After introductory sessions in Ahmedabad, several presentations and discussions were arranged for students in Brussels and Berlin during the course.
At a time when the Centre is mulling over introducing public bicycle sharing initiative across most smart cities, CEPT University, Gujarat, has already tapped on the skills to help their students understand the scenario.
As a part of their recent summer-winter school programme — 'Getting High On Two Wheels' — this year, the university has offered a course on PBS, where students got to learn about cycling culture and Europe's Public Bicycle Sharing (PBS) system. After introductory sessions in Ahmedabad, several presentations and discussions were arranged for students in Brussels and Berlin during the course.
In Brussels, about 30 students got the opportunity to interact with an NGO and understand various issues with bicycling in urban areas and how design can make cycling safe, comfortable, and attractive. Students took a 16-km bicycle ride on a given route to evaluate design, which included junction design, placement of bike lanes, material, etc. It also included a detailed study of PBS and discussion with PBS operators in Brussels.
It is a 15-day course and will likely be offered during the upcoming winter school session as well. The fees for the course is Rs 30,000.
Sharing details about the same, professor Aanan Sutaria, said, "PBS is a new and emerging concept in India. Many Indian cities are now integrating PBS as a part of their urban transport strategy. This was the main reason to offer this course. We wanted the students to experience different forms of PBS and cycling culture."
"Berlin and Brussels, for example, have different forms of PBS in existence. This helped students to understand and document the institutional, financial, and operational aspects of PBS through site visits and interaction with NextBike, the PBS operator in Berlin. Students also took a 20-km bicycle ride to evaluate design. Both these exercises helped them observe bicycle infrastructure and PBS elements in details and sensitise them towards non-motorised transport."
At Wuppertal Institute and in Leipzig Transport Department, students got an understanding of various aspects of cycling, cycling infrastructure and related policies through presentation and discussions with professionals. After the course, the students submitted four reports explaining their experience in both cities in details.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "bicycle")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}