[sustran] Re: Updates on Delhi bus crisis

[Wendell Cox]

Meanwhile... how is all of this (the banning of old buses) affecting the
daily riders (or former riders) in Delhi? Would appreciate news references
or a brief report.

Best regards,
Wendell Cox


----- Original Message -----
From: SAVE BOMBAY COMMITEE <kisansbc at bom5.vsnl.net.in>
To: Sustran Discuss <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>; Kerry Wood
<kerry.wood at paradise.net.nz>
Sent: Saturday, April 15, 2000 2:29 PM
Subject: [sustran] Re: Updates on Delhi bus crisis


>
>
> SAVE BOMBAY COMMITEE wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Kerry's  reply dated 13.04.2000 was enlightening.  At present the
> > government policy is of promoting use of diesel.  All public buses and
> > heavy duty trucks  operate on diesel cheaper in price than bottled
> > mineral water.  Public Transport Undertaking has introduced less than
> > ten CNG operating  buses in the total fleet of 3500 buses.
> >
> > Cycles are getting out as   man's mode of traffic due to serious
> > traffic hazard  because roads are full of  private cars  and heavy
> > duty vehicles.  Though cycles are more efficient (I agree with you),
> > car owners are not ready to go over to cycles or even leave the cars
> > at home.  In Indian  cities motor cycles outnumber all modes for
> > movement,  Cycles riding cannot be safe till cycle lanes are provided
> > and effectively guarded.
> >
> > Bus lanes are rare however reserving only one 3.5 m wide lane is
> > workable even for buses.  In Mumbai some of the main corridors carry
> > between 25 to 50 bus routes.  Buses move in platoons resulting in
> > severe delays.  In crowded roads, buses move at an average spped of
> > 8-10 km an hour. Roads are over crowded.  Pavements are encroached by
> > parked vehicles,  hawkers, shop extensions,  waste bins of different
> > sizes some of  2m x 4m in ht  of 2.5 m.  Motor cycles jump over to
> > pavements to bypass vehicular traffic jams .  We have had no occasion
> > to see the two manuals you have referred and difficult to locate in
> > India.   Can you kindly obtain for us.
> >
> > The fact that the Delhi authorities could not think of providing
> > protection and safety to cycles even in the crisis created by sudden
> > withdrawal of old buses shows that cycles are not considered as an
> > efficient mode of traffic.  More cars will come on road because car
> > owning is encouraged and there is substantial drop in the prices of
> > second hand cars.  Best wishes,
> >
> > Kisan Mehta
> > President
> > Save Bombay Committee
> > 620 Jame Jamshed Road, Dadar East,
> > MUMBAI  - 400 014
> > Tel 00 91 22 414 96 88
> > Fax 00 91 22 415 55 36
> >
> >
>
>