Commute

Bengaluru’s traffic nightmare during floods: IISc study shows policy measures can help

November 6, 2020 Ashish Verma

Most Bengalureans would know what it’s like to get stuck in traffic jams for hours, or having to cancel their trips entirely, due to floods. An IISc study shows this scenario will only worsen with time unless specific policy measures are taken.

Is Bengaluru’s Metro Phase 2 almost ready? Here’s a progress report

October 29, 2020 Dhanush Kumar S

Phase 2 of Namma Metro, which will cover large parts of Bengaluru, has been progressing. While work is in the final stages in some lines, it is lagging in some others.

Tree felling in progress on Neelamangala-Doddaballpura road for road widening. Pic: Mahesh Bhat

Essential questions to ask when considering new transport projects in Bengaluru

October 26, 2020 Ashish Verma

Bengaluru has seen hundreds of projects aimed at reducing traffic jams, but these do not solve the problem. Why is this so? And what could be the solution?

34-km Cycle Lane coming up on Outer Ring Road soon. Know the details

October 11, 2020 Rajeev Malagi

As more Bengalureans are taking to cycles during COVID, plans are afoot to create dedicated cycle lanes. The pilot project on ORR is expected to be completed in months.

Bicycle sale and use rise in Bengaluru with COVID, data shows

October 9, 2020 Sathya Sankaran

Bicycle sale in Bengaluru has soared during COVID. Data also shows that the number of cycling trips have rocketed, especially for recreation.

Opinion: “Bengaluru needs bike taxis for better connectivity, fewer traffic jams”

October 7, 2020 Aditya Thokala, Febin Sagir, Pranav Joshi, Samyak Gupta, Revathy Ashok and Pooja J Patel

Bike taxis offer cheap, fast commute, and can provide last mile connectivity to public transport. Many States have already legalised bike taxis; Karnataka too needs to promote it.

“Review ORR-Airport Metro line, other transport projects in light of COVID”: Activists write to Centre

October 2, 2020 News Desk

While the Centre is yet to sanction the ORR-Airport Metro line, three civic groups have written to Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, requesting a review of all transport infrastructure projects in Bengaluru. Travel needs of citizens have changed with COVID, and hence investment in transport infra also needs to change, their letter says.

Want to boost sustainable transport in your neighbourhood? You can apply for ‘SuMA’ funds

October 1, 2020 Pragathi R

Want to set up cycling lanes in your neighbourhood? Or ensure better footpaths or last-mile connectivity? SuMA programme by the Directorate of Urban Land Transport now offers Rs 50 lakh plus technical expertise to selected neighbourhood groups to implement such projects.

Will vehicle ban in Cubbon Park worsen traffic congestion? No, finds IISc study

September 14, 2020 News Desk

A recent IISc study finds that allowing vehicles inside Cubbon Park does not help reduce traffic. Instead, a vehicle ban in the park can reduce both emissions and the overall distance motorists travel.

Metro reopening: What are the lessons from global cities?

September 12, 2020 Pragathi R

Many global cities have been able to run their train services without COVID transmission in the last few months. But they also seem to have taken more precautions than Namma Metro has.

Needed: SOP for sanitising Metro coaches

September 8, 2020 Manoj Sharma

Despite elaborate safety measures, the Metro saw few takers on its first day of operation. A sanitisation schedule, if made public, could boost commuter confidence.

It’s high time BMTC got people with disabilities on board. Here are five steps to ensure this.

September 4, 2020 Euan Morrison, Prajwal N and Prof. Ajay Bailey

A recent survey finds that even the bus stations included under the Accessible India campaign are unfriendly towards people with disabilities. Lower fares, better infrastructure and participatory planning can ensure the BMTC is equally accessible to all.