Fw: Successful implementation of Contra flow bus lane plan

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PRASHANT INAMDAR

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May 10, 2009, 7:43:04 AM5/10/09
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Dear All,
 
Subject : Contra flow bus lane
 
The concept of dedicated bus lane has been implemented in Pune on the BRT route. This facilitates unhindered movement of buses reducing travel time, which means lesser fuel consumption and running cost as well as higher number of trips per shift. Obviously this leads to better efficiency of the public transport system. Due to traffic volume constraints, some roads have been made one way and there are also one way proposals for other roads. One way scheme has adverse impact on public transport as buses have to take long detours on return trip which increases distance, running cost and travel time. Commuters too suffer as bus stop locations are shifted away to some other road. This adverse impact can be avoided by providing a dedicated bus lane in the opposite direction on the one way road. Such a lane known as contra flow bus lane is possible wherever road width so permits.
 
About three months ago we had suggested such a contra flow bus lane from Mamhadevi chowk to Mahatma Gandhi bus stand in Pune Cantonment area. Mahatma Gandhi bus stand is a spacious bus stand in Pune Cantonment which has been built by PMPML at considerable cost. However it was seen that the bus stand was very much under utilized and more than half of it was always deserted. On the other hand a bus stop provided some distance away near the Solapur bazar chowk on Solapur road had hundreds of buses halting there during the day. However this bus stop location was highly inconvenient and also unsafe for commuters as the space available for commuters to wait and buses to halt was grossly inadequate. The plight of commuters was worst during evening peak hours with buses coming one after the other. And all this pathetic situation existed though the nearby MG bus stand was lying half vacant.
 
After our study it was noted that the reason for this situation was that buses touching the MG bus stand were only those coming from Swargate and East street side and proceeding towards Hadapsar. However, buses from Hadapsar side proceeding towards Swargate and MG road were unable to reach the bus stand as both the approach roads were one way in reverse direction. All these hundreds of buses hence halted at the above bus stop near Solapur bazar chowk. This not only inconvenienced commuters but also caused traffic congestion on the very busy road.
 
We suggested a plan with a contra flow bus lane on the road from Mamhadevi chowk to MG bus stand. Buses proceeding towards Hadapsar would travel in the mixed traffic using the one way road to Mamhadevi chowk. Buses coming from Hadapsar would use the contra flow bus lane on the same one way road to reach MG bus stand. These buses would exit on the other side of the stand via the one way road to Solapur bazar chowk. The proposal was submitted to PMC, PMPML and Traffic Police. The feasibility was checked and confirmed at site during a subsequent joint visit after which it was decided to implement the plan.
 
After necessary work was completed by PMC, the first ever contra flow bus lane plan in Pune has now been successfully implemented and buses have begun plying on the contra flow lane since 7th May. A sketch showing the contra flow route and related photographs are attached.
 
With the success of this contra flow plan, it would now be possible to consider contra flow bus lanes wherever possible on roads proposed to be made one way. We have suggested that this could be tried out on an experimental basis on JM road which is to become one way shortly.  
 
With Regards,
Prashant Inamdar
Pedestrians FIRST
 
 
 
 
Contra flow bus lane.pdf
Start of contra flow bus lane at Mamhadevi chowk.JPG
Bus entering contra flow bus lane.JPG
Bus approach in contra flow bus lane.JPG
Exit point of contra flow bus lane at MG bus stand.JPG

Vijay Patil

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May 11, 2009, 12:48:50 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com
Just yesterday I saw buses using contra flow lanes (mentioned in the mail).

I have created a map that shows places mentioned in Prashant's mail.
It gives quick idea of places mentioned.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101567031017919654946.0004699b5e9d91130a786&ll=18.505911,73.883024&spn=0.006522,0.009248&t=h&z=17

If can not visit map, then see attached PDF file (containing the map).
I think it is good idea and thanks to those who worked to make it
happen.

Thanks
--
Vijay Patil
contraflow.pdf

Uday Kulkarni

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May 11, 2009, 1:26:01 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com, Adhiraj Joglekar
Actually contra flow means many things.

