Mandya: The popularity of Asia’s first Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) system — Trin Trin — is catching on fast and the heritage city, Mysuru, is surely leading from the front. The response to this novel method of riding round the city on pollution-free mode of transport with docking stations to boot is slowly spreading to other tourist destinations.
The tourists visiting Srirangapatna, the town of Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali and the famous Ranganathaswamy temple that is also a must-see on the tourist map of Mysuru, are now eager to have Trin Trin in this ancient, historic and famous temple town with a rich 400 year history.
If this scheme is introduced here, then it will be a boon to the tourists and the locals is the talk doing the rounds here daily.
The holy places in and around Srirangapatna like Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, entrance to the Fort, Anjaneyaswamy, Ahalyadevi, Ganjam, Nimishamba and other temples are all places visited by the devotees in large numbers. The tourists and the devotees have no other option but to hire autorickshaws or use the bus service.
Dariya Daulat, Tipu’s death spot, Captain Dailey’s Dungeon, Dodda Ghosai Ghat, Wellesley Bridge, Balamuri, Ranganathittu bird sanctuary, the world famous Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) dam are the other major tourist attractions.
Trin Trin bicycles’ advantage
In such a huge tourist town, if Trin Trin is introduced it would be a boon to the tourists to go around the places spending less money. Many tourists who have experienced the advantages of Trin Trin in Mysuru hope that CM Siddharamaiah will also introduce this facility in Srirangapatna.
The Municipal Councillors, people’s representatives and other leaders should show more interest and see that this healthy mode of transport is introduced at the earliest in this town.
Sir,
Reading about the Public Bicycle Sharing System, brought back some old memories.
Years ago, before the easy availability of two wheelers, bicycle was the main mode of transportation for majority of citizens. There were private bicycle shops where one can rent a bicycle if you knew the owner or someone vouched for you. These bicycle shops also did repairs. Bicycle show rooms like Bhavasar’s was very popular, and buying a brand new bicycle was the ambition of many people.
Unlike buying a car or a two wheelers today, it was not easy to buy a new bicycle in those days, especially if you wanted “luxury” brands like Raleigh or Humber. These models also came with extras like Miller dynamos and Brooks leather seats. Only middle class people could afford these luxury brands while the working class can afford only Hind or Hercules bicycles. If you wanted to buy a scooter or motor cycle you had to “book” for one, and wait for five or more years for delivery. Of course, nobody worried about pollution!
Now things have come full circle and riding a bicycle is in vogue. What next?