Completes 26000 rides with 4 lakh kms of distance
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 29: In a momentous achievement for eco-conservation, Kashmir’s first e-bicycle sharing system has now completed an impressive 26,000 rides, collectively spanning 4 lakh kilometres. This accomplishment has had a significant impact on the environment by cutting nearly 80 metric tonnes (MT) of carbon emissions so far.
Embarking on its journey as a trial run in December last year-coinciding with the nascent stages of the Srinagar Smart City project-this environmentally conscious initiative has steadily gained a substantial, following with people integrating e-bicycles into their daily commute.
Sheikh Yameen, Co-Founder of ‘Curve Electric,’ conveyed the resounding public response to Excelsior, underscoring the substantial 30-32 per cent female user base that spans the entire city, while noting that the impact on the local ecology has been nothing short of monumental.
He further emphasized the paramount significance of the initiative, stating, “What sets this initiative apart is that while our e-bikes have traversed 4 lakh kilometres-surpassing the distance from Earth to the Moon-our calculations indicate that covering such a distance would have resulted in the emission of 80 metric tonnes of carbon into the environment. To absorb that level of emission in a single year, we would have required the presence of 4000 fully grown trees.”
Presently, ‘Curve Electric’ proudly boasts an extensive fleet of nearly 100 e-bicycles, strategically stationed across 11 city stations. However, in response to surging demand, plans are actively underway to introduce an additional 100 e-bicycles and expand the docking infrastructure, consequently increasing the number of available bikes to 200, distributed across an expanded network of 15-16 stations.
While highlighting examples of dedicated daily users within the city, Yameen singled out an individual who logged a staggering 187 rides in the past seven months, alongside a local vendor who relies on e-bicycles for daily commutes.
He declared, “Our average ride distance, in stark contrast to other e-bike sharing systems operational elsewhere, significantly surpasses the competition at 14.5 kilometres. This attests to the fact that people have embraced e-bicycles not merely for leisure but as a practical and sustainable mode of daily transportation.”
The initiative has also significantly contributed to employment generation, currently providing jobs for approximately 30 individuals, including 22 direct employees and an additional 5-7 employed indirectly.
Notably, many marketing companies and food establishments within the city have also embraced the e-bicycles of ‘Curve Electric’ for diverse purposes, spanning from marketing campaigns to efficient food deliveries.
In a concerted effort to further enhance the user experience, ‘Curve Electric’ also actively engages in Research and development collaborations with the prestigious National Institute of Technology (NIT), Srinagar.
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