Allowing buses on a one way street in the opp direstion is done for many years at the back of Shanwar wada for example...without drawing a line on the road for it..ad the road is very narrow and allows parking on it too.

Contra flow is, acc to me, when in a two way street, buses flow in the opp direction from other traffic. In our buses with left side doors it helps save road width and it prevents any vehicle coming in the bus lane as it is coming from the opp direction.

If one keeps a dedicated lane for a bus in the contra flow direction, the bus flowing with mixed traffic does not get a lane. The advantage is that buses flow in both directions making bus stops more accessible but this adds to the confusion in traffic and creates longer signal times....so much of the purpose of a one way street and grade separation is defeated.

I think the bus stop being far away also gets watered down over a period of time as habits change and people re work their routes to bus stops..as will happen on JM and FC roads.

Uday



2009/5/10 PRASHANT INAMDAR <prashan...@vsnl.net>



--
Dr. Uday S. Kulkarni

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

Ranjit Gadgil

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May 11, 2009, 1:35:25 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com, Adhiraj Joglekar
The short distance contra flow bus in this case is a good way to solve a specific local problem.

On JM-FC even without a contra flow bus lane there are only 2 MV lanes and any further reduction is unlikely at this stage.

Also the proposal to have a shuttle bus on the JM-FC-Ghole one way triangle, running every ~ 5 mins (free) should allow for people to get to their destinations, in case they are reluctant to walk. Bus commuters as well as people who park their vehicles and want to get to another location.

-- Ranjit

Nilesh Kale

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May 11, 2009, 2:01:16 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com, Adhiraj Joglekar, Better Roads
Whilst comprehensive plan is needed, contra-flow does help solving very specific local problems - and also is helpful in letting public transport a priority over pvt vehicles.
-- 
Regards
Nilesh Kale
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Mobile: +91 9923 484 590
Y!: nileshkale

Uday Kulkarni

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May 11, 2009, 2:23:04 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com, Adhiraj Joglekar, Better Roads

Three principles r clashing here. The principles of prioritising pub trans and contra flow cannot be combined on one way streets where the rationale of having a one way street holds higher ground. If one needs a lane for buses here, it ought to be 'with the flow' of traffic rather than against it. The cost of losing the advantage of one way grade separation and additional signal times at the ends and intersections of the road due to a contra flow lane negates the purpose of the one way.

Uday



2009/5/11 Nilesh Kale <niles...@hotmail.com>

Harshad Abhyankar

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May 11, 2009, 4:59:03 AM5/11/09
to ptt...@googlegroups.com, Adhiraj Joglekar
Saw the photos.  This is great achievement!  This should pave the way for implementing contra-flow lanes on JM-FC when they become 1-ways.
 
Noticed one thing though.  There is a "no entry except..." sign at the starting point of the contra flow lane but I didn't see such a sign in the photo of the end point of the lane..  A sign is needed there too 'coz many vehicles are coming from that direction (since it is a 1-way).  If I don't see a bus coming in my face, I am likely to enter that lane if I am new to that area.
 
- Harshad.

From: Ranjit Gadgil <ranjit....@gmail.com>
To: ptt...@googlegroups.com
Cc: Adhiraj Joglekar <adhiraj...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Monday, 11 May, 2009 11:05:25 AM
Subject: [pttfgen:1980] Re: Fw: Successful implementation of Contra flow bus lane plan
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Uday Kulkarni

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May 11, 2009, 9:05:09 AM5/11/09
to Adhiraj Joglekar, Better Roads, PTTF General
One has to see why any street becomes a one way street to start with. Space, intersections, smoother flow, faster travel are the usual reasons. If there is space for a contra flow lane (bus, cycle, walk, car), perhaps it ought to have been two way all along. The reasons for making it one way will be compromised if u make it two way again, even if it is for buses.

Walking distances between FC and JM are almost same as between Prabhat, Bhandarkar and BMCC roads...even if u take the divergence into consideration.

