Open Bicycles Project conducts Traffic Analysis in Bandra (West)

Scientific findings give are valuable for informing appropriate action and debate. Therefore, Open Bicycles Project firmly believes in the importance of scientific research in affecting quality of human life. Colin Christopher and Faizan Jawed of OBPM conducted a day long survey in Bandra (West) that looked at kind of commuting methods/vehicles used by commuters in Bandra (W). The analysis and conclusion follow:

TRAFFIC ANALYSIS IN BANDRA (WEST)

While the study referred to in this summary was conducted solely on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, the researchers believe that the times/locations chosen and data collected are good initial indicators of general traffic patterns around Bandra (West). However, please note that further data is necessary in order to make final conclusions.

The data collected from various types of streets in Bandra (West) (low traffic, high traffic, one-way, two-way, residential, commercial) shows a very high percentage of auto rickshaw use. The research shows that the majority of trips in Bandra (West) are short, with the authors estimating the average trip length to be between 1 and 5 kilometers. The high volume of short trips within Bandra (West) indicate the great potential for a typical Mumbai suburb like Bandra (West) to increase bicycle usage as a means of daily transport.

Specific Findings:

The research has found a high number of cars, taxis and heavy motor vehicles (HMVs) utilizing S V Road near Lucky restaurant. These data indicate that this street is being used for longer journeys using cars and taxis, not auto rickshaws. The number of people bicycling on this street is not significant, and thought to be related to the absence of trees (which would provide shade) and the high volume and high speeds of motor vehicles that make the environment unsafe for cyclists. 

The shopping area of Linking Road is heavily congested in the evening with a largest proportion of traffic coming from cars and auto rickshaws. In addition, there are a large number of pedestrians window and brick-and-mortar store shopping. Bicyclists do not frequent this main arterial roadway due to similar circumstances which exist on S V Road.

There are a significant number of bicyclists utilizing the inner lanes of Bandra (West), at times in upwards of 15% of street vehicle traffic. The inner lanes require commuters to use slower speeds and the overall number of users is lower, creating a safer environment for cyclists.

Traffic Calming in the inner lanes relate to following factors:

-Narrowness of the streets                                                                  

-Unregulated, on-street parking                                                          

-Small block sizes that result in frequent unmanned, unregulated intersections—forcing motorist to slow at intersections                   

-The large number of potholes, cracks and undulations in the street surface

Additionally, the dense vegetation, especially in inner lanes, provides shade and cooler temperatures for those traveling; this factor should also be considered when choosing designated routes for future bicycle infrastructure.

A majority of bicycle users in Bandra (West) are males from the lower and working-class sectors of society: delivery boys, carpenters, and washer men among others. The researchers observed a low level of respect for bicyclists on the roadways—frequent motor vehicle honking and the lack of a bicyclists right-of way—and largely attribute it to socio-economic and other class-based belief structures prevalent in Indian society.

 

**The reader should also note that there are a very high number of pedestrians utilizing both the arterial and inner lanes of Bandra (West). The exact data for pedestrians could not be recorded. **

Conclusion: 

Bandra (West) already has a significant amount of frequent bicyclists. Given that bicycle infrastructure is provided, there is a great potential for a sharp increase in frequent ridership. The neighborhood’s bicycle readiness relate to the high frequency of relatively short trips within Bandra (West) (1-5 kilometers), the dense vegetation lining the inner lanes, and the narrow streets and other characters favorable for natural traffic calming. 

What needs to be done? 

Prioritizing the bicycle users in the inner streets of Bandra (West). Bicycle lanes need to be demarcated on busier inner streets and a priority by law for bicyclists needs to be provided. Currently, potholes, undulated street surfaces, and unregulated traffic result in natural speed calming. However, this needn’t be so, as all users of the roads would like smooth surfaces.

Cars and other motor vehicles will, in any case, be partially calmed because of the frequent intersections and narrow streets. Law and physical interventions, if required, can enforce further calming. 

