Traffic!

[Surya]

Originally Posted by GTO

Do what I do....reach work before the traffic even begins, and leave after.
GTO

This is what I do too. More said about the discipline in driving of others, this way was the only thing which was under my control and without any glitches, it works.

Surya

[ntomer]

IMHO the biggest culprits are the buses/trucks which are stuck on road due to some problem or the other (puncture or something major). Atleast in Delhi they are usually repaired at the same place where the stopped. They don't care how much it troubles others. And I have never seen any traffic cop to ask them to move to side, or calling a crane to move their vehicle aside.
I cover a distance of 56 KMs daily, and every month face 5-6 such idiots and this irritates me no end; in order to save their few hundred bucks (creane charges), these guys waste people's time, and so much fuel.

\N

[sbasak]

For Calcutta let me add few more

• Trams (even in one way streets trams run on both sides - so imagine the chaos when a tram comes from opposite of traffic)
• AutoRickshaw AND hand pulled rickshaws AND "thalas" (hand pulled carts)! On major roads they are banned but majority of roads they are a nuisance.
• HAWKERS - occupy 25% width of the roads!
• Road blockage by political parties at every excuse!
• Extremely poor road condition - during monsoons there are so much potholes on the roads that cars have to travel in zig zag fashion!

[amit]

India is one of the few countries where only a few cities are developed. Result: there are a gazillion people thronging these few cities and blocking the infrastructure creating chaos and traffic jams. No one would like to leave their home town/village for a big city if they had jobs in their own hometown. If bums like Laloo, Mulayam, Mayawati etc did a good job governing their states we wouldn't have so many hawkers, auto and taxi drivers in our big cities. Develop the whole country not just 4 cities and then watch the population of metro's automatically go down. But then our politicians are only concerned with secularism, protecting the rights of minorities and making money for themselves. Laloo has time and again said that developement is not an issue in his state and he gets away with it. Imagine any politician saying that in a western country. The citizens would have retired him through elections by now. Another way to take off auto's and taxis would be to recruit them as BEST and ST drivers. That way government can increase frequency of buses, reducing over crowding and taking off the cockroaches from the roads. BUT please get some international driving instructor to train them before they are put behind the wheels.

Another way is to improve the system of issuing of licences. Get people from abroad to train the driving instructors and RTO examiners first. I can't understand why we can have a Australian cricket coach but not a western company designing our driving tests and roads. Lets accept it, Indians have no idea about road and driving infrastructure. Indians also need to get out of the socialism frame of mind. The government has opened up the economy and talks of globalization but mentally we still feel our priorities are roti, kapda aur makan. Mentally, we are still in nehru-gandhi socialism era thinking we are poor people and our only concern is to survive through the next day. The government thinks like that and so do most of the people.

City roads can be expanded into more lanes. But then our babus have turned a blind eye to the illegal shops lining our streets. Try removing them and there is a agitation. For what? So these people can continue to have their illegal shops on public property?! This can happen only in India! But they can be re-located. Build a commercial plaza with more then enough parking space. That will clear up the roads for at least one extra lane.

Think big. The famed Golden Quadrilaterals (GQ) are out dated from day one. Most of the roads are 2 lane highways. (2 lanes on each side). If you are lucky, you will have 3 lanes. How long before these super highways turn into choc a bloc roads? On one hand the government boasts of 8% growth every year but shows no vision to sustain that growth.

I believe reaching work before traffic builds and going home after rush hour is over is not the solution. Where is the quality of life in that? Citizens need to have a life outside of work too. No wonder no Indian city makes it to the top 1000 in the quality of life survey's.

I will vent out more frustration when I remember something more.

[amit]

Most important is the attitude of the people. Everyone thinks the road is his baap ka maal. Show empathy and concern towards other road users. Only way is to send each and every driver for a properly and scientifically designed refresher course. Everyone must know everything about lane discipline, stopping behind stop lines, signalling before chaning lanes and pedestrains need to know that they cannot cross anywhere and everywhere they feel like and they need to stop crossing when their signal turns red. Government needs to do their part of the job by having clear lane demarcations, stop lines, zebra crossings, clear road signs showing speed limits clearly. Educate people that following speed limits is in their benefit. I know not everyone will follow this but even if 50% start doing that it will make a difference.

What really peeves me off is the attitude of memsaheb's. They go shopping to crowded places and have their chauffer's stop the car right outside the shop where they want to go. Obviously, they want the car to be at that same place when they come out so the chauffer (its not his fault) puts on his flashers and waits there causing chaos. Why can't these memsaheb's, majority of whom are housewives learn driving?

[sbasak]

Another way is to improve the system of issuing of licences. Get people from abroad to train the driving instructors and RTO examiners first. I can't understand why we can have a Australian cricket coach but not a western company designing our driving tests and roads.

Even train lines were blocked when Ganguly was axed. Just imagine what will happen if all those auto & bus drivers were made failed in license test! People will say that govt. is preventing unemployed youths from earning & feeding their families. What works in western society won't work in India.

Highways in India now better than they were a decade earlier. Transport scenario in India is gradually changing albeit very slowly. But better late than never.

[Aditya]

Well said Amit! I totally agree with you on all counts. I would like to stress on the role of pedestrians in my post.
Pedestrians are big time culprits when it comes to causing traffic jams. Most of them hardly use footpaths. Many stop in the middle of the road for a chat. Many walk 4 or 5 abreast on the road, making it impossible for cars to pass. And it's not just the uneducated folk, many college students are guilty of jaywalking. Such morons should be taken to task immidiately.
Two words for our cops - corrupt, incipid

[amit]

People will say that govt. is preventing unemployed youths from earning & feeding their families.

