Uber launches bike-sharing service uberMOTO to ease congestion in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: App-based car sharing service Uber launched uberMOTO, a bike-sharing service here on Tuesday. “We have introduced uberMOTO only in some countries, which we found suitable for bike sharing.
"Hyderabad is perfect for bike-sharing and uberMOTO will help in easing the congestion on Hyderabad roads and ensure last mile connectivity,” said Travis Kalanick, founder and CEO of Uber speaking after uberMOTO launch.
About 100 bikes will be introduced initially and Uber will scale up the model in a big way in future. UberMOTO gives riders an affordable and convenient motorcycle ride at the push of a button, through the Uber app.
UberMOTO bike-sharing service will be available in Hyderabad from January and the bike-sharing will be the same as those of cars. A user will be charged about Rs 20 for the first three km and Rs 5 per every additional km.
To help bike riders aspiring to join Uber bike pool get a special transport permission, the Telangana government has set up a special counter at Regional Transport Authority (RTA) office in Khairatabad. Meanwhile, HMRL managing director NVS Reddy and president, Uber India, Amit Jain signed an MoU to provide mobile app based last mile mobike taxi connectivity at Hyderabad Metro Rail stations in the presence of IT minister K T Rama Rao.
This facility will enable any commuter to use the ‘Uber app’ on a mobile phone which will automatically connect with the nearby drivers of uberMOTO which is a motor cycle taxi at the Metro stations.
Metro Rail commuters and others can use this wifi enabled facility on their phones to avail a fast, safe and convenient feeder bike ride as a taxi service to their destinations.
Speaking on the occasion, Rama Rao said that Telangana is a fast growing “start up state” which encourages innovation and entrepreneurship to make Hyderabad a major global destination.
“It is a win-win collaboration between Hyderabad Metro Rail, which is the world’s largest Metro Rail project in PPP mode, and a global smart transportation solutions company like Uber,’’ Rama Rao said.
HMRL will enter into similar MoUs, agreements with other organisations as well to provide comfortable travel facility in Hyderabad, Reddy said.