[sustran] Re: Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 76, Issue 4

[Simon Bishop]

On the issue of the Delhi Police asking people to use 'the Metro and public transport' during the Games, can someone ask how people can get to bus stops and Metro stations from their homes and workplaces?  

The rapid increase in flyover construction in Delhi (50 in place, 35 more planned) has added to the inaccessibility of the city by rendering huge sections of road un-crossable by pedestrians.  Delhi already has amongst the highest amount of land under roads in the world (21%).  

The newspapers here, run by car drivers, are getting very excited about signal free movement, clamoring for higher speed limits on urban motorways, foot over bridges (FOBs) and wanting to rid the city of cycle and auto-rickshaws that slow down traffic, discourage car use, and act as a road safety device.  

To add to this, Delhi has about 700 part-time working signals.  I ride a cycle to work in the morning and evening and have done my own survey of a traffic light that is not working 7 days out of 10.  A city of approximately the geographical size of Delhi, London, has 6,000 working signals.  Can the Delhi police provide, or commit to provide, safe, accessible crossings for pedestrians and cyclists along routes that they wish to use BEFORE they seriously ask people to take public transport?  

If the traffic police are worried about a backlash from the motorists' lobby, highlight that the best way to confront congestion (for the benefit of motorists too) is to discourage unnecessary travel, get more people walking, cycling or using public transport.  Delhi's efforts to build its way out of congestion are making car trips more necessary by the day.    

-----Original Message-----
From: sustran-discuss-bounces+simon.bishop=dimts.in at list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+simon.bishop=dimts.in at list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of sustran-discuss-request at list.jca.apc.org
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 8:31 AM
To: sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Subject: Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 76, Issue 4

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Today's Topics:

   1. Delhiites urged to use public transport during 2010 Games
      (Vinay Baindur)


----------------------------------------------------------------------

Message: 1
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 2009 13:18:20 +0530
From: Vinay Baindur <yanivbin at gmail.com>
Subject: [sustran] Delhiites urged to use public transport during 2010
	Games
To: Hasire Usiru <hasiruusiru at yahoogroups.com>
Message-ID:
	<86b8a7050912052348t39bb28b9i6b69cc2f67bb9bb3 at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

*Delhiites urged to use public transport during 2010 Games*

2009/10/19Tags: commonwealth games, heavy rush, metro routes, traffic
diversions, y s dadwal

in india

New Delhi, Oct 19 (IANS) Given the high security and traffic diversions
would effect traffic during next year?s Commonwealth Games (CWG), Delhi
Police Monday said it would appeal to the people to use Metro and public
transport during Games. Traders and offices would be asked to shutter their
workplaces on the Games? closing day.

?When there will be an exclusive lane for Games vehicles, naturally the
traffic ongestion would increase. We would urge people to use public means
of transport that time,? Delhi Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal told
reporters here.

The police Monday made an off-camera presentation explaining the security
and traffic plan for the Games.

?By the time the Games start, two more Metro routes will also start. We
would encourage the people to use the Metro,? he said, adding that a
publicity campaign on this would be carried out before the Games.

The police commissioner said that such an event is a pride for the nation
but no plan can work without public support.

The police have already written to traders? associations and corporate
offices to either reschedule their weekly holidays or close their
enterprises on the closing day of the CWG.

?CWG closing ceremony would take place on Oct 14, which is Thursday. We
expect a heavy rush on that day. We have suggested to many offices,
including PSUs, to take their weekly off on Thursday instead of Saturday for
that week,? Dadwal said.

The police have also asked trader associations to close their shops on that
day and do business on another day.


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SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). 

End of Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 76, Issue 4
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