BANGALORE: As the fuel prices are bound to soar, the dents in your wallet will only become bigger and deeper till one fine day, when fuel becomes a priceless commodity. While you ponder on that thought, here is another — imagine commuting without having to worry about the sky-rocketing fuel prices or air pollution. It may not be a far-fetched dream after all if the combined efforts of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP) and Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) along with Kerberon Automation come through.The registrations for Automated Tracking and Control of Green Assets (ATCAG) India’s first automated public bicycle sharing system will begin today at War Memorial and the Residency Road-Brigade Road junction. Applicants will need to carry address and identity proof which will be scanned and verified at the spot. Once the verifications are completed, a smart card will be dispatched via speed post to the residence of the applicant within five working days.These smart cards can then be swiped at one of the docking stations where the machine will then render the bicycles.Syed Haseeb Arfath, co-founder, chairman and managing director for Kerberon Automation, sees the initiative as an efficient and cost-effective venture that could be the solution to the city’s traffic woes. “From November 1 to January 31, we will implement the pilot project. The idea behind the pilot is not just to spread awareness about the system but also to receive both positive and negative feedback so that we can fix the loopholes to ensure smooth operations. We are looking at targeting at least 300 people during these three months,” he said.For the next three months ATCAG will set up three docking stations near Brigade Road-Residency Road junction, within the Public Utility Building complex and at the Anil Kumble Circle for demo purpose. A monthly rental of Rs 200 per month will be applicable to utilise the facility.Dwelling on the topic, Arfath informed that while the DULT decides the location, the Palike provides the space free of charge. Kerberon Automation has invested on the set-up . “For a six-cycle docking station we would require approximately 140 square feet, while for the 12-cycle station, the space would be double. The docking stations will be built in phases. In the first phase we are targeting MG Road (26 stations) and Jayanagar (36 stations). Once these are fully functional we will spread to other localities as well,” he said.When questioned about the safety measures and space constraints for a cyclist, Arfath informed that the Palike was in the process of constructing cycling tracks across the city.Adding to it Arfath foresees the system to be of public service rather than a money-making gimmick. “Initially we will be charging a nominal fee of `500 per year for membership. But in time that will be removed. It will be a ‘free of cost’ service. The bikes will be fitted with a GPRS which will disable the bikes once they cross a certain limit,” he said.Depending on the requirement each docking station will have six or 12 bikes. At every 500 metres there will be a docking station. As a part of their maintenance, before and after every use, the bikes will be sanitised by the ground staff.
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