Cartoon courtesy Hugh
I was thinking about the bicycle expedition of Shyam, Satish, Kiruba and gang to cycle from Bangalore to Chennai.
I was surprised to know that Kiruba cycles his commute to work. I guess due to BarcampChennai, Satish also got infected to it.
As I mostly think on how to infuse technology and entreprenuership into micro-enterprise(SHG) movement I thought up this:
Cycles can be fitted with GPS tags that are tamper proof and embedded deep inside the tubings. This will make it virtually impossible to hide the bike. It will be always tracable. No one can steal it and hide it.
This way it will be easy for a bicycle rental network rent it and not worrry about loosing it to theft.
If such bicylce are made available to a rental network that are wide spread like STD/ISD shops.
These shops rent to customers based on electronic smart card- issued based on credit worthyness or upon sufficient deposit.
Then junta can just pick up a bicycle from one of these shops, pedal towards their destination say 3/4th KM away. Leave the cycle at another friendly shop part of the network, pay the rental using the card and get on with the business. In the process saving time, becoming fit, and probably feel more ownership towards the ‘commons’ road.
The shops gets commision on the rental revenue and maintanance charges paid by the customer.
I want this bootstrapped as a micro-enterprise business network. Say a set of 1000 urban self help groups are given loan for 10 GPS enabled bicycles each. The micro-enterprise network owns and operates the inventory management/tracking/customer management system.
How does this idea compare to heavy investment/long lead time urban transport infrastructure project:
* Participatory; Economic activity is shared. Ownership is shared.
* Low on investment. Totally bankable. No need to borrow from overseas banks at obsene rate of interests for eternity.
There will be a lot of implementation glitches. But nothing is unsolvable with will and commitment.
Happy cycling.
Update: Bangalore Chennai Pedelthon which motivated the post was completed colourfully by the Kiruba, Shyam and friends. Here is Kiruba’s account of it. Checkout the amazing bats in the photo!
Fake Geek Limited 
Hey there,
Nice to hear abotu a fellow bicyclist in blore. I too use my cycle out here a lot. I go to work on my bicycle everyday. In fact for most part I make do with just that. It’s worked out great for me so far. What bike do you ride? Also if you get a chance do check out this store called firefox in Indiranagar. They have some grat bikes there.
Cheers,
Sukrit.D.
I came across city of Malmo at Netherlands that actually has a program of this sort eventhough the climate is bit tough. In tropics, and a developing country we need to focus on this given the advantages of helath, wealth, and wisdom( environmental).
And
From
The second thing that struck Crowninshield was the way Europe seeks out ways other than alternative fuels to reduce petroleum consumption. For example, she was impressed by an innovative bike-share program implemented in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The city set up a system of quality bicycle lanes and sprinkled bike-rental stations throughout the metro area. Users subscribe to the service and receive a code they use to check out and return rental bikes. The bikes can be used throughout the city and returned to any station. The code makes the person responsible for the bicycle and virtually eliminates theft.
Rock on with your Bicycles; Create wealth with it!
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