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Public Transport vs Private Cars
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Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: Transport | Posted by RK Misra at 16-02-2009 11:09:52
ABIDe has identified public transport as the most important tool in reducing traffic congestion in Bangalore. Given the ground realities, Bus based public transport system is being promoted with a corridor approach. 10 major arterial roads (Big-10) have been identified as high density traffic corridors which will be made junction/signal free with dedicated Bus service, both A/C and non-A/C buses, named as Big-10 service. This is already implemented on Hosur Road (Vellara Jn - Electronic City) and HAL Airport Road (Trinity Jn - Whitefield-Hope Farm jn). This is proving tobe extremely popoular. This service connects with CBD HoHo Service (Kendra Sarige) at Vellara Jn and Trinity Jn respectively.
This makes is extremely convenient for anyone living and commuting on these routes to use this Big-10 Service, without the need to take their private vehicles to work or shop.
I have used these services and they are extremely convenient and efficient.
We hope that many more buses are added on all Big-10 routes and the concept is promoted in media and privately.
RK
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: bmtc-frequency-proper-routes-queue-timetable-map | Posted by Nanda Ramesh at 17-02-2009 21:20:08
I have tried sometimes to use the Bus Service rather than take my car and I can tell you it is not very convenient unless your starting and end point coincides with that of a bus route and that bus has a good frequency. If not, forget about it.
You dont want to waste 1 hr to go 3-4 kms.
There are many many things that needs to be done to make BMTC an alternate to taking out your private vehicle.
1. Proper routes to connect any pt a to b with just 1 changeover.
2. Reliable frequency. Ex. Route 10 is every 15 mins means => we should expect it to cross a point 4 times in an hour evenly spaced.
3. Clean buses and bustops (this change is taking place now)
4. Proper Queue system at stops so that there is no pushing and shoving (unfortunately this is a culture issue)
5. Good timetables and maps at every bustop.
these will be a good start I feel..
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: KS, HoHo | Posted by Khader B Syed at 19-02-2009 01:45:38
Various people have corrobrated the fact that this service is no different than others in NOT STOPPING at the Bus Stop. Even though the passengers were waiting at the bus stop. Unless this culture is fixed, don't expect people to patronize it.
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by Sunup Kurien at 19-02-2009 18:52:34
If your house is near to a bus stop, then it's all fine. But if it's say a few kilometers away from the nearest bus stop, you would be inclined to use your own vehicle.
The suggestion I have is to build multi-level vehicle parking space in important junctions, say Marathahalli, BTM Udipi Garden as a few examples, so that people could drive down to those junctions, park their vehicles and then take the public buses. Otherwise it's just no use.
Sunup Kurien
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by Anand Nayak at 24-02-2009 10:56:03
Ho-Ho and Big-10 sounds good concepts and hopefully will work better.
Important thing is these buses and the other Volvo Vajra's like 365, 335E, 360B etc. should get more predictable and for this we need to make these buses and bus stops smarter by some sort of tracking system like GPS or some thing similar. Point is if a person knows that the bus would be approching the stop in next 10 mins and then can decide to wait or take alternative tranport based on the the need. To put things into perspective, if I reach a bus stop waiting for Volve I have no idea how long its gonna take before the Volvo arrives , while setting frequency to every 15- 20 mins is not possible due to unpridictable traffic its easier to use technology to just let the passangers know when the bus is arriving and let them decide to take a Volvo or take alternate means like Rickshaw or cab.
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by RK Misra at 24-02-2009 15:47:25
Dear Friends,
We in ABIDe have taken note of all your issues and suggestions, in fact some of it we already knew, and we are tackling these on priority.
BMTC is being asked to IMPROVE Website, Add Search Engine, Bus Stops on Big-10 Routes should have Next Bus Arrival Info Display and service should be very frequent say 5-10 minutes. All this will be implemented in next month or so.
This is the FIRST time that we are attempting to PROMOTE Public Transport in Bangalore for both common man as well as people with cars, by providing Suvarna and Volvo AC services on Big-10 Arterial Roads.
Currently service on Major Arterial Routes - Big-10 is being introduced along with CBD HoHo. It is not possible to take buses to with-in 100 meters of each house in outlying areas, but we plan to have a BUS Service with-in 1 km from major localities and that is why we have started this DIRECTION based (Big-10) service on all arterial roads. So if you are in Koramangala - you can go 1-2 KM in either direction Hosur Rd, Sarjapura Rd,or HAL Airport Rd and you will get one Big-10 Service. We are also running services on Inner Ring Road and Outer Ring Road so that you can connect to Big-10 arterial routes. Plan is that you should reach your destination with max 1 transfer.
Please get dropped by driver/wife/friend/auto to the nearest MAIN ROAD (Big-10 Route) and see how easy it becomes to reach your destination. The same bus which you curse if you are in the car becomes a bliss. You can travel in the AC comfort reading your newspaper without shouting and screaming at other road users who cut lanes and cause panic, if you are driving.
Shift to Public Transport is the worldwide trend.
