Of late, we have started realizing the importance of a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. Most of us are in professions that demand long hours of physical inactivity.
While we cannot change our working pattern altogether, we have started incorporating some changes in our routine life so as to keep ourselves physically active.
Even before the pandemic, many people preferred commuting to their workplaces, schools, and colleges on their bicycles, for all the good reasons. Reports suggest that during the pandemic, the use of cycles has seen a further surge owing to several reasons.
You Can Now Take Your Cycle Inside The Metro Train
In a recent development, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) made an announcement, allowing commuters to take their bicycles inside the metro stations and even on the metro trains. Additionally, this facility is free for commuters.
During the pilot phase of the project, this facility is available on the following six stations:
- Changampuzha Park
- Palarivattom
- Town Hall
- Ernakulam South
- Maharaja’s College
- Elamkulam
Read Also: Cycling Has Seen A Major Upswing During This COVID-19 Pandemic: The Culture & Its Business
As of now, entry and exit facilities for bicycles are available on the enlisted metro stations only. The passengers can utilize the elevators available on these stations for their bicycles and the rail staff is facilitating entry and exit of cycles on these stations since November 18, 2020.
According to the metro authorities, depending upon the passenger turnover on this project, the facility can be extended to all stations in the future.
For now, commuters can carry their cycles on the first and the last coach of the metro train only and each metro train can capacitate 4 to 5 bicycles at a time.
What Do The Authorities Have To Say?
Metro authorities have made this decision to strengthen the last-mile connectivity of metro transportation. Allowing bicycles on the metro stations would further facilitate end-to-end and non-motorized connectivity.
Additionally, the decision would encourage a healthy lifestyle amongst the public and has been taken into consideration after witnessing a surge in the number of bicycle users in Kochi.
Hopefully, the pilot project would witness a warm response from the commuters and would actually contribute to spreading the message of health and fitness amongst the masses.
Image Credits: Twitter
Sources: Livemint, The Hindu, Times of India
Find the blogger: @_RitikaNijhawan
This post is tagged under: Kochi Metro Rail Limited, Metro Transportation in India, Cycles on Metro, surge in bicycle commuters, cycles on metro stations for free, KMRL, healthy lifestyle, rail transportation in India