Ultimately these r all temporising measures they r not solutions. With 'hordes' entering Pune (acc. to the Commissioner), there can be no 'solution'.

Uday


2009/5/11 Adhiraj Joglekar <adhiraj...@yahoo.com>

We live in an imperfect world, so no solution will be satisfy all 100%. There is nothing wrong with contraflow along oneway streams because (see 7 minutes footage from London on contraflow bus lanes shared earlier) -

  1. Compared to a two way flow of MV, even after introducing contraflow lanes, number of traffic signal phases and overall cycle length is less than before. Unlike a normal two way flow, buses will need only 5-10 seconds at signals, further alomst all junctions are T junctions, and contraflow buses will in all probability run straight other than turning in/out of Ghole road - here a signal will be essential anyway.
  2. The reason for considering contra-flow is not just to speed up buses. There is a not so small matter of convinience as well. One ways cause big detours for buses as well - this leads to significantly increased journey times for PT users. With oneways walking times from and to bus stop also increases. Contra-flow systems mitigate these factors.
  3. In fact this system works best when used on narrow roads like Prabhat, Bhandarkar, BMCC etc - these 3 roads run more or less parallel, walking distances across these parallel roads are small.
  4. In contrast, on wider roads like KM and FC, we should normally be considering with flow bus lanes and ideally retain a two-way traffic system. The reason for considering contraflow on these two roads is primarily to ensure bus priority on what otherwise will become just another oneway gyratory system (and very little else).
  5. Given that JM and FC diverge significantly as they approach Uni road and Sancheti respectively, ideally just contraflow bus lanes are not going to suffice - these roads are broad enough to actually have a with flow lane as well as contraflow lanes (see Charing Cross road on my video compilation or even Tooley street, where just one out 3 lanes is for mixed vehicles).
  6. Contraflow bus lanes also help add pedestrian refuges as quasi grade separators on what would otherwise be 4 lanes of mixed traffic that would be impossible to cross.
  7. But as Nilesh points out, all this works well when it is part of a grander scheme / vision - without bus route and frequency rationalisation not much will change. Agree with signage related observation made by Harshad (in the SB road proposal, I had given an entire template of different signs needed at different places)
  8. Finally, it is required that our bus lanes are a different colour - in people's heads it is vital to create (a Pavlovian conditioning) association of red lanes belonging to buses and this works when penalties are dished out consistently.

Prashant, I did not get the original mail and hence not seen the images, but these are steps in the right direction.

 

Adhiraj

 

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From: Sudhir Jatar <scn...@gmail.com>
To: Bette...@yahoogroups.com
Cc: Adhiraj Joglekar <adhiraj...@yahoo.com>; Better Roads <Bette...@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 12:22:01 PM
Subject: Re: [BetterRoads] Re: [pttfgen:1981] Re: Fw: Successful implementation of Contra flow bus lane plan

I agree with Uday.
Maj. Gen. S. C. N. Jatar, Retd
Visit us at www.nagrikchetna.com
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, May 11, 2009 11:53 AM
Subject: [BetterRoads] Re: [pttfgen:1981] Re: Fw: Successful implementation of Contra flow bus lane plan




Three principles r clashing here. The principles of prioritising pub trans and contra flow cannot be combined on one way streets where the rationale of having a one way street holds higher ground. If one needs a lane for buses here, it ought to be 'with the flow' of traffic rather than against it. The cost of losing the advantage of one way grade separation and additional signal times at the ends and intersections of the road due to a contra flow lane negates the purpose of the one way.

Uday



2009/5/11 Nilesh Kale <nileshkale@hotmail. com>
Whilst comprehensive plan is needed, contra-flow does help solving very specific local problems - and also is helpful in letting public transport a priority over pvt vehicles.


Uday Kulkarni wrote:
Actually contra flow means many things.

Allowing buses on a one way street in the opp direstion is done for many years at the back of Shanwar wada for example...without drawing a line on the road for it..ad the road is very narrow and allows parking on it too.

