Encouraging bikes to reduce traffic
JBS Umanadh in Hyderabad, Dec 25, 2016, DHNS
Gone are the days of waiting in a line for a bus or a crowded shared cab. Now, bicycles are available for people to reach their nearest Metro station, leave them there and take a train. After getting down from the Metro, people can take bicycles from there and reach their offices. The information technology and financial hub in Hyderabad has become a new breeding ground for such innovative ideas.
Starting the initiative, the home-grown company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has partnered with Cykul, a cycling company, to launch one of the largest cycle-sharing programme in Hyderabad. Dr Reddy’s Redibike, as the programme will be known, aims to promote a healthier and an environmentally conscious alternative to traveling in the city. The programme was recently launched by Telangana Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao.
Redibike opens with a fleet of 400 robust and easy-to-ride cycles that are available at 10 Metro stations. The programme has been rolled-out in the financial district and Gachibowli--a 15-km stretch from IDBI junction to Cyient. Redibike offers healthy and eco-friendly transportation for people moving between campuses or covering the last-mile service between transit stops and employment hubs. The programme marks a step towards a sustainability embracing city that helps reduce the need for motorised vehicle trips and encourages cycling as a sustainable transport option.
With cycles located across the designated network at secure and easy-to-access points,Redibike offers a convenient and comfortable ride. Using the most up-to-date cycle sharing technology available, users will be able to purchase monthly passes at RediBike.in or via a mobile app.
The user will be issued a Redibike smart card only after a thorough verification. The system will use efficient redistribution to ensure smooth operations and adoption among the Cyberabad commuters. The charges for using the cycle facility is Rs 375 per month and it will remain in operation from 6 am to 10 pm on week days.
“It is around 3 km distance from Gachibowli to Polaris. I love to ride a bike once I get down from the bus as there is no point in bringing my car to cover that short distance in heavy morning traffic,” P Srinivas a IT professional working in the financial district says. “My concern is about the speeding vehicles on the stretch from IDBI crossroads to Cyient. Cyclists must wear reflective clothing during evening times,” says K Jayaram, who prefers to ride a bike in a group. Cyberabad Police Commissionerate has roped in 1,300 volunteers, mostly employees in private firms, to help traffic police streamline traffic in the IT corridor.
Once the entire Metro network is thrown open to the public, the government is planning to provide the commuter the option of riding to the station on a bike, reach the destination and take another bike from there to the workplace providing a total pollution-free, cycle riding experience. Redibike is also available as an android app for those who prefer to book the bike on the move.
Similarly the government is also trying to lessen traffic congestion with the help of more motorbikes and less four-wheelers in the city. Uber, the smartphone app, that connects riders with drivers to provide rides at the push of a button, is coming up with a bike-sharing product, Ubermoto.It was launched recently at the start-up centre T-Hub jointly by Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO, and KT Rama Rao. “This is a quick, easy and affordable way to get around the city. And it’s great to be working with the Telangana government on smart mobility solutions that can help reduce congestion in urban areas,” says Kalanick.
“The Telangana Transport Department has created a seamless online system that enables a simple and fast registration process for two-wheelers to operate as bike taxis. These bike taxis will sport yellow plate commercial registration numbers and have contract carriage permits. Ubermoto will be made available in Hyderabad in January and is a step forward towards our commitment to help the last-mile connectivity,” said Deepak Reddy, General Manager, Uber, Hyderabad.
In addition, Uber and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding to help extend the reach of the metro using the two-wheelers. Riders receive driver and bike details just as they do for other Uber rides, as well as all standard safety features before, during and after the ride, including GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends. Download the Uber app for iOS or Android and create an Uber account.
To ride on a motorcycle one has to select Ubermoto in the app, enter the pickup location and payment method, and request a ride; receive driver details -- name, photo and details of the motorbike. However, one must have one helmet for the rider and all riders must wear a helmet, as per the law.At the end of the trip, pay by cash, credit or debit card or mobile wallet and receive an electronic receipt via the Uber app.
The two-wheeler rental is said to be one of the most affordable transportation options in the city, with fares as low as Rs 20 for the first 3 km and Rs 5 per km thereafter. Ubermoto is also available in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia and Vietnam, and is well-suited for first mile and last-mile connectivity, getting people from their homes or offices to metro stations and vice versa.
