Bengaluru: The Public Bicycle System (PBS) will soon be a reality in the city and over 5,000 cycles will be available in the first phase.
If everything goes according to the plan, the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) will launch PBS by November end.
The PBS work has picked up pace after waiting for the BBMP approval, which finally came a few days ago. There was delay in BBMP approving the PBS, as they had not take a decision. After pressure from civic activists and cycle enthusiasts, the BBMP finally gave the approval.
A DULT official said they have plans to launch the PBS by November end. “We were waiting for the BBMP approval and now that we have received it, we have called in the private service providers to submit their no objection certificates and required documents for verification. We are also discussing with the BBMP on marking the parking lines at the designated spots,” he added.
These marking lines will help the cyclists know the designated spots through geo tagging and also make other motorists realize that the parking space is for cycles and other vehicles cannot be parked.
When contacted a BBMP officer, he said, “We have already planned about the marking of cycle parking lanes but we have not decided whether we should call for a tender or execute it ourselves. But it has been decided to provide all the required support to DULT so that PBS can be launched at the earliest.”
The DULT official also mentioned that there is not much of work pending, except for document verification of the service providers, after which the PBS can be launched.
Ashok Rai, who cycles daily to work from his house in Murgeshpalya to Whitefield welcomed the BBMP’s approval, after much delay. “Better late than never and finally we can see the PBS in our city. But we want the government to ensure that the PBS is introduced across the city. Right now only the first phase is being introduced in the central business district area. These cycle tracks should be well connected, if not it is pointless.”
