BPS moves ahead
| The Bus Priority System (BPS), to be tested soon in the City, beginning with Airport Road, will require all vehicles to shift lanes to make way for the BMTC bus on its way. | |
The BPS is a scaled-down version of BRT. While the latter provides a dedicated line on the stretch of road, BPS allows all traffic to use lanes normally, but to provide space for a public transport bus to ensure reduced time of travel
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Dedicated Bus Lanes
BPS looks to be attractive alternative than having dedicated lanes at the cost of road widening. High time BBMP is taken in to confidence to get their engineers involved in the project!
BPS starts small
Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has started implementing Priority Lanes system before Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is ready... “Priority Lanes system will help our buses move faster instead of blocking the roads and causing inconvenience to commuters. This will also bring some traffic discipline,”
More on the progress of BPS
first things first
BMTC managing director KR Sreenivas and Prabhudas are visiting Istanbul and London during the next half of this month to study how BRTS works in those cities and, if possible, to integrate them in Bangalore.
That, of course, has to be the first step, right? Isn't the minister going too?
Gee, I didnt know London had
Gee, I didnt know London had BRTS!
'Planning to plan' trips?
Gee, I didnt know London had BRTS!
Well since the actual bus lanes are not actually built, maybe they're headed there to plan the planning! KInd of strange considering a lot of those plans are available at the click of a mouse...
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TM
Trip notes in the media
From DNA - Flyovers will see movement of buses, two-wheelers, four wheelers and private transport. But the BRT will have to pull the BMTC buses from the flyovers to the left of the road, which could be tough given the present conditions
I was hoping they would be running the BRT on the center lane as provisions were made in the flyovers for the bus lane, I dont know why the pulling buses left is coming into the picture
From Deccan Herald - The concept cannot be brought to this city says Sreenivas. “Our city has way too many flyovers and under passes. A BRTS like Istanbul’s wont work here. But the trip has provided us with many ideas which we now have to put forth in the new draft for BRTS.”
Its interesting the very flyovers/underpasses we built to ease congestion stands in the way of easing congestion.
On the plus side while they are gung ho about the bus priority its time the hard decisions for the prioritization like seperate timed phases for buses is put in place
BMTC MD on BPS pilot on old Air-port road
http://www.radioindigo.fm/pages/popup/KRSrinivas_BMTC_part05.html
more from the MD
BMTC MD K R Sreenivas and M P Prabhudas, Chief Traffic Manager (Operations) had recently visited London, Istanbul and Stockholm to witness the concept of BRTS up front. What they found was not something suitable to the current condition of Bangalore. “Istanbul is just way ahead and developed. The BRTS there is one full stretch (middle lane) of 43 kms dedicated to buses on a three lane road that connects two cities,” says Prabhudas.
The concept cannot be brought to this city says Sreenivas. “Our city has way too many flyovers and under passes. A BRTS like Istanbul’s wont work here. But the trip has provided us with many ideas which we now have to put forth in the new draft for BRTS.”
London and Stockholm work more on the idea of Bus Priority System, where one side of the road is used by buses and vehicles have to clear the path for the coming of buses.
“London does not really have a BRTS as such. However, that idea is in its preliminary stages of discussion,” said Prabhudas. BPS was brought to the attention of BMTC officials by Center for Infrastructure, Sustainable Transport and Urban (CISTUP) and group Praja a few years ago.
On whether Priority Lanes will ever find place in the crowded city, Sreenivas said, “The roads are too narrow and traffic is already too much on roads like Old Airport Road. However, we need to discuss the matter with the traffic police and the new Additional Commissioner of Police.”
For the full report in the Deccan Herald, click here.
The new MD appears to have got the picture right. Perhaps an effort could be made to pitch our case to him.
Consulting traffic police
On whether Priority Lanes will ever find place in the crowded city, Sreenivas said, “The roads are too narrow and traffic is already too much on roads like Old Airport Road. However, we need to discuss the matter with the traffic police and the new Additional Commissioner of Police.
Stop consulting traffic police. Hire transportation engineers. Do engineering on our transport systems.
Istanbul is just way ahead
Istanbul is just way ahead and developed.
I guess Istanbul was born that way... ahead & developed.
Istanbul BRT - A video to share
Istanbul: The Metrobüs from EMBARQ Network on Vimeo.
ORR BRT had to be planned ahead of flyovers
So many years passed having the proposal of a BRT on ORR, still it has not materialized. Flyovers which were decided recently took a priority over the BRT.
BDA should have first designed the BRT and then constructed the flyovers. Now, BRT has to 'adjust' for the flyovers. Take in the case of Agara junction, vehicles are zooming on the flyover whereas buses have to wait for the signal below the flyover and pickup passengers.
BDA is in no mood for the BRT so was BMTC nor any organization like IDD / DULT in Bangalore to promote the same.
Priority Lanes delayed
The construction of priority lanes which was to be implemented by February 16 will be delayed, as the work is yet to begin. - - - Priority lanes will require demarcation of the left side of the road by the Palike. Under the first phase, the lanes were planned from Majestic to Domlur. If the priority lanes become a reality, parking will not be allowed on the entire stretch. However, owing to pressure from politicians, whose vehicles are parked on this stretch, the implementation has been delayed.
For the full report in the Deccan Herald, click here.
I expect buses will continue to get cattle class treatment till such time as the politicians are made to use them for regular commuting, and not just on 'Bus Days'. May be the demand should shift to that now.