Vandals damage 24 Smart Bikes, throw some into sea
Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com
Chennai:27.05.2019
While the hype around the cycle sharing system seems to have died down, miscreants have taken to vandalising the cycles with some even throwing them into the sea.
Smart Bike, which launched the project with 250 cycles at 25 locations on February 27, said it now operates just 226 cycles as many are under repair. Five cycles were damaged so badly that they had to be sent to Hyderabad for repair. Among the most notorious riders were those who hired the cycles from locations along Marina Beach — Labour Statue, Swimming Pool, opposite Madras university.
About 27,197 rides have been completed since the launch, which clocks at 313 rides a day with each cyclist using the vehicle for at least fiveand-a-half hours, N V Ram, general manager, operations, Smart Bike, told TOI. About 41,233 people have downloaded the mobile application, so far. Ram said people using the cycles for stunts is a major reason they are left damaged. “Some even use it after getting drunk. We were shocked to find cycles in the sea off Marina and many on the shore, but we managed to recover all of them. We filed a police complaint as well but not against any one person as when we find the person from whose mobile the ride is registered, they say their friend used it. We have imposed fines of ₹100 to ₹250 on those who do not park the cycles at the designated parking stations. Many cycles were found in Nanganallur, Tambaram and Pallavaram. We are still working on a way to reduce vandalism,” he said.
Many customers said they weren’t aware that they shouldn’t take the cycles to far flung places, the official added.
As per national and global standards, a cycle sharing system is popular only if it records four to eight rides per cycle a day, experts said. However, less than two rides per cycle a day have been recorded in the city.
“Pune records at least four rides per cycle a day since the system was launched. It will be very difficult to expand it to the entire city unless a proper system and awareness campaign is in place,” said an official.
The civic body is planning to expand the project to 5,000 cycles across 500 locations in a few months with Pondy Bazaar as their next prime location.
SORRY STATE: Among the most notorious riders were those who hired the cycles from locations along Marina Beach
Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com
Chennai:27.05.2019
While the hype around the cycle sharing system seems to have died down, miscreants have taken to vandalising the cycles with some even throwing them into the sea.
Smart Bike, which launched the project with 250 cycles at 25 locations on February 27, said it now operates just 226 cycles as many are under repair. Five cycles were damaged so badly that they had to be sent to Hyderabad for repair. Among the most notorious riders were those who hired the cycles from locations along Marina Beach — Labour Statue, Swimming Pool, opposite Madras university.
About 27,197 rides have been completed since the launch, which clocks at 313 rides a day with each cyclist using the vehicle for at least fiveand-a-half hours, N V Ram, general manager, operations, Smart Bike, told TOI. About 41,233 people have downloaded the mobile application, so far. Ram said people using the cycles for stunts is a major reason they are left damaged. “Some even use it after getting drunk. We were shocked to find cycles in the sea off Marina and many on the shore, but we managed to recover all of them. We filed a police complaint as well but not against any one person as when we find the person from whose mobile the ride is registered, they say their friend used it. We have imposed fines of ₹100 to ₹250 on those who do not park the cycles at the designated parking stations. Many cycles were found in Nanganallur, Tambaram and Pallavaram. We are still working on a way to reduce vandalism,” he said.
Many customers said they weren’t aware that they shouldn’t take the cycles to far flung places, the official added.
As per national and global standards, a cycle sharing system is popular only if it records four to eight rides per cycle a day, experts said. However, less than two rides per cycle a day have been recorded in the city.
“Pune records at least four rides per cycle a day since the system was launched. It will be very difficult to expand it to the entire city unless a proper system and awareness campaign is in place,” said an official.
The civic body is planning to expand the project to 5,000 cycles across 500 locations in a few months with Pondy Bazaar as their next prime location.
SORRY STATE: Among the most notorious riders were those who hired the cycles from locations along Marina Beach
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