It's been quite a while since this Gallan last streaked around the city with a bicycle, but if the recently introduced Athi's Bicycle Club is even as half as good as it looks to be, you'll be seeing a lot more bicycles around the city!
This daring venture has no precedent in the country, and is drawing as many skeptical raised eyebrows as it is enthused and delighted cyclists. Their mission, as stated, is "To promote bicycling as a sustainable mode of transportation by establishing a cross-city bicycling club and introducing a linear, integrated and flexible mode of bicycling." Quite a mouthful, but what it comes down to is this: Once registered as a member, you can pick up a bicycle at any of the existing racks across this city and others in the state and deposit it at any other rack after use, for the rate of Rs.2/hour. You don't have to worry about maintenance, since the bicycles are constantly maintained. There are happy hours from 9 PM to 6 Am as well, during which usage is free! Quite appealing indeed, even to the hesitant novice cyclist. 
Once this catches on, this should provide a welcome relief from the traffic and pollution issues that have been plaguing this city for years now. The Club, unsurprisingly, is not just introducing one innovation, but many. Custom high density parking racks, ATM like features of using a bicycle, GPRS features, ad space on bicycles, etcetera.. It also appeals to government bodies and other organizations to promote a bicycle friendly attitude without resorting to unreasonable demands such as dedicated tracks.
Membership to the club is absolutely FREE !!! All contact is done via cell phones and an innovative tracking software which uses individual lock IDs and tracking numbers. They even maintain a record of the distance travelled by you, which is sure to come in handy to the exercise enthusiasts. Such a system is based on trust and understanding, naturally, so heavy fines are levied for misuse to discourage those trying to abuse or exploit the system.
As ABC is a cell-phone based bicycle sharing system, its always essential to know the cell-number associated with it, and that is 96455 11155. For the Gallans who want to know more and would wish to give it a shot, other major details of the ABC have been given below… Hope to ride with you soon!
How to join the club?
As the membership is free, there should not be anything that keeps you away from it. And for registering, you just have to SMS your full name, address, profession and a valid land-line number (or mob number of any relative with name) to the above said cell number. Bicycles are locked with number locks and its opening codes are sms'ed to club members. ABC doesn't have an office as such, its a network of cyclists, dealers and cycle mechanics.
Age Restriction: Membership restricted. Minimum age should be 17 to join the club.
This 24 x 7 service has bicycle racks kept all over the city. You can take a bike from any rack and return to any rack, not necessarily to the same one.
Racks directory of ABC in Kochi city:
- At Palarivattom, behind Kakkanad bus stop
- Kaloor Kadavanthra road
- North railway station entry
- Kacherippady junctionn
- High court, near Joy Alukkas wedding centre
- Menaka, opposite to Pioneer Towers
- Padma junction,
- KSRTC bus stand
- South – opposite railway station
- Panampilly nagar, opposite Manorama building
- Thevara junction
- Kadavanthra bus stop
- Vytilla north, auto stand
For more details, visit www.athirup.com
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The new counter will be inaugurated on 30 July 2011, that is, hardly a few more days after. Public Works Department has been handed over with the duty of materialising the project. All the major services like ticket reservation, online ticketing facilities and season ticket booking will be available at this upcoming counter. And like every other rail ticket reservation counters in the country, this one will also function from 8 AM till 6 PM everyday.
Dosas, chaat varieties, north Indian.. The Sree Krishna Inn has a big list of varieties to offer. Of which, the dosas and chaat items would belong to the 'must try'category. No much idea about the North-Indian offerings. Must be good, but their 'alu-paratha' wasn't much good though.