The Delhi Metro Rail Corp. has teamed with Delhi Cycles Pvt. Ltd. to launch a service to enable commuters in Delhi to use reloadable smart cards to rent bicycles at some of its stations, an official from the Delhi metro operator tells PaymentsSource.
Through the service, which launched June 5–World Environment Day–Delhi Cycles will create substations in communities near Metro stations and at the Metro stations themselves where riders may rent bicycles from.
To use the service, commuters will have to first register with Delhi Cycles with a refundable deposit of 300 rupees (US$6 or 5 euros) or and identity and residential documents. Delhi Cycles will then provide the customer with a rechargeable smart card with a preloaded value of 50 rupees.
At the substation, the customer will have to swipe the card to unlock the bicycle and then swipe the card again at the station where he drops off the bike to lock it again.
Fare will be calculated according to the time lapsed between the time the cards are swiped at the two locations, the official says. Commuters will be charged 3 rupees per 15 minutes of rental.
Some 132 commuters thus far have registered with Delhi Cycle for the service, the official adds.
