Request for Proposal for Engagement of Agency for Installation and Operation of Public Bicycle Sharing System In Bhopal

The Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) invites Three Stage General Bid, Technical and Financial Bids from the prospective bidders for “Engagement of Agency for Installation and Operation of Public Bicycle Sharing System in Bhopal”. The term of the services will be 5 years. BMC is looking for the Agency for Installation and Operation of Public Bicycle Sharing System in Bhopal.

BMC plans to introduce a Cycle Sharing System to provide a low-cost, environmentally friendly mobility option to city residents. Cycle sharing is a flexible system of personalised public transport. Cycles are available in a closely spaced network of semi-automated stations. Users can check out cycles at one station and return them to any other station in the network.

Cycle sharing is a key element in a city’s strategy to expand the use of sustainable transport modes. Cycle sharing is expected to boost the use of public transport by providing crucial last-mile connectivity to the BRT system, thereby expanding the catchment areas for the region’s transit systems. The system will be integrated with the BRT system through the location of its stations and the ITS system. By encouraging a shift to sustainable modes, the Cycle Sharing System will reduce dependency on automobiles, reduce traffic congestion, vehicle emissions, and demand for motor vehicle parking. In addition, the system will expand the health and wellness benefits of bicycle transport to new users. Finally, the system will support the transformation of streets to become environments where pedestrians and bicyclists feel safe and comfortable.

The stations would cover the “catchment area” of the BRT. This will ensure that the first and last mile connectivity to people living in the catchment area is provided for. Importance will be given to place stations near important commercial, cultural, educational, administrative, and residential and tourist attraction points in the catchment area.

A Hybrid System is proposed for Public Bike Sharing. The stations will be manned by station attendants; however the operations of each station are communicated to the Central control system by the station attendants using card verification devices. The central control system collects data from each station for efficient planning and operation of the system. This data is used to make decisions on redistribution of cycles around stations during the hours of operations. The Cycle sharing system will also be integrated with the fare collection system of the BRT system through the ITS system to aid the multimodal integration.

The Cycle Sharing System proposed will have 500 cycles spread over minimum 50 stations across the city. The project will be implemented by the service provider within a time period of 12 months of signing the bid. However, number of cycles or/and stations can be increased with mutual consent of BMC and service provider but the cost of the same shall be borne by the service provider.