Public bike-sharing cheapest mode for last-mile: Report
MUMBAI: As cycling gains popularity across the world, a recent analysis shows that it could also prove to be the cheapest mode for last-mile connectivity in Mumbai.
The recent analysis by the World Resources Institute (WRI), India shows that while public-bike sharing (introduced at Mumbai metro stations) costs ₹2 for a five km ride, the same distance costs ₹5 in a BEST bus and local train (second class), ₹50 in first-class and ₹20 in a metro.
It gets more expensive if one opts for an auto (₹60.67), a black and yellow taxi (₹74) or an appbased cab (₹115). The analysis has assessed the cycling speed to be around 6km per hour. The newly-introduced public-bike sharing scheme at the Versova and Jagruti Nagar metro station costs ₹2 per hour. For trains, the report looks at the pricing between the Churchgate and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) stations.
Prateek Diwan, senior project associate, urban innovative and integrated transport, WRI India said, “Public transportation becomes effective when commuters have a range of last-mile connectivity options, which is usually at a distance of about 2-5kms. Apart from being a lowcost mode of travel, cycling also allows commuters flexibility to change routes and is the most sustainable transport option.”
Almost 35% of vehicular trips in India are short-trips (less than 5kms). The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) development plan (DP) 2032 also states that 60% of the start and end of public transport trips are by walking and more than 80% of it is for less than 15 minutes, which effectively means that these trips, in conducive weather, can also translate to cycling trips.
Pranav Naik, a Mumbai-based urban designer and a cyclist said, “Public bike-sharing will be more effective if there is a network and cycles are easily available at the different Metro and railway stations.”
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which is implementing a 337km metro network in Mumbai and its adjoining areas, is also giving a lot of importance to cycling as an attractive lastmile option. MMRDA has also introduced e-scooters in Bandrakurla Complex. MMRDA has also planned cycle bays across all upcoming 200+ metro stations as part of its larger multimodal integration plan. Meanwhile, Mumbai Metro One Pvt Ltd, which runs the city’s Versova-andheri-ghatkopar Metro-1 corridor, on Tuesday, extended the public-bike sharing initiative at two more metro stations- DN Nagar and Azad Nagar on Tuesday. Last Saturday, metropolitan commissioner RA Rajeev had inaugurated services at Versova metro station and it was launched at Jagruti Nagar station in 2019.