Routes to better traffic

Routes to better traffic
Our daily commute is taking longer. Do road users themselves have any solutions?
The Times of India

THE congestion on our roads grows ever worse. Neither the current oneways nor the flyovers of the future appear to be the solution. BT asked road users and experts to do some out-of-the-box thinking and come up with ways to tackle Bangalore’s worst problem. Then we had traffic expert MN Sreehari— who, incidentally, was stuck in a jam — validate these solutions.

Bus stops and bus bays:
Several bus stops in the city are close to road junctions. This causes jamming at intersections and creates bottlenecks. “A case in point will be the road coming out of CV Raman Nagar reaching Old Madras Road. At the corner, we have a bus stop and opposite is another. Also, there are two stops leading up and coming down the KR Puram Hanging Bridge; both create traffic jams. There’s a ‘convenient’ bus stop under the bridge, jamming traffic no end,” says Sriram Chari, a KR Puram resident. “Also bus drivers never seem to stop at bus stops. They don’t go close to the pavement, stopping either ahead or after or away from the stop, worsening the problem,” says planning expert D Koti.
“All we need to do is have bus stops 200 metres before or after a signal or a junction and this will ease traffic congestion by almost 25 per cent,” says Chari.
Expert view: If implemented, it will definitely ease traffic flow.

Better signage, bigger fines:
“If Bangalore is to be like Singapore, it has to fine like Singapore. Fines for traffic offences should be increased and signages announcing the rule and penalties should be big and bold,” says Koti. “Also, collecting of fines and challan writing uses up an inspector and at least three policemen. Can’t civilians be recruited for these tasks while just one or two policemen nab offenders? This will allow traffic police to manage traffic better. The salaries for the civilians can come from the fines,” suggests road user Smita Raman.
Expert view: Increasing fines won’t help. Collection must be done by the police, but large hoardings and signages will certainly help.

U turns: “There are U-turns at flyovers and crosses near them. This should be avoided at all costs. The Hebbal flyover and KR Puram flyover are such examples,” says Koti. Forest land under the KR Puram flyover can be used to take traffic from the Ring Road into NGEF Layout instead of cutting across the Ring Road. Traffic from HBR Layout going towards Bhoopsandra can be taken under the bridge instead of a U-turn across the divider,” says Karuna Jayram.
Expert view: U-turns and turns near flyovers should be avoided.

Medians: “All roads irrespective of size should have medians,” feel many road users.
Expert view: Only four-lane roads can have medians.