Hi Rajendra,
Thanks for the kind words!
I always wished I could take part in one of the SPTM campaigns on Saturdays, so thought of one such campaign, that was inspired by Harshad's post.
Since you feel that targeting drivers alone would have limited dividends, here is a more serious idea with a broader coverage. The focus would be on all-round discipline and multi-agency participation. Accepted, it is easy to propose an idea, while for an NGO it would be a long and arduous task to actually implement it.
However, it is indeed admirable, that SPTM has run many such local mini-campaigns with weekend volunteers, hence you guys already know the ropes!! Hence I am hopeful that you will consider it for implementation along with other NGOs/agencies.
The idea here is to widen the scope to cover all stakeholders.
Instead of a single driver behaviour (i.e. jumping the red, or not stopping before zebras), an NGO (with the help of the police) could focus on a busy intersection and turn it into a model intersection. Planning and coordination with several agencies would be needed to achieve this. Several student groups could be involved in implementing parts of the project.
SPTM has already done parts of the activities below at specific intersections, now the idea is to focus on the ALL ASPECTS of an intersection:-
a) choose a busy junction that has a significant no. of pedestrians crossing everyday
(will happen during busy hrs esp. evenings)
better if it has a reasonable footpath width
(so we could request pedestrians not to walk on the road near the junction)
b) get a sponsor to get a battery backed signal system, to ensure that signals are *never* out of order
(the company's signage will be displayed)
ensure that the signals are in order, and the signal cycles are optimized.
also, the signals are turned off (or blinking yellow) only at appropriate times.
c) get the zebras properly painted by authorities (maybe just after heavy rains subside - if at all they arrive)
d) spruce up other infrastructure at the junction - e.g.
- get railings erected for 50 meters on all sides so pedestrians cross only at the junction
e) get the footpaths near the junction cleared of debris, also no encroachments! (could be the toughest part)
f) run mini-campaigns cyclically, in a manner similar to the one I described before
the campaigns to have both aspects: education/awareness and enforcement, in cooperation with the police for enforcement
various aspects could be covered cyclically, focussing on all stakeholders,
viz. drivers (2 and 4-wheelers and truck/bus/PMPML drivers targeted separately as needed)
pedestrians
residents living in nearby buildings
cyclists
even the police themselves!
g) examples:
- not jumping the red, respect the zebra, seat-belts, lane discipline (bus drivers, 2 wheelers, right-turners)
- crossing only upon the Walk sign (pedestrians)
- no honking, shut off engines if wait time is over a minute (drivers, residents)
- anti-pollution masks, sun-caps, for the police standing at the junction mainly for enforcement
(assuming signals will be working most of the time)
- enforcing no-parking for 50 meters on all sides (shoo away drivers who wait for too long, too!!)
- handing out a limited no. of discount coupons to buy helmets in exchange of mobile nos.,for two wheeler riders
(do this on the "wear-helmets" campaign day)
This can be done by the police themselves, after "catching" riders without helmets and after fining them!!
- bus drivers need to park closer to footpaths (like the expt opp. Wadeshwar)
- promoting carpooling among lone drivers (who appear to be on the way to office)
- understanding the difficulties of regular cyclists using the junction (e.g. the right turn)
Plan a before/after analysis, measuring throughput, counts of violations, even track the police collections.... say over 4 months.
There could be several learnings/outcomes:-
- correlation of specific campaigns with outcomes
- study of signal cycle efficacy/fine tuning of the same
- demonstrating the impact of better infrastructure (e.g. before/after railings or after battery backup installed for signals)
- effect on traffic discipline (e.g. tracking trend of signal violations based on video based counting)
- tracking no. of minor/major accidents (and their causes) at the junction during the study period
- overall impact on the junction, of the holistic (as against piecemeal) approach implemented over a period
The spinoffs go much beyond drivers/improving safety or reducing congestion alone - the police/authorities would (hopefully) see the value in having a better infrastructure and the value of policemen (either in an achanak manner or for limited slots of time) available purely for enforcement (like it happens in Mumbai, at busy junctions). A video report of the study project/experiment, could be used for training and for educating decision makers.
For a better buy-in, ensure you sell the idea top-down to minimize resistance, provide positive media coverage, plan face-time for politicians/officials on news channels etc. Think of a catchy name too - e.g. "Chowk Chakachak",
I am sure, if an NGO liike Parisar/SPTM are willing to coordinate such a project, students from various colleges (civil/architecture/design depts) around the city would be keen to take part in implementing parts of the project, as their college projects for over a semester!! The NGO could even hire a paid project manager for the project for coordination, once the concept is accepted, by the "authorities".
If the prototype at one intersection is useful, could be replicated at others. BRT junctions might pose different challenges.
What do you think?
best regards,
Anil