GHMC to launch public bicycle sharing scheme

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will soon launch a public bicycle sharing (PBS) scheme under which people will be able to hire the non- polluting two-wheeler to move around in the city. The scheme will be launched in Hitech City area here and 10 bicycle stations will be set up for convenience of commuters, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan said today. "As per this public bicycle sharing scheme, commuters will be able to take cycles on rent from a residential area and travel to nearby places," he said at an event organised to mark one year celebrations of 'Car-Free-Thursday' initiative. "More than 500 cities across the globe have this facility. Bicycles, which are easily available at affordable rent, offer comfort, convenience and flexibility to get around in a city," a release quoted the Mayor as saying. This will be a pilot project and taken up from Hitech City area, he said. The 'Car-Free-Thursday' initiative, launched in the IT corridor here to encourage IT/ITeS sector employees to use public transport, carpools, cycles and walk to work, was unveiled on August 6 last year. The initiative, undertaken jointly by Hyderabad Software Exports Association (HYSEA), Telangana Transport Department, Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Cyberabad Security Council and different organisations, aims to reduce the number of vehicles on road to "free up" space and also solve parking problems in the various IT companies. Rammohan appealed to the HYSEA and other partners to come out with novel methods and systems to make this initiative more popular. The IT industry employs more than 3,50,000 people directly and about 70,000 people indirectly, who are daily commuters. HYSEA President Ranga Pothula said "the key success factor of the initiative has been the tremendous awareness the initiative has created and substantial increase in download of car pool apps. Now the focus is on to encourage carpool."