Bengaluru: Rent a bike to avoid rush hour

Bengaluru: Unwitting tourists, gobsmacked by the famed Bengaluru rush-hour and paying exorbitantly for cabs and autos to escape the melee, seem to have found a solution of their own. Motorbikes! 

Affordability and the undeniable romance of travelling on a bike have led to a surge in demand, with bike rentals mushrooming across the city. A low end bike costs a mere Rs 10 per hour, perfect for the budget traveller. 

Prices vary — a high-end model costs about Rs 15,000 per day, although gearless bikes, which are easy to ride and fuel efficient to boot, are the most popular option. “We’re seeing a large increase in the number of people coming forward to hire bikes,” said Kuldeep from Royal Brothers, India’s largest, registered bike lender. “We are present in 10 states and the surge is evident.”