Policy Beyond Mobility

In busy Indian cities, getting around can be challenging. We deal with problems like traffic congestion, pollution, and the constant struggle to find convenient transport options. The rapid growth of India’s urban population has triggered an increased demand for transport in the cities and surrounding areas, with commuters taking multiple long trips each day. This has also meant an augmented need for public transport. Public transportation systems account for 30 percent of trips in cities with populations between one and two million, 42 percent in areas with populations between two and five million, and 63 percent in cities with populations over five million. The innovation in the mobility space to close the first and last mile gap such as bike taxis, erickshaw, e-scooters should be encouraged as they offer better first and last mile connectivity. Further, a multimodal integration of all public transit modes in the city would enable service providers to build solutions to close the first and last mile gap.  KEY DISCUSSION POINTS Is India’s declining public transport ridership associated with poor first and last mile connectivity options?  Projected riderships in metro systems are often not achieved. Does this have a link to the non-availability of feeder services?  Governance Perspective:  Who is responsible for ensuring first and last mile connectivity in Indian cities? How do you think the permit system and capping on number of autorickshaw permits (in cities like Kochi) would affect the efficient implementation of first and last mile connectivity? 4. Role of Micromobility: What role do micromobility options like bicycles and e-bikes play? Have they been able to cater to first and last mile connectivity? In some cities like Indore, these companies (eg. MyByk) are given VGF initially for operating. What other measures do the authorities have to take to ensure proper first and last mile connectivity?

Urban vehicular pollution has become a critical issue in the contemporary world, driven by rapid industrialization, urbanisation and the concentration of human activities in metropolitan areas. When discussing urban pollution, we tend to concentrate more on the air, sound and water pollution in urban areas. But it is equally important to delve into other attributes that influence and worsen the already prevalent pollution. We leave out one important aspect of pollution: urban congestion and its subsequent effects. The increase in vehicular ownership in India leads to congestion on urban roads, resulting in commuters spending more time on roads being stuck in traffic, leading to increased carbon emissions.  The word congestion is often used in relation to vehicle traffic by specialists and the general public alike. The Concise Oxford English Dictionary (Oxford University Press, 2002) defines it as “abnormal accumulation, crowding, or obstruction, especially of traffic, etc.” It is commonly understood as a situation in which many vehicles are in motion and each of them progresses slowly and fitfully. Even though these definitions are subjective and fit into everyday usage, they are not completely accurate. Many attempts have been made to define what congestion is and to determine the origin point of traffic congestion. Multiple reports and research materials are available to get a better understanding of the same.  This podcast discusses how traffic congestion contributes to urban pollution, what the possible reasons are and explores solutions for the same. The rationale for discussing urban congestion lies in its multifaceted impacts on economic efficiency, environmental sustainability and social well-being. Traffic congestion leads to significant economic costs due to lost productivity, increased fuel consumption, and delays in goods and services delivery. Additionally, it exacerbates aspects of conventional air and sound pollution.

With many cities now having metro systems, there has been recent debates of the viability of metro systems specially in those cities where Bus Rapid Transit System was first implemented. The ridership in metro systems in most Indian cities are lower than what is projected. However, some experts suggest the debate over bus versus Metro rail is unnecessary and cities should get the benefit of having every single mode of transport. In this podcast, Mr Ranjit Gadgil, Program Director at Parisar, Pune, discusses about the viability of metro systems in cities with BRTS. The major discussion points include:• How cities that have an existing BRT look at investments in metro infrastructure • Pune being the first city to have a BRT system, still faces challenges in maintaining the operations. Is this a consequence of planning issues or mindset of the authorities?  • How has the view of commuters and the State/city been towards advancing BRTS in Pune • How has Pune’s transport investments been over the years? • Was metro rail a necessity in Pune? How is the current ridership and do people prefer it over BRT? • What are the indicators to keep in mind when choosing the appropriate PT system in a metro city like Pune?

In this podcast episode, we delve into the often overlooked topic of public transportation systems and what drives individuals to use them. The speaker, LIuis, kicks off the discussion by explaining the concepts of pull and push factors in public transport. Push factors, which force commuters to utilise public transportation, are examined in depth. The conversation then delves into policy initiatives related to push factors and their potential effectiveness in increasing public transport usage in India. The debate over implementing push and pull factors simultaneously versus sequentially is explored, highlighting the importance of reducing the attractiveness of car use. Addressing the unique traffic composition in Indian cities, particularly the prevalence of 2-wheelers, the discussion touches upon the implications of congestion charges. Drawing insights from international examples like Singapore, considerations for implementing effective fees in India are analysed. Lastly, the conversation shifts to India's national transit-oriented development policy and the integration of push factors into such frameworks. The episode concludes by addressing the challenges policymakers may encounter in promoting push factors within the Indian transport system. Speaker : LIuis Sanvicens, Urban mobility expert and researcher, Sanvi consulting Lluis Sanvicens is an urban mobility expert and researcher from Sanvi Consulting, a strategic consulting firm in urban mobility in Spain. It helps cities improve active mobility and public transportation; as well as the rest of the city's components and services.

In this episode of "Policy Beyond Mobility," featuring Ms Sonal Shah, we delve into the critical aspect of gender-sensitive mobility, exploring how we can make transportation safer and more inclusive for women. Based on a decade of research and data, four key entry points to address this issue effectively have been identified. 1. Data for policymaking, programmes, and projects: Data plays a fundamental role in understanding how women use transportation services. Notably, while the majority of women travel during non-peak hours, about 55% use shared para-transit during peak times. Surprisingly, many women report feeling more insecure inside the bus than at bus stops. This highlights the need for policies that enhance security both in transit and at transit facilities. Utilising data effectively can help in formulating targeted policies, programmes, and projects that address these specific concerns. 2. Standard Legislation and Guidelines: Legislation and guidelines need to explicitly include gender sensitivity to ensure safe mobility for women. For instance, recent legislative changes, such as adjustments in the height requirements for bus conductors in Delhi, show a move towards more inclusive criteria. Furthermore, establishing clear standards for driver entry and behaviour can significantly impact the safety and comfort of female passengers. 3. Infrastructure and Operational Services: Our findings suggest that the top concerns for women at bus stops include the lack of timely information on bus arrivals, buses not stopping as required, and overcrowding during peak hours. To mitigate these issues, improvements in physical infrastructure are necessary. This includes better-lit bus shelters and real-time information displays. Technologies like the 'One Delhi' app, which provides real-time bus arrival information, can greatly reduce the uncertainty and waiting times for women, thereby enhancing their safety. 4. Grievance Redressal Mechanism: A staggering 95% of women have never filed a complaint regarding their safety on public transport, highlighting a significant gap in the grievance redressal mechanism. Over a three-month period in Delhi, 10% of the 170 filed complaints were from women, primarily concerning buses not stopping. This indicates a lack of awareness and trust in the existing complaint systems. Implementing a time-bound response system and increasing awareness about how to report issues can empower women to voice their concerns and improve overall safety.