after analysing the usage pattern and the scale of growth over the next three-months. “It’s easy for us to generate data for analysis by verifying the SMS log for each pick-up and return of bike,” said Mr. Athirup.
Athi’s Bicycle Club’s only source of income remains the branding of bikes and bike racks. As such, new bikes will be deployed, and more bike racks will be set up alongside metro stations with the support of branding fees to be paid by KMRL.
