Vikas, 20, India - We propose to establish a self-sufficient community bicycle sharing system in India that will significantly decrease the carbon footprint of the average citizen and bring to the fore a powerful means of local transportation. The system will support itself by trading the carbon credits it will generate in the international carbon market. A community bicycle system at such a scale and model will be the first-of-its kind initiative in India and will provide much-needed impetus to the green initiatives in the country. 

Our aim is to encourage more people to join the bandwagon and trigger an explosion of such programs across India; much the same way it happened across Europe after UK introduced the system in 1996. 

We will test the program by introducing a fleet of about 30 bicycles in our university. A group of engineering students will work to realize this dream over the next six months. Once tested, it will be extended through out the city and later to the country. It is especially relevant as India is on the highway to development and we believe that prevention of damage to the environment is better than cure. 

The carbon credits generated will be calculated - selling it in the international market will earn revenues for the community biking system.