Vasanth - your post ‘Using Technology the Right Way’ made good reading.
We can come up with umpteen reasons for the chaos that traffic is, but simply put, there is just one real core issue – the city is trying to cope with traffic loads for which it’s road network certainly was never designed nor envisaged. Despite having lost the battle time & again, all efforts so far have been to satisfy the ‘Car lobbies’, even at the expense of pedestrians, bicyclists & public transport users. Planning & Construction of the Metro rail is the only exception.Plans, policies & procedures that involve a multi-dimensional approach to seek long-term & permanent solutions have never materialized, though efforts have been made.
BMTC had commissioned a feasibility study for a bus-based mass rapid transit system. The study, completed in 1999, had identified a promising network of 20 bus routes, composed of twin central rings intersected by 8 radial routes. A pilot 12-km line from Jayanagar to Shivajinagar was estimated to cost Rs.39.5 crores. This had included the corridor and depot infrastructure and 35 special-purpose buses. Assistance was also available from SIDA (Swedish Industrial Development Agency). This never saw the light of day as the authorities did not seem to muster enough courage to face the backlash that was anticipated from the industrialists & the ‘Pro-Growth Forces’ when road space would be consumed to build the bus-ways. If attempts had been started then, by now, the city might have been better positioned.
Even today, it is often stated time & again that the available street space is far too low. This position is then used to argue not only to widen streets, but build additional elevated roads. Only recently has construction of an off-road public transport system commenced (Metro-rail). It is worth considering if the available road space is being managed properly or not. Whilst additional roads are also needed, the available street space needs to be managed much better. The essential question is, of course, how is the available street space going to be allocated amongst competing types of users ?
Road widening & building new elevated ones has only benefited one type of user – the motorized vehicle owner, whilst leaving out all other types of users. Instead, if the focus were shifted to street based rapid bus systems (with buses offering superior ride quality) at the expense of motorized private vehicles, solutions would be nearer, as vehicle owners would soon begin abandoning their vehicles & prefer these buses, but then, do the authorities have the nerve to convince the public at large & particularly the strong ‘Car Lobbies’ to see this through ? In Delhi, rapid bus has already become a ‘Controversial Issue’, with the media appearing to support the car using public, instead of being sympathetic to government efforts.
ಪ್ರತಿಕ್ರಿಯೆಗಳು
welcome back naveen.
hi
hi
i am satish. i happened to see your blog as i was searching for info on pre-cast elements and its usage in bangalore. i am working with deccan herald as reporter. i need to talk to naveen and others who wrote extensively on pre-cast elements. how do i reach them? my contact number is 9844213028.
Thanks TS
TS - Many Thanks.
Also, read yr posts 'Stasis' & 'Fruits' under 'Think Traffic, Think Solutions' - very accurate & correct.
I will revert with a post about Murali Sir's ideas about HCBS later.
Hi Satish Shile !
Hi !
My Contact Nos. are:
Mob: 9945562470; Res: 25935112.
Tried to call you, but no. is engaged continuously - naveen.
UITP - Int. Ass. of Public Transport - calling for papers
TS, et al
UITP has called for papers on public transport for its exhibition in Vienna in June 2009.
Anyone interested in sending in a paper on public transport in Bangalore? We could send it in Praja's name. See link
http://www.uitp.org/events/2009/vienna/en/expo.cfm
Srivathsa
Drive safe. It is not just the car maker which can recall its product.
UITP
a critique on BRTS
Paper on CTTP
Hi TS - I could do something re. CTTP if praja wishes to submit a paper on the subject. Actually, if you remember, BMRC had dfirected me to RTI the UDD for more info abt implemention of CTTP & other modes of mass transport, etc. So, I am preparing a ltr to RTI them. Whilst doing this, I am referring to the CTTP quite a lot.
Do let me know.
CTTP
Delhi is showing the way for corporatisation of public transport
Have a look at
http://www.dimts.org
http://www.dimts.org/images/tenders/RFQ-Cluster%201%20_Feb%2027_.zip
Hopefully in the right direction.
Ramesh
draw lines..
Place- Bull temple road(near turn towards hanumanthanagar)
Chaos reigned till yesterday at the junction where right turn was treated as a free left turn and busses and all other vehicles simply drove on the opposite lane with disdain!
However yesterday was a plesant surprise..all vehicles were moving peacefully without encroaching on the opposite lane and turing at the right place..what made this happen? cops? no!
It was just drawing of two white lines on the road! We are not unruly if there are visible rules! Lets see if it works in days to come..however one thing is true..lane markings on road will sure bring some order to traffic!
Revamp the whole traffic infrastructure !
I would suggest that all concerned take a pragmatic view of situation on the ground and take steps to ease some of our traffic and commuter issues. It is a reality that:
Having said that, I strongly believe that with the scientific and realistic approach we can decongest B'lore traffic to a large extent. That should be done with 2 prang strategy.
1. The newly developed areas should be built with wider roads, signal less junctions and with space for pedestarians, bicycles and with ample space for mass transit stations / stops.
2. Revamp the whole traffic infrastructure for the existing ones.
I would comment on #2 as # 1 is self explanatory. A complete overhaul approach should be adopted in order to decongest the trrafic.
A. Need to do a comprehesive study / survey of present day main roads, arterial roads, junctions, Public Transport services, private transports and financial aspects of policing the traffic.
B. Based on the study and its analysis it should not be difficult to:
Hope my thoughts becomes visible to all those who matters.Excellent i glipmsed
Excellent
i glipmsed through what you have said and I generally agree with may of your suggestions as it close to my line of thinking
Srinath Heragu
Excellent Point # 1 - New
Excellent
Point # 1 - New areas / layouts should be built with wider roads (MINOR ROADS SHOULD BE TWO LANES ON EACH SIDE & MAJOR ROADS SHOULD BE FOUR LANE ON EACH SIDE), signal less junctions and with space for pedestarians, (GREENERY ON EITHER SIDE OF ROAD), bicycles and with ample space for mass transit stations / stops.
Point # 2 - Skybirdge safe paths for pedesterian crossings (SHOULD HAVE ESCALATORS) crossings at all Intersections; PLEASANTLY & COMPFORTABLY SLOPING UNDERPASSES SHOULD BE PROVIDED PEDESTRAINS
Point # 3 - Rationalize the whole BMTC routes with more Transit Centers (DEDICATED & EXCLUSIVE BUS LANES BETWEEN SATELLITE & INTER MODAL TRANSIT TERMINALS
Point # 4 - ELIMINATE PLYING OF AUTOS FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN
Continuing on Road devl in new areas
I think we shoud bring in the 3 lane and 5 lane systems. 3 lanes here I mean a turn lane in the middle where there are many turns on a main road so that thru traffic can move on while the ones to turn can enter the center turn lane and yield to traffic in the opp direction and turn. similarly 5 lane roads work where there is a broader road. Other places they should have turn lanes at junctions so that vehicles dont have to wait for signal to change on the main road and block traffic flow.