Facing pageCollaborative explorations.
How many of us have experienced the frustration of not being able to walk conveniently to the bus stop or the metro station nearby? How many times have we avoided public transport because the last mile connectivity is not dependable? Growing motorization rates in Indian cities has increased the conflict on roads as pedestrians, cyclists and automobile users jostle for space. Furthermore, India has the highest number of road deaths in the world with 1,40,000 fatalities reported in the period 2003-2011. India accounts for almost 10% of worldwide fatalities due to road accidents. It goes without saying that creating facilities for pedestrians and other non-motorized transport users to safely access their destinations is critical to improve the urban experience in Indian cities. In response to growing urban challenges, a national-level recommendation has been to focus on developing world-class mass transit systems. However, providing safe access to mass transit stations turns out to be a critical urban issue that can be implemented for a fraction of the cost of mass transit systems. Enabling safe access to these transit stations is essential to not only improve ridership but subsequently reduce congestion and air pollution. World Resources Institute (WRI) has developed an interactive tool to help identify solutions for improving station areas not only from the perspective of giving pedestrians and cyclists priority but also parking management, enhanced safety and security, integration with feeder routes and an enhanced public realm. The interactive tool is based on the WRI publication, Safe Access Manual: Safe Access to mass transit stations in Indian cities.
WHY SAFE ACCESS? Indian cities have seen a massive investment of 15 billion USD directed towards various mass transit systems across the nation (19 bus rapid transit and 10 metro rail systems). In keeping with this, transit authorities and municipal corporations must make a concerted effort to provide safe access to these systems in order to increase the ridership and cause a modal shift from the private automobile to these more sustainable means of transport. In the Indian context, the street is more than just a connector. The public space aspect of streets is as unique as it is critical. So while creating spaces for pedestrians to safely access transit stations, it is equally important to address issues regarding informal vendors, local rituals, living heritage and needs of communities.
June 2016 | CITY OBSERVER
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