Dockless bicycle sharing concept launched in Kovai

Ofo bicycles, which claims to be the world’s first and leading dockless bicycle sharing platform operated through mobile app, has deployed 100 bicycles across the entire campus of Kumaraguru College of Technology.

The bicycles will be available for free to the students to commute within the campus.

Requiring no docking stations, the system provides significant flexibility for users to find and return bicycles, said a release.

K Vijayakarthikeyan, Commissioner, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, who flagged off the event, expressed hope that this cycle sharing model would be replicated across the city, thus promoting an environmental friendly mode of transportation in Coimbatore.

“Cycle-sharing complements our Smart City project efforts for minimising carbon footprint. Model roads with cycle lanes will be created for the purpose,” he said.

Rajarshi Sahai, director of Public Policy and Communications, said this pilot project is also meant to create awareness among the students on the benefits associated with cycling. In this system, the students can use an app to locate the nearest available bike on the campus.

“They need to scan a code on the bike to unlock the wheels to ride the cycle. Once they’ve finished with the ride, the students can park the cycle anywhere in the campus without looking for parking bays,” said a spokesperson in the college.