Wheels Of A Bicycle

Enhancing Mobility of Indians (Key For Unlocking Huge Potential of Un-Connected)

1. Improvement of economic and social indicators for a growing economy like India is defined by increasing ease of access of its citizens to services and markets. For example, artisans need to reach bigger markets to get better prices, Children need to go to bigger schools for better education standards, sick need to reach hospitals to get timely and professional treatment etc. Ability to cover longer distances is akin to increasing opportunities and therefore resulting in prosperity. Mobile phone revolution has ushered an era of unparalleled access to information and connectivity but this needs to be augmented with an ability of the entire country to connect to the growth areas in terms of services and markets.
2. A large part of India's population lives in far-flung villages and towns that are not connected by either road or rail and use whatever means of transport is available, walk long distances or even use bullock carts if they want to avail basic facilities like education, healthcare and government services or offer their own products and services in the market place.
3. Ideally, all these areas need to be covered by development of public transport infrastructure, such as roads, public buses and railway. This would however, require huge amount of financial outlay, time and continuous / ongoing expenditure for running and maintaining.
4. It is not possible to create such public transport infrastructure and run and maintain it in every nook and corner of the country for various reasons, including cost of building, running and maintaining.
5. All public transport solutions have a substantial carbon footprint. Buses, public vehicles, private vehicles contribute to lowering the environmental parameters and lead to emission of greenhouse gases and outgo of precious foreign exchange for oil imports.

Proposed Solution

1. To provide one 1 fully insured strong but lightweight bicycle with sturdy carrier and tubeless tyres along with a chargeable battery powered drive assist, to each eligible household at a price of ₹2,000/-. The balance cost of the cycle will be borne by the Government in the form of 1% VAT and subsidy.
2. The design of cycle would be standardized for each area depending on local conditions. Cycle would be issued for a period of 4 years and will be replaced after 4 years with a new one. Warranty on component life like battery and alternator should be provided.
3. The design of cycle should allow both men and women to use it alternatively. School-Going children (beyond 10 years) where there is no school in radius of 5 km should also be given these cycles without batteries. 3 or 4 standard sizes and models of cycles with eligibility criteria can be given.
4. Through a tendering process, various suppliers should first participate to provide designs which will be approved and improved by National Design Institute or equivalent, followed by international tendering with manufacturing facilities to be set up in India.
5. This will achieve the following goals:
   • Every household will have an independent mode of transport operated on battery with solid cycle frame to carry maximum 3 people or people and goods.
   • Since it would have tubeless tyres, in the event of any puncture on unpaved roads, the cyclist would be able to reach to his destination without any difficulty.
   • Zero maintenance except for charging of battery, which can cost about 50 paise a day depending on the usage of the cycle. The battery with an alternator would allow charging of battery (in motion while pedaling) for areas where there is no or irregular power connection.
   • The owner will be able to move around upto 50 to 100 kms in a day, which is more than sufficient distance for undertaking day-to-day work relating to agriculture or Government offices or personal work.
   • This will take care of transportation requirement of population as the government is able to build road or rail infrastructure in the rural interiors.
   • This will reduce number of public buses other transport vehicles operating on the road, in turn leading to reduction in consumption of petroleum products (including diesel) and secondly, lower pollution and carbon, leading to saving of valuable foreign exchange and reduction in subsidies.
   • Value of carbon credit generated as a result of “cycle initiative” alone will over a period of time fund the subsidy to be given on cycles.
   • The cycle will provide mobility to the owner and his family members enabling them to be self employed in any field of their choice, such as plumber, electrician, electronics repairer, white goods repairer, computer repairer, motor mechanic, etc. With use of communication gadgets, such as hands free mobile, Bluetooth, headphones, earphones, etc.
   • Ability to commute to places of work would reduce migration from rural areas to urban areas.
   • Enhanced ability of households to offer goods and services will reduce the burden on the Government for providing employment and also improve law and order situation on account of increased self employment.
   • This will catalyse true manufacturing revolution in the country. Manufacturing can be done at each district level by supplying prefabricated parts for assembly purposes.
   • The assembly line for manufacturing can be done by women alone, thereby creating large number of employment in rural areas for women.

Win-Win For Government, Citizens & Political Parties.

This one initiative by the Government can bring all the desired results and would make every stakeholder, including people at large, happy and satisfied and would be a would be a panacea for return to power.