Is this the newly constructed bus station? It looks 15 years old. The pedestrian space is pathetic. This was the first reaction of Enrique Penalosa, the father of the Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and former mayor of Bogota, when he took a ride on the BRTS service on Saturday morning. Penalosa did not like the idea of having parking strips along the BRTS lane, saying that the space could have been better utilised as pedestrian space and for cycle tracks. Penalosa, in a talk with DNA, says that every activity in the city should be woven around public activities. Excerpts:
You took a ride on the BRTS on Saturday morning. How did you find the Ahmedabad BRTS?
Wonderful! It gives a great feeling and is a solution to the mobility problems in Ahmedabad. Of course, the project needs some improvements, as in the case of intersections, which need underpasses. The biggest problem right now is probably that of pedestrian accessibility. The BRTS is not easy or comfortable. It needs wider footpaths and more space for the public.
It is learnt that you do not approve of the idea of having parking facilities along the BRTS corridor…
I respect the decision to have this; it is a political decision. All I have to say is that such parking does not serve any purpose. The space could have been utilised to provide better pedestrian facilities and more space for cycle tracks. But the most important thing is that the project is moving in the right direction. It is the first BRT project in India. It has the potential to become an example for other Indian cities.
I wish that 20 intellectual people, not just engineers, but even businessmen and scientists, would meet every day or two and think of ways to solve the problem of mobility in Ahmedabad; but I don’t think there is any. If this is the only way, we should give it enormous importance.
Are you happy with the quality of the Janmarg buses?
For this low-demand corridor, they are alright. But, for a higher-demand corridor, articulated buses may be needed if they are to go downtown. I don’t know how warm it is in summer; air-conditioned buses may be needed. But the idea is to make them attractive for even the upper-middle class.
You had an example of shopping malls. Could you elaborate on this?
People want to get out of their homes if they are provided with pedestrian ways, waterfronts and public space. If we provide such space on the streets, people will enjoy it. The city should have life on its streets. Great cities have footpaths and public space. It is sad that shopping malls interfere with the space.
People go to shopping malls and shops start dying. We have to save the shops and the streets. But the problem is that the shop owners do not know why they are facing these problems. What is needed is good, accessible pedestrian space, comfortable and wide footpaths without any vendors, without the threat of cars of motorcycles being parked along the way. The idea is to see if we succeed in coming up with open malls with shops on the street, pedestrian space and other facilities.
Do you think it is time to choose non-motorised transport?
Non-motorised travel has many advantages. Not everyone is going to use a bicycle. But if 10% to 20% of the citizens switch to bicycles, it will be great. In the future, a greater number of people will be using bicycles, as in Ireland. People can also use electric cycles.
How can we take care of urban equity in Ahmedabad?
I am sure that 80 per cent of Ahmedabad has no car. So, for them, the most important thing is to have wide footpaths. To show respect for those who do not have cars is a responsibility. There should be every utility for the sake of the people.
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