Public bicycle sharing in Mysuru to get better with new technology for Trin Trin Premium

While school and college-going students, apart from young employees and tourists, account for a majority of the rides on the conventional Trin Trin bicycles, the authorities are anticipating the patronage base to widen with the introduction of pedal assist bicycles, which promise to vastly improve the riding experience.

After eliciting an encouraging response, Trin Trin, the Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) system launched in Mysuru in 2017, is all set to be taken a notch higher with the Karnataka Government embarking on a project to revamp it with technological interventions.

Not only will the bright yellow-colour conventional bicycles of Trin Trin be replaced with the more rider-friendly pedal assist bicycles, the system of docking the bicycles will also shift from the beam-style dock to dockless system with an Internet of Things (IoT)-based integrated lock system.

The Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT), which is implementing the project, and Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), which is the nodal agency, are in the thick of the revamping exercise.

“About 200 pedal assist bicycles have already arrived. A trial run was carried out at 46 dockless hubs,” said S. Shushruth, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of MCC, who is the designated engineer in charge of the project.

While Trin Trin operations have been suspended to facilitate overhaul of the system, the date for its relaunch with pedal assist bicycles and dockless stations is yet to be finalised by the government.

The pedal assist bicycle, which offers motor assistance when pedalling, will help reduce stress and the impact on the rider’s knees and thighs, particularly when pedalling on undulating terrain. While users can choose to pedal like normal bicycles, the pedal assist feature is expected to enable people of all ages to opt for cycling for short trips.

While school and college-going students, apart from young employees and tourists, accounted for a majority of the rides on conventional Trin Trin bicycles, the authorities are anticipating patronage base to widen with the introduction of pedal assist bicycles, which promise to vastly improve the riding experience.