Discussion regarding Bus day

Manjari,

Nice to see your presence on Praja after long time. My suggestion is first try this with some targeted destinations.

This is how I would plan the event:

1. Select destination targets - ITPL, EC and other pocket.
2. Prepare a list of logistics needed for Bus Only mode.
3. Get a core group of volunteers
4. Approach the Associations through whom you can reach to majority of the Industrial/Office houses and explain the event.
5. Solicit their suggestions and incorporate them into your plans.
6. Work with BMTC and the other Bus operators to run additional trips and extra buses.
7. Advertise the event well in advance - newspapers, Radio, TV, Online Portals etc.
8. Advertise personally at the target destinations through HRs using handbills, Emails etc.
9. Also plan for solicit feedback from the participating citizens.
10. Even can plan for encouraging the citizens to take a online survey on PRAJA.

Go for a citywide event only after you and BMTC have done a thorough postmortem of the smaller event.

Count me in for any help with Survey Questions, design of Handbills and any advertising material you may need.

Syed

Manjari,

hopefully, I should be able to make it at 6:30-6:45pm.

I will call to know about the venue/address in the evening, in case I am able to make it.

-Srivatsava

Eagerly awaiting news of the 14th Oct.meeting from the participants.

Pathy

Hi Manjari,

Please count me in as a volunteer.

Can you give the list of participants on 14th Oct.?

K.V.Pathy

Dear Mr. Syed.

We have to work as a team.

K.V.Pathy

Meant to post these suggestions before but got caught up in other things:
- Cloth banners on the sides of buses extolling environmental virtues is a cheap and easy way to advertise (one bus equals n cars equals n two wheelers, big10 costs only n% more than ordinary buses etc.)
- Some way to incentivise car owners (say plaque after 1 year and minimum 52 - one per week - bus travel). It would be a logistical nightmare to keep track of "converts" only but maybe others have better ideas to prevent misuse.
- Offering free rides at certain hours on that day in lowly patronised buses.
- Maybe all Bengaluru-based Praja can decide to use only buses that day ;-).
- Any well-known personality(ies) (actors, politicians) using buses will be bonus advertisement.
Sorry for the late suggestions - please ignore if too late.

Hi Manjari,

What is the thinking of BMTC in respect of our earlier suggestions about Bus Day?

K.V.Pathy

 Buses after 7 pm is the main problem in Bangalore, especially on the Outer Ring Road. Marathalli, Banashankari, Silkboard Junction, Corporation are prime examples.

Yesterday I had an horrifying experience with BMTC. I took a Vajra Gold day pass and boarded the bus at around 2:30PM. While travelling to office from BSK III Stg to Doddenakundi, it was so good.As soon as I went to bus stop, I got V201R, I changed over at CSB to V500A without much waitings

On the other hand, while coming back from office, we had shuttles from office to every locality at 8PM which I usually used to take. My work finished at 7. Since I had day pass, we have shuttle to Marathalli every hour. I took 7:15 shuttle to Marathalli.

In Marathalli, I had to wait till 7:50 PM to see a bus towards Silkboard. Only one V500NC came which didn't had space even to stand. No ordinary bus came too. Everything was carrying board AGARA Depot.

Then an ordinary very old bus without even headlight came calling 'East End,East End'. This got crowded like anything. Bus driver was too slow, crowded bus. I got down at Silkboard and took an ordinary 201 which also was too slow. Finally I reached home at around 9:45 after my colleagues who took the office shuttles at 8PM reached near my home by 9:15PM or so.

Most of the IT offices work late in the night since they have meetings with onshore counterparts. So, it is common to see people leaving offices after 7 or so. What if BMTC cannot provide bus even at 7PM? This city sleeps at 12PM.  What sort of service is this? All the Vajras go to depot at 6-7PM after which you cannot count on BMTC. I want our Transport Minister to take a bus from Banashankari (near his constituency) to his residence after 8PM and experience himself service provided by his department.