Please note, TAKING your car is the easiest option, but think of the consequences - Traffic Jam, Fuel cost and most of all Environment Damage. Lets start to do GOOD to ourselves, our City and Our Mother Earth.
I know it is little inconvenient but we have to lead by example.
RK
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by Padmanabhan at 23-03-2009 19:07:34
I am for the usage of public transport (read buses and trains) and I take the buses wherever feasible and possible. Sample this: Staying in Basavanagudi, I can take a bus to Majestic easily. But to areas like Koramangala, Shanthi Nagar, Hosur Road, Indirangagar, JP Nagar etc. there are no direct buses, even though the distance is very less. One cannot expect people to go to Majestic or Corporation circle to take another bus. This is sheer waste of time and energy. Corporation, being one of the places where buses to almost all direction come, bus stops need to be more properly aligned. To go to Indiranagar, if one takes a bus from Basavanagudi , the bus stops a few meters before Mysore Bank circle. From there, one has to walk all the way to the Kanteevera Stadium to take another bus. Similary, coming down residency road, the bus stop is at the Pallavi theatre (other than the signal, of course). From here to the corporation circle, to catch another bus to Bangalore South, is not an easy task.
In summary, BMTC has to ensure that they connect the different areas through rationalization of the routes so that it is a one bus to a short distance. Also, if one has to change buses, then the connecting bus stop should be nearby. All stations (Yeshwantpur, Cantt, City) should have buses starting from within the station. GPRS, Air conditioned bus stops, touch screens in bus stops etc. can come much later. Let them take care of the basics first. They could learn a few lessons from places like Chennai and Mumbai in terms of running good public transport.
Padmanabhan
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by Nithin Nayak Sujir at 14-05-2009 14:17:47
This idea is aimed at reducing the private vehicles on the road by targeting commuter buses whose routes are designed specifically for the people who travel using their own vehicles, i.e. the middle class and higher.
Speaking as a car owner, I am very much for public transport. But I am not willing to wait more than 15 min or change more than once to reach my destination. I am not willing to board crowded buses and get my pocket picked. I am however willing to pay a premium for comfortable Volvo service. There are several others like me all over Bangalore.
So far the bus routes are decided by the BMTC magically and then the commuter is asked to fit in his commute to the route. For a person owning a vehicle the bus route has to be almost as convenient as driving himself if he's to be persuaded to use the bus. E.g. In my case there is no direct bus that takes me from 4th Block to Mayo Hall. I did try to use the Volvo service and then the HOHO service but again it wasn't convenient. It involved a 15 min walk from Lalbag West Gate to the Main Gate followed by a 20 min wait for the HOHO bus. On the return trip I waited 1hour and no Blue Line bus showed up. This is not a practical solution for me and people like me.
So why not do an internet survey where vehicle owners can mention their desired start-end points between which if Volvo service existed, they would use it. The reason for the internet only survey is the target segment of middle class and higher. Advertise that this is being done and encourage people to respond. Encourage people to forward the info and vote on the website. If the response is good, take the highest voted bus stops and devise a route or two that goes through these stops.
The buses only need to ply on these during commuting times. I.e. 7-10am and 5-9pm. During the day 10am-5pm they could be used to service a different route that needs the extra capacity. The buses must be high frequency during the time. At most 15 mins.
I'm certain this would reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. At the very least this would fare better than the HOHO service which runs empty all the time. I'm not convinced that the kind of commuter it is targeting is in large numbers.
Thanks,
Nithin.
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: BMTC | Posted by Mahesh N at 28-07-2009 16:09:37
I'd like BMTC to do few things:
1. Issue monthly passes without requiring BMTC issued ID cards (We have enough other ID proofs such as PAN, Voter ID etc.)
2. Issue 5-day passes (for use by most working people) at Rs.200/- for use in volvo/ any bus. For people like me who just use bus during work week, it will be very useful
3. Please have bi-lingual boards on all buses (or better still, electronic bi-lingual displays), and even better if can display key stops in route
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Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
In reply to Re: Public Transport vs Private Cars
Tagged: | Posted by ganglatha at 28-12-2009 22:10:15
By 2012, once the metro is implemented, we would need more of mini bus (feeder services). BMTC may want to consider this while they place orders for big buses during coming years.
Some of the other points which keep coming in news papers, but no concrete action is seen are as below.
When will our people stand and wait near busstops which should be ideally located after 50 meters from the signals. Is it the problem of bus drivers or people waiting at intersections? Sometimes I feel that the problem is with intersections; so why not build intersections 50 meters away from busstops or where people wait????? To make matters worse, auto drivers wait for passengers before or after the busstops. Add more chilli to it – People come to the middle of the road by about 10 to 20 feet from foot path. Some of the roads can be made as left lanes for Buses and Autos. But we need to trim the lower branches of the trees coming in the way – like how mercilessly Bescom chops to their favour. Now trees have also become intelligent and started growing like a "C" negotiating the electric lines and continue to grow up without harming the high roof IT buses.
Some of the sharp curves need to be straightened – Buses coming from Rajajinagar/Vijayanagar ND TAKING STEEP RIGHT TURN towards BMTC busstand near slum board junction find it DAUNTINGLY hard.
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