Planning for non-motorized traffic: a prerequisite for sustainable transport system

Abstract

A sustainable transport system must provide mobility and accessibility to all urban residents in a safe and environment-friendly mode of transport. This is a complex and difficult task if the needs and demands of people belonging to various income groups are not only different but also often conflicting. For example, if a large section of the population can not afford to use motorized transport, private vehicles or public buses, they have to either walk to their place of work or use bicycles. Safe infrastructure for bicyclists and pedestrians implies either physically segregating road space for motorized traffic. Both measures may imply restricting mobility of car users to ensure mobility of bicycle users. In this paper the author illustrates that pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized rickshaws are the most critical elements in mixed traffic. If the infrastructure design does not meet the requirements of these elements all modes of transport operate in sub-optimal conditions. It is possible to redesign the existing roads to provide a safe and convenient environment to non-motorized modes. This also results in improved efficiency of public transport vehicles and enhanced capacity of the corridor when measured in number of passengers per hour per lane. (A)

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