My commuting decade

This year’s Earth week celebrations at my workplace  coincided approximately with my finishing a decade of commuting with a bicycle to work. I had bought my Hero cycle (model name was Nitrogen) for around 2200/- in 2003. The choices back then were restricted to Indian brands at least in the local shops around my place. I also had it fitted with a child seat on the top tube for taking my 2 year old around. It was a great decision he loved the wind in his hair, I did not have that privilege.

This bike took me around Pune, for sundry shopping and of course was my daily commute to office other than dropping and picking up my son from his play school and then Nursery class in the Bishops School nearby. I could have continued dropping him but his growing legs made him uncomfortable with the handle turns and he graduated to the school van in the next standard.

This bike got stolen in 2009 from my society parking lot. The vandals must have carried the locked bike despite security. Following which I bought myself a second hand Hero Hawk. This was a drop bar (bent racer type) handles, frame size perfect for my height and the most inconspicuous for any body to even fiddle around. I later replaced the handle, stem and crank with a lighter version from Metro Cycles, Kalbadevi, Mumbai. In 2010 I got a locally made Pannier form a cyclist friend in Bangalore for a mere 600/-. This pannier bag rests on the carrier behind and overflows on both sides of the cycle. My wife was eternally thankful for this biking accessory as all her sundry shopping needs fit into this bag including vegetables, eggs and even a dozen ceramic cups once during Diwali.

A couple of months back looking at the north bound fuel prices I got around to calculating the saving that my commute would have made especially since I was nearing 10 years. The results, predictably, was interesting and a solid proof with which I could justify my purchase of cycles and accessories to the home minister. (Not that she ever grumbled). So for your sake, below is the graph of savings per year with blue dots representing the average fuel cost of that year (petrol). 18270 Rs is the saving in 2012 alone when the petrol prices jumped into the 70’s

The below table shows the detailed break up till December last year with an average of 10 km per day and calculated for five days of  commute per week. (with a car mileage of 10 km per litre)

A saving of around 2609 litres of petrol which converts into a virtual saving Rs 1.3 lakhs. Now let me go shop for a carbon frame bike J.

I got a couple more bikes in my stable - a Trek 4300 and a Masi Cyclocross. Guess, I have utilised part of the virtual savings for now :-).

Wish you all a safe commute and a Happy Earth week - 2013.

Windows hopping @ RTO Pune

For a change let me document  my recent experiences with Renewal of the two most important documents in any Indian's life - The Driving License and the Passport .
I came across a similar blog which  encouraged me to go to RTO Pune sans agent. So dear reader the next time you want to renew your license do not spend money on an Agent to save time and effort. Harm yourself with the right information beforehand and venture in. Be patient to spend some time waiting in the queue. Carry a bottle of water as well and wear loose clothing especially if it is summer :-). Before that read on ...

My old License status - 
1) is from RTO Mumbai with Mumbai Address
2) is in booklet form and dog eared with contents unreadable
3) is expiring in 2015

Why am I wanting a new license
1) Change of Address to Pune
2) Want the laminated card (They call it smart card)

Procedure

1) Get an NOC (No Objection certificate) from the old RTO where your license is originally from.
2) Download Form1, Form 1A (Physical Fitness and Doctor's certificate) and Form 9 ( License Renewal form) from the website OR
Enter the RTO pune, Sangamwadi compound. Look at your right. there is a wooden structure adjoining the compund wall. The forms are available here (atleast the renewal form).

Documents needed
1) 3 PP size photographs
2) Address proof - Aadhar card / MSEB Bill photocopies
3) Identity / Birth Date proof - PAN Card / Election card
4) Old license original and photocopy

The journey

Go to the parking lot and ask for the "Doctor" to any of the agents who hover around you.
Ask the "Doctor" his fees beforehand.
Give him Form 1 and 1A duly filled with the photos stuck. he will do the needful. I paid Rs 30/- for the Medical certificate

Proceed to BLOCK C to the ARTO office. Mr ARTO, if punctual will be in the office at 11:00 AM.
he will look at your forms and NOC and sign Form 9 as OK to process. (NOTE - this is required only if your old license was from a different city RTO and you have the NOC from the old RTO )

Proceed to BLOCK B (Window No. 1) Verification officer. He will verify all documents and write the total fees to be paid in form 9. My form was written as Rs 350 /-

Proceed to Window behind Window no. 1 (these look like cashiers with Glass partition). Pay the fees and take the receipt. My receipt reads like the 
DDL - 112.70
Despatch Fee - 50
OA - 100
Sticker (unreadable) - 87.30

Proceed to Biometric section (Photo, Finger prints and signature on a WACOM :- ))

This section was a little hard to find but you can go to the room right next to the Cash section (BLOCK B) . The person inside sent me outside and I wasted sometime locating another biometric room. ( I have no idea why he sent me room hopping when he could have done the biometric himself)

The Biometric person takes your pic, finger print and signature and keeps the form along with your old Licence. You can still drive with the receipt and a photocopy of old license till the Gods send you the renewed license.

My Biometric person did not keep the form but sent me to Window no. 6. Lady behind Window No. 6 sent me to Window no. 1. Window no. 1 sent me back to Biometric person. This time I again visited the room next to the Cash section and he accepted my form telling me that redoing the biometric was not necessary if it has been done in the adjoining room.

When will my License arrive ? At least 2 months was the stoic answer by Mr Biometric.

TOTAL money spent - Rs 380/- (350 + 30)
TOTAL time spent - 10:30 to 12:30 PM (including 1 hr wait outside the ARTO office as he came at 11:40 AM). should have been lesser if the Windows and Biometric rooms were correctly labelled or directed towards for me.

Hope this helps your License Renewal process at Puneri RTO.

Stay tuned for my NEXT BLOG - the infamous Passport Seva Kendra and Police Verification