HOT TOPICS

SPOTLIGHT AGENCIES

sustainable transport plan

156

Written By jennypinto - 7 April, 2009

Bangalore BMTC sustainability environment Citizen Reports Transportation public transport

i have been reading up all the to and fros on the BMTC discussion, and i am just wondering, considering the involvement
and interest of the praja members, if we shd take a step back, and discuss a long term
framework that is fundamantally about a sustainable transport solution/s for bangalore.
that would include walking, cycling, pooling.
and  include pushing for footpaths and cycling paths and mini bus loops within localities.
it also includes better motoring rules/compliance, and some green improvements in the autoricksahw engine.
and CNG for buses....
we need to engage the habitual car user (like me) in join in the  finding of a solution and get him /her leave the darn car at home .
this also engages the BMTC, BMP, traffic cops and bangalore citizens in an intergrated way, something that the agencies themselves do not do unfortunately, which is the root of many problems this city has.

todays papers had a report of 3 deaths under BMTC wheels. horrific !!
we cannot isolate solutions to public transport without addressing safety of commuters and pedestrians.
and geneal mobility issues in our city.
in marketing parlance...the consumers emotional response is important.
for example, i hate BMTC buses for the way the drivers drive,...so have a block against using them. no kidding.

comments and suggestion please
.
jenny

COMMENTS

Good suggestions .. where is the will?

Vasanthkumar Mysoremath - 7 April, 2009 - 07:26

 

Yes. Most of the suggestions are implementable, replicable and sustainable but whenever we try to take a step forward, we are pushed two steps backwards due to public apathy and non-cooperation.  What is one man's food is another man's poison. That is the attitude of our people.

We must make a beginning somewhere without being pessimistic. I am not a lover of city buses either, because majority of them are dirty and badly maintained, particularly the black/red board buses catering to the aam aadmis.

We can take these suggestions further and make them workable albeit in small Praja groups.

Count me in...I have already started walking for my daily needs shopping. 

We can also think of 'vehicle free zones' in busy roads during particular timings.

- Vasanthkumar Mysoremath

A large part of the

das - 7 April, 2009 - 08:49

A large part of the reluctance to walk or cycle or take a bus is cultural, an issue of 'prestige'. Those of us who are convinced about the need for 'sustainable transport' must use such transport, and must be seen to be using it. We must in fact shout from the rooftops that we are doing so. The cultural barriers break down if 'people like us' are seen to be using these modes of transport.

I have been using either buses or my bicycle to move around in Bangalore (including commuting to work) for close to a decade now, and have managed to convert quite a few people along the way, by shamelessly marketing myself.

An example: http://blog.bumsonthesaddle.com/2009/3/18/botw-dasarathi

Also by spreading messages through presentations like this. http://www.slideshare.net/das_gv/traffic-solution


BMTC Needs Sarathis at main bus interchange locations

Vasanth - 7 April, 2009 - 09:21

We need BMTC Sarathis to monitor the buses at main bus stops like Corporation Circle, Richmond Circle, Town Hall since lots of people change buses over here.

We have to take up this with BMTC.

 

And, perhaps Lord Krishna

murali772 - 7 April, 2009 - 10:31

And, perhaps Lord Krishna himself to monitor the saarathi's!

Muralidhar Rao

Enrique Peñalosa is the

jennypinto - 11 April, 2009 - 04:18


Enrique Peñalosa is the mayor of bogota who put their BRT in place in the 80s i think. it takes just one innovative leader with a will to make a differnece. and what a difference, if the youtube film was anything to go by!

anyway, let praja fill that gap...why dont we start putting a plan in place?

 

PRAJA.IN COMMENT GUIDELINES

Posting Guidelines apply for comments as well. No foul language, hate mongering or personal attacks. If criticizing third person or an authority, you must be fact based, as constructive as possible, and use gentle words. Avoid going off-topic no matter how nice your comment is. Moderators reserve the right to either edit or simply delete comments that don't meet these guidelines. If you are nice enough to realize you violated the guidelines, please save Moderators some time by editing and fixing yourself. Thanks!