6 days ago
Wheels Of Green Ride Stand Still As Delhi Cycle Scheme Rests In Pieces
New Delhi: The 25 cycle stands across Delhi are a sorry sight. They are proof that not all good ideas roll out well.
The plan, called Planet Green Bikes, was started by the then North Delhi Municipal Corporation, now merged into MCD, in 2008 with the idea of a greener, cleaner Delhi where an eco-friendly, last-mile commute would be available to residents.
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However, the rusted stands and bikes make it clear that Delhi has driven past this idea.
An on-site inspection by TOI revealed that many of the stands are in utter disrepair. At night, vendors use them as makeshift shelters, often cooking meals using small gas cylinders.
During the day, the structures serve as resting spots for passersby trying to escape the city's intense heat. While some stands are vacant, others house a few rusted bicycles that have stood still for years.
At the Ram Krishna Ashram Marg metro station, all the cycle slots are empty. The only occupant is a crow, perched on the stand. The Minto Road cycle stand was almost a repeat of this scene, but with three bicycles.
Pramod, an employee at the Bureau of Indian Standards, pointed towards the derelict cycle stand outside his ITO office and said: "I remember using the cycles when the service first started, but now it just doesn't seem practical, especially for long commutes in a city like Delhi where traffic congestion is rampant."
Pointing to the four rusted bicycles still parked there, he said: "No one uses them anymore, me included."
At Pusa Road near Rajendra Nagar, the bicycles have gathered dust. However, residents said that the advertisement billboards affixed to the stands have regularly been updated. This has raised questions among people about why similar upkeep isn't extended to the cycles and the stands when sustainable mobility is more relevant than ever.
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At New Delhi Railway Station, Pir Mohammad, who has been operating his chholey-kulchey cart for the past 10 years, echoed a similar sentiment: "Trust me, in the last two years at least, there have been no takers of these cycles. I dust the cycles myself when I have some time. Otherwise, you can see their state."
Nearby, another vendor, Mohd. Ali, gestured toward a gas cylinder placed beside a stand and said: "I stay back here on some days, and on those nights, we use the stand to cook something for ourselves."
At Karol Bagh, near the Jhandewalan Hanuman Mandir, a tea stall owner expressed mixed feelings about the initiative: "I understand the intent behind such an initiative. I just don't understand why they aren't maintaining it. With the cycles lying neglected, it's just taking up some space on the footpath. Can't even blame the company, they check the stand at regular intervals, charge the system and pump air in the tires.
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The mobile app connected to the service is glitchy. Users reported facing persistent tech problems. Aadhaar authentication — a key step in user registration — often returns an "internal alert" error, even when valid information is provided. There is also confusion about the fee for the service. While the website mentions a refundable Rs 200 as the fee, the app lists a non-refundable Rs 500.
The company contracted to provide the service is Planet Advertising Private Limited.
Its spokesperson said the fee was revised recently to discourage misuse. "Under the earlier pricing, bikes were often abandoned mid-ride or docked improperly. In some cases, there were even theft attempts. The updated fee is aimed at encouraging responsible use," he said, adding that efforts are under way to standardise pricing details across all platforms.
The company declined to disclose the total amount spent on the initiative so far The spokesperson said: "We are trying our best on the upkeep of facilities."
MCD refrained from offering an independent comment and directed all queries to the contracting vendor.
As Delhi continues to grapple with air pollution, traffic congestion, and last-mile connectivity, the future of Planet Green Bikes may depend on its ability to adapt to the city's evolving mobility needs.
Shreya Gaddepalli, urban mobility expert and founder of UrbanWorks that works on urban planning ideas, said: "For such initiatives to succeed, a conducive environment must be created first. Geographically, Delhi is flat and well-suited for cycling. But in practice, the scattered flyovers, limited tree cover, and lack of proper cycle tracks discourage cycling. As a result, it remains largely confined to the lower-income groups who have no other option.
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She said Delhi should ideally have at least 500 cycle stations across the city. "Only then can such efforts see meaningful success."