Contra flow is, acc to me, when in a two way street, buses flow in the opp direction from other traffic. In our buses with left side doors it helps save road width and it prevents any vehicle coming in the bus lane as it is coming from the opp direction.

If one keeps a dedicated lane for a bus in the contra flow direction, the bus flowing with mixed traffic does not get a lane. The advantage is that buses flow in both directions making bus stops more accessible but this adds to the confusion in traffic and creates longer signal times....so much of the purpose of a one way street and grade separation is defeated.

I think the bus stop being far away also gets watered down over a period of time as habits change and people re work their routes to bus stops..as will happen on JM and FC roads.

Uday



2009/5/10 PRASHANT INAMDAR <prashantinamdar@ vsnl.net>

 

Dear All,
 
Subject : Contra flow bus lane
 
The concept of dedicated bus lane has been implemented in Pune on the BRT route. This facilitates unhindered movement of buses reducing travel time, which means lesser fuel consumption and running cost as well as higher number of trips per shift. Obviously this leads to better efficiency of the public transport system. Due to traffic volume constraints, some roads have been made one way and there are also one way proposals for other roads. One way scheme has adverse impact on public transport as buses have to take long detours on return trip which increases distance, running cost and travel time. Commuters too suffer as bus stop locations are shifted away to some other road. This adverse impact can be avoided by providing a dedicated bus lane in the opposite direction on the one way road. Such a lane known as contra flow bus lane is possible wherever road width so permits.
 
About three months ago we had suggested such a contra flow bus lane from Mamhadevi chowk to Mahatma Gandhi bus stand in Pune Cantonment area. Mahatma Gandhi bus stand is a spacious bus stand in Pune Cantonment which has been built by PMPML at considerable cost. However it was seen that the bus stand was very much under utilized and more than half of it was always deserted. On the other hand a bus stop provided some distance away near the Solapur bazar chowk on Solapur road had hundreds of buses halting there during the day. However this bus stop location was highly inconvenient and also unsafe for commuters as the space available for  commuters to wait and buses to halt was grossly inadequate. The plight of commuters was worst during evening peak hours with buses coming one after the other. And all this pathetic situation existed though the nearby MG bus stand was lying half vacant.
 
After our study it was noted that the reason for this situation was that buses touching the MG bus stand were only those coming from Swargate and East street side and proceeding towards Hadapsar. However, buses from Hadapsar side proceeding towards Swargate and MG road were unable to reach the bus stand as both the approach roads were one way in reverse direction. All these hundreds of buses hence halted at the above bus stop near Solapur bazar chowk. This not only inconvenienced commuters but also caused traffic congestion on the very busy road.
 
We suggested a plan with a contra flow bus lane on the road from Mamhadevi chowk to MG bus stand. Buses proceeding towards Hadapsar would travel in the mixed traffic using the one way road to Mamhadevi chowk. Buses coming from Hadapsar would use the contra flow bus lane on the same one way road to reach MG bus stand. These buses would exit on the other side of the stand via the one way road to Solapur bazar chowk. The proposal was submitted to PMC, PMPML and Traffic Police. The feasibility was checked and confirmed at site during a subsequent joint visit after which it was decided to implement the plan.
 
After necessary work was completed by PMC, the first ever contra flow bus lane plan in Pune has now been successfully  implemented and buses have begun plying on the contra flow lane since 7th May. A sketch showing the contra flow route and related photographs are attached.
 
With the success of this contra flow plan, it would now be possible to consider contra flow bus lanes wherever possible on roads proposed to be made one way. We have suggested that this could be tried out on an experimental basis on JM road which is to become one way shortly.  
 
With Regards,
Prashant Inamdar
Pedestrians FIRST
 
 
 
 





--
Dr. Uday S. Kulkarni

"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus



-- 
Regards
Nilesh Kale
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"Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend." - Albert Camus

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    PRASHANT INAMDAR

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    May 11, 2009, 5:12:38 AM5/11/09
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    Yes we hv already informed PMC, Police and PMPML about this and few other points which we observed at site.
     
    - Prashant
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