City cyclists demand bicycles be allowed in Metros; officials cite space issues

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metro allows commuters to take their foldable cycles during non-peak hours and board the trains. However, cyclists in the city are now demanding that normal bicycles be allowed on the trains as well.

(According to L&T Metro officials, non-peak hours are between noon and 3 p.m.)

"Not everyone has foldable cycles. In fact, I don't know anyone who has a foldable cycle. They are extremely expensive," says Bicycle Mayor of Hyderabad Santhana Selvan. The starting price of a foldable bicycle is Rs. 35,000, and it can go as high as Rs. 40 lakhs.

"A cycle that's not foldable should also be allowed. This would help in last-mile connectivity," he added.

Pune and Kochi metro rail stations allow travelers to board the trains with bicycles. While some trains have a separate space to hang or place their bicycles, others request passengers to stand near the edges so as not to cause inconvenience to other commuters.

"If there are metro stations across India that are allowing passengers to board the trains with cycles, then why can't Hyderabad metro also allow it?" asked Santhana.

P. Kishore, a techie and a cyclist who resides in Madhura Nagar, takes the metro every day to commute to work. He hires an auto or sometimes walks to the metro station which is more than 2 km away. "If Hyderabad Metro will allow cycles into the trains, I wouldn't need to take an auto and can also park the cycle in my office in Mindspace junction," he said.

Santhana said there is no dedicated space or stands to park cycles in the metro parking spots in the city. He said it would be helpful if there is a dedicated compartment for cycles in the metro trains. "Perhaps, we can be charged a small amount above the usual fare for taking up extra space," he suggested.

"Allowing cycles on trains would revolutionise urban transport. The use of public transport will also increase if cycles are allowed. I am sure it would have a positive impact on the environment as well," Santhana said.

The Hyderabad Metro officials said that it would be difficult to accommodate normal cycles in the trains due to space congestion. They also said that cycles would need to be carried on staircases as they wouldn't fit in the lifts. They said there are several such operational constraints due to which cycles will not be allowed on the trains as of now.