Starting the initiative, the home-grown company Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd has partnered with Cykul, a cycling company, to launch one of the largest cycle-sharing programme in Hyderabad. Dr Reddy’s Redibike, as the programme will be known, aims to promote a healthier and an environmentally conscious alternative to traveling in the city. The programme was recently launched by Telangana Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao.
Redibike opens with a fleet of 400 robust and easy-to-ride cycles that are available at 10 Metro stations. The programme has been rolled-out in the financial district and Gachibowli--a 15-km stretch from IDBI junction to Cyient. Redibike offers healthy and eco-friendly transportation for people moving between campuses or covering the last-mile service between transit stops and employment hubs. The programme marks a step towards a sustainability embracing city that helps reduce the need for motorised vehicle trips and encourages cycling as a sustainable transport option.
With cycles located across the designated network at secure and easy-to-access points,Redibike offers a convenient and comfortable ride. Using the most up-to-date cycle sharing technology available, users will be able to purchase monthly passes at RediBike.in or via a mobile app.
The user will be issued a Redibike smart card only after a thorough verification. The system will use efficient redistribution to ensure smooth operations and adoption among the Cyberabad commuters. The charges for using the cycle facility is Rs 375 per month and it will remain in operation from 6 am to 10 pm on week days.
“It is around 3 km distance from Gachibowli to Polaris. I love to ride a bike once I get down from the bus as there is no point in bringing my car to cover that short distance in heavy morning traffic,” P Srinivas a IT professional working in the financial district says. “My concern is about the speeding vehicles on the stretch from IDBI crossroads to Cyient. Cyclists must wear reflective clothing during evening times,” says K Jayaram, who prefers to ride a bike in a group. Cyberabad Police Commissionerate has roped in 1,300 volunteers, mostly employees in private firms, to help traffic police streamline traffic in the IT corridor.
Once the entire Metro network is thrown open to the public, the government is planning to provide the commuter the option of riding to the station on a bike, reach the destination and take another bike from there to the workplace providing a total pollution-free, cycle riding experience. Redibike is also available as an android app for those who prefer to book the bike on the move.
Similarly the government is also trying to lessen traffic congestion with the help of more motorbikes and less four-wheelers in the city. Uber, the smartphone app, that connects riders with drivers to provide rides at the push of a button, is coming up with a bike-sharing product, Ubermoto.It was launched recently at the start-up centre T-Hub jointly by Travis Kalanick, Founder and CEO, and KT Rama Rao. “This is a quick, easy and affordable way to get around the city. And it’s great to be working with the Telangana government on smart mobility solutions that can help reduce congestion in urban areas,” says Kalanick.
“The Telangana Transport Department has created a seamless online system that enables a simple and fast registration process for two-wheelers to operate as bike taxis. These bike taxis will sport yellow plate commercial registration numbers and have contract carriage permits. Ubermoto will be made available in Hyderabad in January and is a step forward towards our commitment to help the last-mile connectivity,” said Deepak Reddy, General Manager, Uber, Hyderabad.
In addition, Uber and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding to help extend the reach of the metro using the two-wheelers. Riders receive driver and bike details just as they do for other Uber rides, as well as all standard safety features before, during and after the ride, including GPS tracking, two-way feedback and the ability to share trip details with family and friends. Download the Uber app for iOS or Android and create an Uber account.
To ride on a motorcycle one has to select Ubermoto in the app, enter the pickup location and payment method, and request a ride; receive driver details -- name, photo and details of the motorbike. However, one must have one helmet for the rider and all riders must wear a helmet, as per the law.At the end of the trip, pay by cash, credit or debit card or mobile wallet and receive an electronic receipt via the Uber app.
The two-wheeler rental is said to be one of the most affordable transportation options in the city, with fares as low as Rs 20 for the first 3 km and Rs 5 per km thereafter. Ubermoto is also available in the Southeast Asian countries of Indonesia and Vietnam, and is well-suited for first mile and last-mile connectivity, getting people from their homes or offices to metro stations and vice versa.
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