Bengaluru: In the past two months, a quiet corner of Cubbon Park has transformed into one of Bengaluru’s most sought-after weekend hangouts. Youngsters are lining up for hours to rent bicycles — many returning disappointed — after social media reels showcasing leisurely rides through the park went viral.The cycling activity itself is not new. The Bengaluru Cycle Trails initiative operated inside the park near the Hudson Circle gate since 2019 as a collaboration between the tourism department, horticulture department and the Namma Nimma Cycle Foundation. However, recent online buzz has dramatically amplified interest.
For Rs 50 an hour, visitors can rent a bicycle on Saturdays and Sundays between 8.30am and 5pm and ride through the park’s shaded avenues. According to HR Murali, CEO of the foundation, demand nearly doubled in just two months. “When we began, ridership was modest. Over the last couple of years, we saw about 60–80 trips on Saturdays and 90–100 on Sundays. Now Sundays record nearly 200 trips and Saturdays around 100–120,” he said. Second and fourth Saturdays — when vehicular traffic is restricted inside the park — draw even larger crowds.The surge has created long waiting lines. Around 350 visitors now reach the rental stations on a weekend, but only about 200 manage to get bicycles. To keep pace, the fleet expanded from 35 to 60 cycles, with 50 more expected to be added shortly. Murali noted a striking shift in the rider profile. “A large number are young women aged 17 to 25 years who come with groups of friends. For many, this is a space to enjoy freedom and fitness. We also see families arriving together, even with grandparents,” he said.Riders are travelling from distant neighbourhoods such as Whitefield and Yelahanka — an indicator, Murali believes, of Bengaluru’s shortage of safe public cycling and walking spaces. With Cubbon Park and Lalbagh currently bearing most of the demand, he said the foundation hopes to eventually expand the model to places like GKVK and other parts of the city.Online reactions mirror the enthusiasm on the ground. Commenting on reels showing long queues, one Instagram user wrote the scenes were “more proof that Bengalureans yearn for cycle lanes and walkable cities,” while another rider said the wait was “totally worth it.”“This was initiated by the tourism department, and we helped with space and other arrangements. The foundation takes care of the operations,” said M Jagadeesh, joint director, parks and gardens, horticulture department. When asked about the e-cycle renting initiative in Lalbagh, Jagadeesh said after the success of the pilot programme, the department is set to call a tender for full-scale implementation. However, in the meantime, the programme has been paused.
