Bangalore is involved in a typically Bangalore-ish conundrum... it's roads are clogged, and public transport is inadequate, at best. What we perhaps need, is a public-personal transport system that is usable at the commuters' convenience.
Freewheeling is a project conceptualised to deal with one possible solution to the current scenario. It involves a community biking scheme similar to Velib ( Wikipedia entry, Official site) in Paris, France or Stockholm City Bikes (Wikipedia entry, Official site) in Stockholm, Sweden.
There would be a rental scheme where the end user can get a membership over a time period. The biking system consists of biking stations spread across the city. A person can borrow a cycle from Station A, cycle upto station B and leave it there. He can then take another cycle from Stn B to Stn C. Then he can do whatever he wants at C, and take another bicyle from Stn C back to Stn A. There would be a safety deposit per customer, and time based validity packages. There could also be a rental fee everytime a bike is taken out. The advantages of this scheme are:
1) Decongestion of urban traffic, especially if car users take to biking.
2) Reduced pollution
3) Health benefits for those using the scheme
4) Publicity at the local level leading to civic consciousness
5) Publicity at the global level about Bangalore and the stand it's taking
More details will unfurl on this blog, including the results of brainstorming sessions, and status updates and information about progress being made... if you're interested in hearing about this project, or have ideas to contribute, get on to the mailing list at freewheeling-bangalore@googlegroups.com. If you would like to volunteer to work on it, mail in at freewheelingblr@gmail.com ... You could also leave comments on the blog for any feedback about the blog itself.
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2 years ago
5 comments:
Very interesting concept, Ananth.
Let me hop to groups now.
Hi Ananth
Had a few comments -
There are a couple of additional disincentives. Was wondering if you have thought about these -
1) Increase in travel-time
2) Security & exposure to pollution for a longer time.
Was also curious as to how you plan handle these -
3) Pricing
4) Promotion - It might be a good idea to start implementing these within various campuses & then slowly fan out. Campuses would offer security & the travel-time factor may not be so prominent for travel within campuses.
Regards
Pradeep
Good concept and thanks for taking the lead.
Initiate pilot operation within a certain radius eg. can commute between MG Rd, Comm Strt, Residency RD, Indra Ngr & Airprt Rd.
When in Blore, I park my car in IndraNgr and take a rick to MG Rd coz of Parking issues. Now with this concept, I can take peddle from IndNgr to Mg Rd and back... Wow, I feel so cool now besides saving on fuel, time (in jam, finding parking) and threat of other so called L boards bumping onto my car.
If we project this concept as happening trend to get the 'In' or 'Cool' feeling it will be a HIT !!
-Deepak Dsz
@pradeep;
the #2 disincentive you mentioned may look deterrent outright and I did some research quite sometime back and this is by health experts... not me...
"So-called ‘smog masks’ – which flter out precious little city gunk, despite proud claims – are as much more necessary for motoring than they are for cycling.
Research shows that motorists are sitting targets: they breathe in two to three times more pollution than cyclists, who sit high above the fumes. Automobile air-conditioning systems do not remove PM10s, the sooty particulates produced by diesel engines.Cyclists who are breathing hard are rapidly clearing their lungs out as they exercise. Motorists don’t"
So, hope see your foot pressing the pedals soon..
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