How it works

FreMo has been designed to work in conjunction with other modes of transport, to get around the problem of transporting bikes on buses and autos etc.

Various depots are established at strategic locations across the city. Register yourself with FreMo and take a membership. With your membership card just pick up a cycle from any depot convenient to you. Just cycle to your station / bus stop / shopping / or any short trip. Return the cycle to any depot of your choice; the one you hired from or at a depot close to your destination. You cannot retain the cycle with you overnight or during the day without use.

You register yourselves. Choose the plan. Make payments. Submit documents. Once you are registered, you will be provided with an access card. With this card, you can use the services at any location.

You walk into any depot, show the access card and chose the cycle you want to use. The Depot Supervisor in the depot will do the needful and you can simply start riding away to your destination. You can take a helmet for safety and protection of yourself in case of any unfortunate accident. Helmet, as per the current laws, is not mandatory, but FreMo strongly recommends that you use a helmet while riding a FreMo cycle.

On reaching your destination, just leave the cycle inside the depot ensure you give the access card to the Depot Supervisor, who will close your usage in the system. Also ensure that you return the Helmet or any other accessories that you would have taken from the other depot.

Once you are a member, you will also be eligible for the FREE personal accident insurance of Rs. 5 lakhs.

DIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED

Below are scenarios where the FreMo could be used to cut journey time and the cost of transport:

Kishore lives in Kapurbavdi, Thane and travels daily to Thane station to take a train to go to VT where he works. Today’s options that he has are:

      a) Take a bus from Kapurbavdi to Thane Railway Station
      b) Buy a motorbike and travel from Kapurbavdi to Thane Station
      c) Take an auto rickshaw

His options:

Bus: Waiting time is unpredictable. Sometimes as long as 25-30 minutes, but minimum 15 minutes. The crowd in the bus is horrible. It travels at a very low speed due to traffic and takes about 35-45 minutes to reach station. He spends about one hour travelling by bus. And the cost is Rs. 7 per trip.

Motorbike: He invests anything between Rs. 50,000/- to one lakh to buy the motorbike. Traffic ensures that he has to spend more time to reach station – about 25 minutes. After reaching station, finding a parking place takes about 5 minutes at least. The bike will be lying in dust for the whole day, besides having the risk of being stolen. Parking in the dusty environment, increases the maintenance requirement and cost. Moreover, he spends about Rs. 7/- per trip besides parking charges paid, if any.

Auto rickshaw: Every day morning he has to scout for an Auto along with a few other people and run after each auto that stops around. Also has to flag down the oncoming auto only to find someone sitting there. The worst is when the auto driver consistently refuses to ply by simply nodding negatively without even looking at you. Generally he has to spend anywhere between 10-15 minutes finding an Auto and auto takes 25 minutes to reach station. His expense for each trip is Rs. 25/-.

Return from work

Kishore’s return journey is more terrible. Today’s options that he has are :

      a) Take a bus from Thane Railway Station to Kapurbavdi
      b) Buy a motorbike and travel from Thane Station to Kapurbavdi
      c) Take an auto rickshaw from Thane Station

His options:

Bus: Waiting time is unpredictable. Sometimes as long as 45-50 minutes and even up to one hour. The buses are very crowded. Sometimes there is queue to get into the bus, but sometimes you have to elbow yourself into it. It travels at a very low speed due to traffic and takes about 35 minutes to reach Kapurbavdi. He spends at least 1-1.30 hours to reach home. And the cost is Rs. 7 per trip.

By Motorbike: He has to first clean the dust that has settled on the bike, so that it is useable. It eats up about 10 minutes. Traffic ensures that he has to spend more time to reach back home – about 20 minutes. Besides, he spends about Rs. 7/- for the trip back home. The total time taken to reach home is 30 minutes.

By Auto rickshaw: Evening, he has to stand in a long queue at Thane station. It takes about 40-45 minutes to get an auto. And, the auto takes 20 minutes to reach home. Total time spent more than one hour. His expense for each trip is at least Rs. 25/-.

The Choice of a smart traveler

Kishore is a smart man. He has an intelligent option to become a member of FreMo and pick up a cycle from Kapurbavdi, ride to Thane Station, leave it in the FreMo depot at the station and proceed to VT by train. The distance is about 3.5 kms which he can cover in about 15-20 minutes. No traffic jams. He can even take short cut lanes and avoid the main road.

Cost saving

Cost of journey for Kishore’s friends:

Morning	:	By Auto Rs. 25 or Share Auto Rs. 10 or by Bus Rs. 7
Evening	:	By Auto Rs. 25 or Share Auto Rs. 10 or by Bus Rs. 7
Total minimum cost	:	Rs. 14 (by bus)
Total cost for Kishore both ways	:	Rs. 3.50 (considering he takes 20 minutes morning and 20 minutes evening on cycle - total 40 minutes) - @ Rs. 5 per hour
Net Saving	:	Minimum Rs. 10.50 per day; if he replaces Bus with FreMo Minimum Rs. 16.50 per day; if he replaces Share Auto with FreMo Minimum Rs. 46.50 per day; if he replaces Auto with FreMo
Time Saved	:	Minimum two hours per day; if he replaces Bus with FreMo Minimum 1.30 hours per day; if he replaces Auto with FreMo
Additional Benefit	:	Kishore exercises morning and evening, so he saves Gym membership cost

N.B. All journey times and cost are approximate. Actual time will depend upon the fitness of the rider and various other parameters.

All the way, Kishore is a winner….he exercises while travelling and spends very little compared to others while saving lots of time.