Cities planned around public transport are more liveable as dependence on private transport is unviable.

“Traffic destroys friendships,” asserts Mr Mark Gorton, an advocate for public transport and expert on urban management. He isn't talking of road rage here, but the more insidious impact that traffic has on social interaction and its adverse impact on the quality of urban life. Those living on main city roads will probably have a first-hand experience of what Mr Gorton, a US resident and entrepreneur, is talking of.

When was the last time that people living on a busy street have been able to relax outside their gate talking to their neighbours? Let the kids go out on their bicycles or hang out with their friends?

Traffic ‘invisibly' destroys social interaction. Studies have shown that social interaction is inversely proportional to traffic volumes and adding the fact that automobiles do a poor job of moving people, and are the most expensive transportation technology for society… why does traffic planning in modern cities have to be so focussed on cars and private vehicles, he asked participants at a lecture he delivered last week.

For the participants in Chennai, where the authorities pride themselves on the city being one of the hubs of automobile industry, this was a different point of view.

Ironically, large US cities are fast realising the mistake in encouraging automobiles, and are moving towards public transport and encouraging non motorised movement — primarily bicycles and walking.

PRIORITISING PEOPLE

These cities are now ‘prioritising people more than cars', and are fast building a comprehensive protected network for cyclists. The number of cycling commuters has more than doubled in the last two years, and is growing by approximately 20 per cent annually.

Some areas have been closed off to traffic and are ‘pedestrianised'. This not only encourages people to interact, but has also contributed to a 50 per cent growth for the businesses there.

In some areas, streets are closed to traffic on weekends, and this allows people to come out and play. The idea is to let people understand the concept of ‘liveability' in a city.

His lecture, part of a series on ‘Transparent Chennai' organised by the IFMR (Institute for Financial Management and Research) and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), outlined the strategies that leading cities in developed countries and emerging economies were adopting, as part of a sustainable and efficient transport system.

Dependence on private vehicles isn't an option, he says. Road and rail-based public transport is the realistic option, emphasises Mr Gorton.

NEED FOR CHANGE

Indian cities can learn from the US's mistakes where the alternatives are being considered, in European cities and South-East Asia, significant initiatives are on to take up environment-friendly people's movement — ranging from public transport to bicycles.

In the US, the change was driven by ‘civic will' when a few people recognised the need for change. The people got together, launched a campaign, urged the authorities to bring in appropriate policies and created awareness of the need for change among the people. This resulted in protected cycle lanes being created, street closures to traffic, and some other initiatives.

But change is difficult, he acknowledges. “Drivers are wealthier and better connected; it is hard to change the mindset of people raised to believe automobiles are the way to go. But it can be done,” he says.

Government policies, however, play a key role in the way a city moves its people. Increasing road infrastructure and bridges will only increase the number of cars which will choke the widened roads. Provide facilities that help people to walk whenever possible, cycle wherever possible, or use public transport that can be efficient with systems like the Bus Rapid Transport System (BRTS), he says.

Also, in tandem, discourage the growth of cars and private transport by bringing in taxes to own cars, making car parking expensive, and planning the new areas of the growing cities to accommodate private vehicle-free movement. Cities like Singapore make people pay for licenses to buy a car; Copenhagen reduces the number of private vehicle parking slots by 2-3 per cent every year, and these are cities where public transport and cycle use is on the increase.

Population density increases the viability of public transport, so plan cities accordingly, he says. India can leapfrog cities in the US and Europe as a transportation leader by learning from their mistakes and novel initiatives, says Mr Gorton.

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