On the Road: Successful Bicycle Rental Startups Dominating the Indian Market

Cycling is one of the sustainable and healthy options to travel. But in long distance, you can rely on cycling you need another mode of transportation on the Bike. When we look around the lockdown time, there is a rise of 200% in bicycle for cycle-to-work schemes. In India, the cycling industry saw a rise of 15-20% in 2020, initially, it showed around a 5-7% growth rate, but now it has jumped to 15-20%. This indicates that people now prefer sustainable options to travel as it eliminates the chance of tackling traffic chaos. In addition, You can check and book cheap flights to India as it will provide multiple affordable options.

Now, the traffic condition has reached its initial level, which was not shown during the pandemic. Cities are working towards making planned infrastructure to eliminate heavy vehicles, instead, they looking for options in the form of walking or cycling. In addition, cities are exploring different possibilities by implementing public bike sharing. It is a flexible transport service where you can rent a bicycle for a short period. It will make low-cost and sustainable options for short distances.

PBS System impact on improving cycling in Cities

PBS system hugle depends on the distance of traveling as it can implemented only for a short distance. There are around 35% of vehicular trips in India which are short trips (within 5 kilometers). This will have huge potential markets for using the bicycle to travel. PBS is a great initiative for citizens to have the flexibility of renting and sharing bicycles for short trips at reasonable rates. Most PBS users travel around short distances (2 kilometers) on bicycles. PBS schemes located at public transportation hubs in underserved communities can assist in extending the reach of these services by offering first- and last-mile connectivity. Additionally, PBS networks offer reasonably priced transit to a diverse customer base through creative pricing strategies, including long-term memberships. For International travelers, there are a lot of cheap flights to India from the USA. For Example, you can check the flight fare from USA to India.

PBS schemes prove different types of bicycles, including regular, geared electric, or pedal ones. In addition, there are some different rental models, including one-time rentals, subscriptions, and long-term rentals. Municipalities are often introduced to PBS as a part of citizen-centric services. This will help to not rely on main transportation modes, such as buses or metros. Here, are some examples of similar initiatives: In Mysuru, Trin Trin is an initiative of Green Wheel Rides. It has around 450 bicycles in the 48 stations, and initially, before COVID-19, there were 1,000 rides per day. Now, PBS sees around 8-10 new registrations per day and provides 300-50 rides a day. Besides, Mysuru, other cities like Bhopal and Kochi are now implementing the PBS systems. However, though it’s a great initiative, still there are some challenges like a lack of funds for walking and cycling projects. Visit Flyopedia.ca for a budget-friendly trip to India from Canada by availing cheap flight tickets.

Problems with PBS in India

The PBS project’s current lack of commercial sustainability is a significant roadblock. When cycling firms and systems first emerged in India in 2008-09, they largely focused on implementing large-scale PBS using traditional bicycles. These were implemented in cities such as Pune, Delhi, Coimbatore, and Bhopal while focusing on smaller pilots in other Indian cities. Bicycles constituted only 1% of all journeys in Mumbai, significantly lower than in other Indian cities. The city has introduced bicycles at multiple metro stations through the Station Access and Mobility Program (STAMP), a challenge organized by WRI India and the Toyota Mobility Foundation in collaboration with the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority and Mumbai Metro. It will provide more sustainable last-mile connectivity.

A more commuter-centric approach also needs to be taken to create a proper end-to-end PBS system. It will attract and maintain riders, focusing on ensuring safety, identifying areas more conducive to cycling, and experimenting with innovative customer acquisition models. There are some direct flights to Bangalore from USA, which will make your journey more comfortable and even affordable.

Also Read: Thrive yourself with the best heart-throbbing bike-riding destinations in India