Bangalore traffic - Solution
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Bangalore's traffic mess is caused by trying to widen roads endlessly to keep up with increasing vehicle numbers, which has failed worldwide. The solution is to move to sustainable transport by increasing public transport like commuter rail and buses, reducing private vehicles, and promoting cycling and walking. This could reduce vehicle numbers by 75%, commute times by 50%, pollution by 80%, and road spending by 90%, allowing more investment in essential services. While metro rail would take over 100 years, commuter rail could start in 1 year for a fraction of the cost and provide immediate benefits through a more sustainable transport system.
Bangalore traffic - Solution
- 1. Bangalore's traffic mess The solution
- 2. A dream A Green Bangalore, with clean air, peaceful roads
- 3. The current nightmare Terrible pollution, road accidents, loss of trees, loss of homes and businesses to road widening
- 4. Can we forget the nightmare and achieve the dream ?
- 5. The current strategy Widen roads to keep pace with traffic Traffic is doubling every 5 years. Road space can never Illogically, we are trying to double keep pace with vehicle Road space every 5 years. population.
- 6. 'Dog chasing its tail' strategy has failed all over the world 20-lane road in USA. Congestion remains, despite endless road widening.
- 7. So what's the solution ?
- 8. Move to sustainable transport Increase public transport, reduce private vehicles. Public transport = mass transport + taxis + autos + Increase Non-motorized Transport (NMT) Cycling and Walking This is the only solution that will work in the long term.
- 9. Sustainable transport could lead to this Reduce No. of vehicles by 75 % Commute time by 50 % Pollution by 80 % Spending on roads by 90 % Increase spending on Water, Health care, Education, Electric power
- 10. Which mass transport ?
- 11. Metro ? Like London, Paris and New York, Bangalore needs 400 km. of Metro tracks. The other cities took 150 years to build 400 km. of Metro. Bangalore has taken 5 years to build 4 km. 42 km. in phase 1 is going to cost Rs. 12,000 Cr. 1. Bangalore Metro will take 100 years, cost Rs. 1 Lakh Crore. 2. We will not be alive to see its benefits. MG Road, before Metro MG Road, after Metro
- 12. Bus ? 150 people in cars 150 people in 2 buses and 2-wheelers Road space used by a person in a bus is 3 % compared to a a car, 5 % compared to a 2-wheeler
- 13. The bus already works, beautifully BMTC has 6000 buses, 0.5 % of the total vehicle population of 36,00000 (36 lakhs). It carries half the city's population. Proportionately One half of Bangalore occupies this much road space in 36 Lakh private vehicles. The other half of Bangalore occupies this much road space in 6000 buses.
- 14. Commuter rail ? Will run on existing rail tracks, 405 km. distance. Connects all suburbs. Starts with 15 minute frequency, increases to 5-10 minutes in 7 years. Can start in 1 year, Rs. 8000 Crore total cost.
- 15. It's decision making time
- 16. Option 1 Keep widening roads and destroying Bangalore + Wait for Metro for 100 years, cost Rs. 1 lakh Cr. 2005 2010 2015 2020 ?
- 17. Result Air pollution, road accidents, loss of trees, loss of homes and businesses to road widening
- 18. Option 2 For long commutes – public transport Commuter rail Bus Taxis Autos For short commutes - Non-motorized transport Cycling Walking
- 19. Result A green Bangalore, with clean air, improved mobility, more money spent on healthcare, water, power, education
- 20. Does it really need great intelligence to decide which option is better ?
- 21. But you think it is Utopian ? Sustainable transport is too long term, OK for developed countries like Holland but not practical in a developing country ? See How sustainable transport can be implemented in Bangalore.
- 22. What you can do 1. Start practising sustainable transport – take public transport, cycle or walk whenever possible. Can you start by not driving to that neighbourhood shop that's half a km. away ? 2. Reduce your addiction to your private vehicle, in stages. 3. Convince friends that sustainable transport is the only way to go – personally, through social media, etc. 4. Participate in campaigns pushing for sustainable transport – email, petitions, public meetings, demonstrations – in whatever way you can.
- 23. “A Developed country is not a place where the Poor have cars, it's where the Rich use Public Transport” - Enrique Peñalosa, former Mayor of Bogota, Columbia, and sustainable transport guru
- 24. Further reading Some of the articles are a couple of years old. The data may be slightly old, but the essence of the arguments does not change. Why the Metro is not a solution Why road widening is stupid Enrique Penalosa - Brief biography Interview with Enrique Penalosa Bangalore commuter rail Groups working for sustainable transport Want to join and work in a group working for sustainable transport in Bangalore? You can contribute your time, skills and money. Join Praja.in