As part of the Smart City initiatives, the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) is contemplating to promote the use of bicycles by citizens introducing the concept of Public Bike Sharing (PBS) in Warangal city soon.
Municipal Commissioner Mr. VP Gautham told The Hindu that they would soon launch a pilot project educating the citizens on benefits of cycling and benefit to the environment. “Use of bicycles by citizens will reduce vehicular pollution considerably,” he said.
As part of the initiative the GWMC would partner with Hyderabad Bicycling Club (HBC), affiliated to the All India Bicycling Federation. The urban body would set up two bike (bicycle) stations, one at the historic Bhadrakali temple and another at the National Institute of Technology-Warangal (NITW).
Bicycles of different varieties would be made available on hiring basis at the bike stations, according to HBC chief manager S. Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy.
Different kinds of bicycles like touring bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, hybrid bikes, specialty bikes, kid’s bikes, women’s bikes and others would be made available to suit the individual needs of the riders.
The local youth would be engaged in maintaining the stations after they undergo full-fledged training. Thus the initiative would also help local youth get employment.
The bikes could be hired for going to colleges and offices, and for going on an outing with friends and family during weekends.
“Like jogging and running, cycling offers great benefits in keeping oneself physically fit and reduces vehicular pollution, which is a matter of grave concern in metros like Bengaluru and New Delhi,” Mr. Bhaskar Reddy said.
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme agreed to facilitate the collaboration of the PBS system with the HBC, which organises regular rides on Saturday and Sunday in the State capital.
“We are currently working on PBS projects in Chennai, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Delhi, Amaravati (Vijayawada),” he said.
