BENGALURU: To promote cycling as a last-mile option to Metro stations, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) has decided to offer free bicycle parking at nine stations across the city — two on the Purple Line, three on Green Line, and four on the newly commissioned Yellow Line.The waiver was announced through a recent tender floated by BMRCL for operating parking facilities. Bids can be submitted until Feb 9, after which the agency is expected to finalise an operator. At present, cyclists are charged Rs 1 an hour for parking at Metro stations, with a maximum daily fee of Rs 10.
“Our connectivity team identified these stations as the ones most frequently used by cyclists, which is why they have been chosen for free bicycle parking,” a BMRCL official said. The waiver, the official clarified, will apply only to these nine stations for now, and parking charges will continue at all other stations.Cyclists flag infra gapsWhile BMRCL believes the move will send a positive signal to commuters, cyclists say improving infrastructure at Metro stations is equally important. “I don’t mind paying even Rs 10 to park my bicycle; it’s not about the fee,” said Sathya Sankaran, popularly known as Bengaluru’s bicycle mayor. “Except for a few stations, there is no dedicated space for bicycles, and at many places cyclists are shooed away. Providing proper parking facilities at all stations is the real way to promote cycling as a last-mile option,” he said.Another regular cyclist, Biju Cherayath, welcomed the initiative but highlighted the lack of basic infrastructure such as anchoring points. “Most cyclists don’t mind paying as long as their bicycles are secure,” he said. “At several stations, there is no pole or bar to lock the cycle. Even simple support structures would make a big difference.”
