The sustainable transport solution to Bangalore's traffic woes - how we can implement it.

1. Bangalore traffic solution
Sustainable transport using
Commuter rail + Bus + Non-motorized transport
How can we implement it?

2. 4-point rule
1. Discourage use of private transport.
2. Encourage use of public transport.
3. Encourage cycling
4. Encourage walking.

3. Discourage use of private transport
How ?
Some methods
- Charge congestion fee for entering busy areas.
- Ban single-passenger vehicles on main roads.
- Ban private vehicles from main roads during peak hours.
- No parking on all roads, including in residential areas OR Increase
parking fee to high values (like Rs. 100 per hour).
- Increase road taxes on private vehicles.
- Impose quota on registration of new vehicles.
- Reduce road space available to private vehicles.
- Allow only vehicles with even number plates on even dates, odd on odd
dates.

4. Encourage use of public transport
How ?
Improve 3 key factors of public transport – Frequency,
Comfort, Punctuality.
Improve the Bus system
Implement the Commuter Train system
Improve Auto services
Improve Taxi services

5. Encourage non-motorized transport
How ?
Encourage walking
Improve quality of footpaths.
Improve number of pedestrian crossings on roads.
Improve quality and safety of pedestrian crossings.
Make some roads pedestrian-only. E.g., Commercial St., Gandhi Bazaar,
Avenue Rd., Brigade Rd.
Consider pedestrians when designing any road, underpass, etc.
Provide trees over all footpaths for shade.
Encourage cycling
Provide cycling lanes on all roads.
Include priority for bicycles in signal lights.
Provide priority bicycle parking across the city.

6. Why is this not possible ?
Hundreds of cities worldwide with enlightened governments have
sustainable transport. In Japan, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, USA, China,
Brazil, Columbia Singapore, Australia, UK.
Even cities in North America, which so far have been the chief examples
of unrestrained growth in private vehicles, are switching – Los Angeles,
Boston, Vancouver, etc.

7. Why is this not possible ?
We keep talking of 'Making Bangalore like Singapore'. Why don't
we copy its system of encouraging public transport and
discouraging private transport ?
Cost of owning a 1000 cc car costing Rs. 4 Lakhs in Singapore
Basic cost Rs. 22 Lakhs
Cost of road and parking Rs. 11,000 per month
*Cost Rs. 4 Lakhs + Registration fee Rs. 32000 + + Certificate of entitlement Rs. 10 Lakh +
Additional registration fee Rs. 6.4 Lakh + Customs duty Rs. 1.2 Lakh
** + Road Tax Rs. 1000
+ Parking fee (@ 10 hrs. per day, Rs. 32 per hout, 25 days) Rs. 8000
+ Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) on main roads in peak hours – Rs. 65 to Rs. 96 ($2 to $3)
to enter congested areas,
@ once a day Rs. 2000

8. Some frequent objections
Objection 1 : “It is the fundamental right of citizens to use whatever
transport they want. How can we legislate and curb this?”
The response : If the government can use legislation to demolish
houses and business to widen roads, why can't it use legislation to
reduce private vehicles ? Which would citizens prefer ? To lose their
homes businesses and have their one-beautiful city destroyed, or to
stop using their private vehicles ?
Objection 2: “We are a democracy. Maybe dictatorships like Singapore
can do this, but not us.”
The response : Singapore has been a democracy for 30 years.
Measures to curb private vehicles have been implemented in large
numbers of democracies worldwide.

9. Objection 3 : We've already spent a lot of time and money on the
Metro. How can we abandon it now ?
The response : Let's say after 20 years of living an unhealthy life, your
doctor tells you that your arteries are clogged and you need to cut down
on the fat and sugar, and start exercising. Which of these would be your
response?
1. “No doctor, I know I've made a mistake, but I cannot now abandon
my old lifestyle and the money that I have invested in the huge amounts
of sugar, oil and butter that I ate. I will continue as before.
2. “Ok doctor, I will now change track and abandon my old mistakes. I
will now shift to the new lifestyle that you suggest.”
If your decision as an individual is Response 2, why should the city's
decision be any different ?

10. Why is this not possible ?
Enrique Peñalosa transformed Bogota in Columbia in just the
3 years that he was Mayor : 1998 – 2001.

11. How did he do this ?
“We were able to change the priority from a city for cars which is what had
been built for the last 80 years, to what I believe is much more a city for
people, and especially for the more vulnerable people, with things that may
be very obvious, but they were very difficult.
We made sidewalks. We widened footpaths in many cases, even taking
away space from car roads. We built, or rebuilt, about more than a
thousand parks. We built some fantastic schools and nurseries and
libraries. And we built about 350 kilometres of bike paths, and we created
maybe what is today the world's best bus system.”
- Enrique Peñalosa

12. Why is this not possible ?
Peñalosa is the guru of sustainable transport worldwide, and
his feat and methods are being studied and replicated
worldwide.
Why can we in Bangalore not do this too ?
More reading
Enrique Penalosa - Brief biography
http://www.pps.org/info/placemakingtools/placemakers/epenalosa
Interview with Enrique Penalosa
http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1303555.htm