for many who may not have the flexibility to change trip time, origin, and/or destination. For public transport to be a viable alternative, it must: ● ● ● ● ●
Be easily accessible Serve the routes that people need Be of a quality that people are willing to shift to Have enough capacity to absorb the additional demand Are frequent to minimize travel time
Access to any form of transit within a comfortable walking distance is essential. Cities can use effective proxy indicators like People near Transit (PNT) to measure how accessible their transit services are to its citizens. For example, ITDP’s PNT analysis in Pune showed that only 66% people had access to high-frequency bus services (headway less than 5 minutes) in 201912. The analysis exposed the accessibility gaps in the existing systems and identified areas in need of frequent transit services. Indian cities must aim to provide at least 600 buses per million residents13 with at least 80% of the population having easy walking access to frequent transit. To provide more comfortable travel experience and encourage people to shift to public transport, Transport for London (TfL) introduced 300 new buses on the day congestion charge was introduced. In Singapore, bus service to the congestion zone was improved significantly, while in the case of Stockholm, the introduction of 197 new buses and 16 new bus routes preceded the congestion pricing trial.14 People’s perceptions and expectations from the public transport system—in terms of comfort, access, and quality—should be assessed through public surveys and focused group discussions. Addressing people’s concerns will improve the reliability of public transit and increase its ridership. 2.6.2
Improve walking and cycling transport facilities
In most Indian cities, a third to half of all trips happen on foot or a bicycle. Most public transport trips also start and end with a walking trip. Walking and cycling provide basic affordable mobility and access to public transport. They also improve health and wellbeing. Improving conditions for walking and cycling reduces the demand for travel by private vehicles and the associated costs of traffic congestion. Walking and cycling also significantly improve the economic performance of cities. Well-designed streets help give a fillip to local businesses as well as lower household transport costs. To nudge people towards sustainable transport modes, London added significant bicycle infrastructure and improved walking facilities before and during congestion pricing implementation. Similarly, Stockholm also improved the walking infrastructure and expanded its bicycle network. Some Indian cities have started improving their walking and cycling infrastructure after realizing its importance. Pune and Chennai are at the top of the list. They have adopted a 12
People near Transit, Transit near People. ITDP. 2019
13
Service Level Benchmarks for Urban Transport. MoUD. 2013
14
Congestion Pricing in London, Stockholm and Singapore: A Way Forward for New York. Tri-state Transportation Campaign. 2017
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