Bengaluru: Buses yet to get cycle racks as utility awaits Centre’s nod

BENGALURU: Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation’s plan to equip 100 buses with bicycle racks has hit a roadblock with the Centre yet to grant permission.
Cycle sales in the city have increased amid the pandemic with people wanting to avoid public transport and focusing on fitness. The rack proposal was aimed at improving first-and last-mile connectivity.
BMTC sources said they have written to the Union ministry of road transport and highways (MORTH) seeking nod to set up the racks.“Bus-mounted bicycle racks are common in foreign cities but it’s a unique concept in India. MORTH has to give permission since they are extra fittings,” said a senior BMTC official.
Each rack costs around Rs 4,500 and 10 such buses are ready on a pilot basis. Employees of BMTC’s central workshop have executed the work. A majority of these buses were to be deployed on Outer Ring Road where the directorate of urban land transport is planning a pop-up bicycle lane.
In August, BMTC had installed a bicycle rack on a bus to encourage cyclists to get on board and promote mixed mobility. Fixed on a non-AC bus, it can hold two bicycles.
Traffic police had recently faced severe criticism after imposing hefty fines on car drivers for installing bicycle racks. Senior officers later clarified racks can be mounted on cars but should not jut out.
Section 52 of the Motor Vehicles Act states: “No owner of a motor vehicle shall so alter the vehicle that the particulars contained in the certificate of registration are at variance with those originally specified by the manufacturer.” However, the Centre ccan grant exemption for alteration of vehicles.
A senior transport department official said: “Altering vehicles without approval from RTO is illegal and they need to take permission before installation of bicycle racks.”
BMTC officials said they will take a decision based on MORTH’s response. “Being a government establishment, we don’t want to violate any rules,” said an official.
‘Outdated rules’
“When transport agencies are coming up with innovative practices, the transport department is following outdated rules. MORTH amends rules to promote cars but not cycling. The transport sector is witnessing several innovations and government departments should also adopt them,” said bicycle mayor Sathya Sankaran.
Kochi Metro shows the way
Kochi Metro has allowed passengers to carry regular cycles inside trains free of cost. It also has the provision of bicycle stands with parking facility and locking mechanism at stations. In Namma Metro, only foldable bicycles that pass through scanners are allowed inside coaches. “Parking charges at stations have been fixed at Rs 1 per hour and go up to Rs 10. Some parking contractors charge users but most don’t,” said BL Yashwanth Chavan, chief public relations officer, BMRCL.