Free bike rides to help voters reach home after voting

New Delhi: To improve voter turnout in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the electoral office of Delhi has tied up with bike aggregator Rapido to provide a home drop facility to the electorate. After casting their vote, anybody can book a complementary bike ride by booking a Rapido through its mobile application. The voters, however, will have to reach the polling station on their own.The facility will be available to the voters of all age groups.
This collaboration aims to address transportation barriers and encourage citizens to exercise their democratic right to vote, said Delhi’s chief electoral officer P Krishnamurthy.
“By offering the option of free bike rides on the polling day, we aim to ensure ease of voting experience and to encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote. Every vote counts and it is essential to ensure that every eligible voter casts his or her vote without any hindrance,” Krishnamurthy said.
The facility will be in addition to the pick-and-drop facility available for persons with disabilities and those aged above 85 years. With the met department predicting an intense heat wave on May 25, the election officials are working out various ways to ensure a good voter turnout.
Officials said the bike captains would be stationed at the polling booths only. As a person books the ride, it will be accepted by the biker already stationed there and the elector will be safely dropped home. The complementary ride will not be provided beyond a certain distance.