On-demand scooter sharing, which has emerged as an alternative for last-mile mobility especially in cities like Benguluru, is ripe for a new regulatory framework as startups such as Vogo, Bounce and Drivezy chart ambitious expansion plans. For instance, Vogo and Bounce together plan to roll out between 60,000 and 100,000 bikes in Bengaluru, over the next 12 months, but the high-growth nature of these startups could easily overwhelm the city’s inadequate infrastructure. Currently, these players come under the ‘Rent a Motorcycle Scheme, 1997’ which allows anyone with more than five vehicles to register as an operator. However, the scale of these startups far exceeds the regulation’s intent. Bike sharing platforms have tremendous potential to grow, the question is about creating parking spaces. There should also be a regulatory framework to ensure there is no oversupply of such vehicles in Bengaluru. The plan, which officials say could be rolled out in 6-8 months, fits in with the dock-less model that Vogo and Bounce are working to perfect, where commuters can pick and drop off bikes at any public parking spot, not just at predetermined locations.

(ET Tech)