You hit the bulls eye there buddy! This is frustrating really. This will really happen sponsored by some opposition political party aligning with the taxi and auto union. Well, there is no future really. Nothing can be done in such a scenario.

Most of them hardly use footpaths.

Not entirely their fault, Aditya. Where are the foothpaths? Either they are dug up or there are hawkers occupying them. Try and remove the illegal hawkers and they agitate. India is the only country where people are proud to be poor. If you are poor you can get away with anything in the name of government harassing the downtrodden and poor sections of society. Remember, I was talking about our mental thinking still stuck in the socialism era.

[Mpower]

If its any consolation, I can tell you that living in a developed country is not much better. Although the nature of the problem and some the reasons are different, traffic congestion all over the world is mainly caused by too many cars for the road to handle.

Even in a city of LA with it 10 lane freeways has the worst traffic snarls you've ever seen.
I dont think banning autos will solve the problem. Imagine if all the autos were replaced by taxis. Taxi occupies 3 times more space on the road than an auto
and will cause bigger jams.
I think autos and buses should be made more powerful so that they can climb up slopes without slowing down traffic behind them, but then they should be electronically speed limited to 60 kph for safety.
Also overloading of buses/autos/trucks should be prevented so that this will ensure that they can maintain decent speed and keep the traffic flowing.

Another option is to have motorcycle taxis like in Goa, so that we can still offer cheap public transportation.

Clean up all the side walks from hawkers and maintain them clean so that people will prefer to walk on it. Put up barriers between road and footpath with gaps only at intersections. People walking on roads should be fined.

Clean up the roads. Nobody wants to drive in the left most lane near the sidewalk because it dusty, has potholes and stones and of course people. If all the slow traffice like autos and buses moved into the slow left lanes, the cars can zoom by.

Add a couple of First class western style A/C bogies to every train so that more car owners will opt to travel by train. Charge more no problem. Spruce up the stations as well.

My cousin parks his car at home and rides his bike to work because he can get there in 1/2 the time.

[navin]

Originally Posted by GTO

Do what I do....reach work before the traffic even begins, and leave after. GTO

Wait till you get married and have kids!

[Max]

I say,

1) Limit number of auto rickshaws.
2) Auto Rickshaw drivers should go under STRICT traffic tests before they are provided with license. I have seen these jerks, stopping / pimpin' at any point, they drive without any signal or lights, they take any turn to get out from traffic etc., these all things must be stopped by educating and then regulating them through way of fines or suspending their licenses.
3) Flyovers - way to go !!! everytime i enter mumbai i pay Rs.25 toll one side (Rs.50 for return), where the hell all that money goes to ?, they should increase flyovers all over city specially at trafficy roads.
4) Ban Goods carrier buses travelling within city during traffic hours.
5) Introduce police repair utility vehicles. In this way cops will be able to handle any damaged vehicle and get traffic moving immediately.
6) Introduce GPS traffic monitoring system for vehicles, like we have in Japan and western countries where they monitor traffic from control room and provide information to people through GPS system. In these systems you will actually be able to see where is heavy traffic on roads and which way is less traffic and will get you faster on your destination.



http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...82200?n=172282

[Gordon]

Clear hawkers from sidewalks. Sole reason, why most people walk on roads.

Strict rules and punishments be made so that people use sidewalks. They must be heavily fined! The Government wants to make Mumbai into Shanghai. Heck, in places, like Singapore, you are caught if you dont flush the public toilet!!!

Like I said earlier, Rickshaw production must be stopped. Unfortunately, I think because of complete MONOPOLY, this will not happen.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Gordon

Clear hawkers from sidewalks. Sole reason, why most people walk on roads.

Strict rules and punishments be made so that people use sidewalks. They must be heavily fined! The Government wants to make Mumbai into Shanghai. Heck, in places, like Singapore, you are caught if you dont flush the public toilet!!!

what you are saying is not practical !!. Fine people for walking on roads !! you can't imagine how much chaos it will bring if government started fining people for just walking on roads!!! and yes, where are the sidewalks / footpaths in our cities. They are not properly built !

[sbasak]

Nobody wants to drive in the left most lane near the sidewalk because it dusty, has potholes and stones and of course people. If all the slow traffice like autos and buses moved into the slow left lanes, the cars can zoom by.

The problem with left most lane is that in most city roads often cars are illegaly parked there at frequent intervals. So, instead of swerving left-right in every minute people prefer to avoid left lane altogether.

living in a developed country is not much better.

True. Even in most large European cities, parking is a nightmare and people stuck in traffic jam for hours! However, driving on country sides in developed countries still a pleasure! You don't have to take care of potholes and bullock carts suddenly blocking your way.

Add a couple of First class western style A/C bogies to every train so that more car owners will opt to travel by train.

Nowadays AC3T coaches become full before Sleeper class! Unlike USA, trains will always be main mode of long distance transport in India. Irrespective of the person is car owner or not, for intercity travels (>500 km) in India, people always prefer train/plane over car!

[Gordon]

what you are saying is not practical !!. Fine people for walking on roads !! you can't imagine how much chaos it will bring if government started fining people for just walking on roads!!! and yes, where are the sidewalks / footpaths in our cities. They are not properly built !

Of course it is practical. Two years back, no one thought making seatbelts complusory is practical.

Sidewalks are being developed. I've seen many places where sidewalks have been made. Roads are being made wider. People must be made to walk on sidewalks. Walking on the road and/or crossing roads where there is no crossing, is also known as "jaywalking" and is illegal. There is a fine for it in most countries. It is practical if we work towards it. And if I'm not wrong, I think and hope the authorities are already doing something about it.