Here is a media reports round up of the Bus Day initiative we triggered and participated in. Good coverage all around, and going by some of the reports (25% jump in ridership, breather on some corridors etc), looks like the city has made a good beginning. The event is likely to become a permanent fixture on BMTC's and Bengaluru's calendar. Lets hope BMTC will act fast on all the feedback the event generated for them.
Deccan Herald - Commuters give thumbs up ...
...Gomathi, an employee of Oracle at ITPL said "Normally it took more than an hour for me to reach the office from Ulsoor to ITPL, but today I reached in 35 minutes". More than 10,000 employees, including top officers of Wipro, also observed the 'Bus Day' by using public transport. .... http://www.deccanherald.com/content/50906/commuters-give-thumbs-up-bus.html
Bangalore Mirror - Bus Day breather for IT corridors..
"...Taking a whopping 2,000 vehicles off city roads may look like a mammoth task. BMTC MD Syed Zameer Pasha leads by example..." http://www.bangaloremirror.com/article/10/2010020520100205064747720c8055e58/Bus-Day-breather-for-IT-corridors.html
The Hindu - Sporting Bangaloreans take to buses
"...BMTC says it witnessed a 25 per cent jump in commuters on Bus Day.......Thursday was a day with a difference. Many Bangaloreans left their cars behind and hopped on to Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses instead, thanks to Bus Day. ..."
Times Of India - Minister leads by example
"...Ashoka walked to the nearest bus stop in the morning, patiently waited for a bus, and paid Rs 10 for the 8-km ride. He interacted with other passengers and made note of their views. Many gave him positive feedback; they said the BMTC is performing well and services are consistent...." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Minister-leads-by-example-/articleshow/5536979.cms
Express Buzz - The city took a step towards a greener and healthier Bangalore on January 4 (Thursday) with its maiden ‘Bus Day’.
For more read here
Comments
Bus day - Encouraging
Thanks Syed,
Media has covered bus day well enough - & going by the interest shown by many, the event has had success.
To sustain this, BMTC will need to buck up & seriously consider long-term solutions for a formal system of addressing feedbacks & for circulating route information maps & schedules, including a framework for updating these & maintaining them current & uptodate - this can be a huge task in itself, but it will certainly be worth the effort & expense/s.
Citizen Matters Coverage
Mid-day reports Bus day was big flop!
Mid-day reports "..Lacking techie support, Bus Day is a big flop".
"...The BMTC claimed it a success at the end of the day, but a daylong reality check showed the maiden edition of the large-scale exercise, to be held on the fourth of every month, managed to attract only a few techies here and there..."
For more read here http://www.mid-day.com/news/2010/feb/050210-bus-day-big-flop.htm.