Building infrastructure for pedestrians should be placed at the top of the to-do list. The statistics indicate that a significantly higher proportion of space is dedicated to cars than pedestrians and non-motorized modes of transport, however, the overwhelming majority of street users are pedestrians. There is unregulated on-street car parking everywhere, which needs to be checked if bicycles and pedestrians are to be promoted. This space, which is currently used by car-owners to park, must be used to build sidewalks and provide bicycle lanes. 

This study also indicates that physically segregated lanes may not be required within the inner lanes of Bandra (West), but that moderate to busy streets may require physical barriers dedicated for bicycle users. Further studies should be done in order to explore the exact streets and infrastructure required.

Note: Those interested in the data sheet comprising all data collected during this survey may download it from http://www.youshare.com/phaizan/7a7cf5719293bd18.pdf.html

(The data and analysis from this study may be quoted in part or whole without permission provided that credit is given to the authors and Open Bicycles Project, Mumbai.)

Frequently Asked Questions on Using Bicycles

FAQs on using bicycles as a means of daily transport

 

Q: Why ride bicycles?

A: There are numerous benefits of using bicycles for daily trips. Some are listed below:

1) They don’t pollute 2) they take up little space as compared to motorized vehicles (cars, rickshaws, motorbikes) 3) they’re cheap and require little to no maintenance 5) If used in dedicated bicycle infrastructure, they will be much faster than cars for journeys between 1km and 6km 6) important cardiovascular and other health benefits

 

Q: We’re living in the age of space travel; isn’t riding bicycles a thing of the past? Isn’t it anti-development?

A: Development means developing and using technologies that help better everyone’s quality of life. Bicycles are one of the oldest technologies still utilized today and they have survived and thrived in many places because of the high utilitarian value. Some of the best technologies in the world are the oldest. Newer doesn’t necessarily equate to better.

 

Q: What is dedicated bicycle infrastructure?

A: Dedicated bicycle infrastructure comprises of separate facilities for bicyclists: segregated lanes, bicycle parking stands, signage, and traffic signals for bicycles. However, not all streets need to have segregated lanes; in the inner streets that are less motorized, with the help of traffic calming interventions like speed breakers and roundabouts, a low enough speed (20-30km/h) can be ensured for motor vehicles, allowing for bicycles to be mixed in with traffic. Lower vehicle speeds also allows for more livable streets, with children and pedestrians feeling safer playing and commuting.

 

Segregated bicycle lanes and related infrastructure is a must on arterial and other busy roads in order to promote bicycle use and cyclist’s safety.

 

Q: There’s already no space on the roads! Where do we build bicycle lanes? Even so, it won’t help with traffic or pollution anyways

A: The answer is two-fold.

1) If we believe in a democratic society, then everyone has equal rights on the street. Therefore, if there are a considerable number of bicycle users, they must be given space. A survey (2004) found that there were as many people using bicycles in Mumbai as used cars. Bicycles are less visible than cars because they utilize significantly less space on the roads.

 

2) An increase in the use of bicycles will relieve congestion from the street if dedicated bicycle infrastructure is carefully planned, implemented, and enforced. Research done in The Netherlands, where a high percentage of citizens use bicycles daily, has shown that if bicycle infrastructure is built, the number of bicyclists increases and the number of cars and other motorized modes will reduce. Likewise, if more motorized vehicle infrastructure is built, more motorized vehicle usage will follow, creating more traffic, not less. Therefore, by building bicycle infrastructure, the number of bicycles will increase, the number of cars will decrease, leading to less pollution in our air.

 

Q: Not many people ride bicycles in Bombay, so who will use the bicycle lanes?

A: This is a false notion.

-There are more bicycles and bicyclists in India than in any European country. Bicycle usage in smaller Indian cities is as high as 25-30% of the overall trips.

- Only 6% of Mumbai’s population has ever used a car for transportation

- The other 94% use public transportation, bicycles, auto rickshaws, taxis, etc.

 

Q: It’s too hot to ride a bicycle in Mumbai!

A: The packed trains and buses make passengers perspire. Since bicycle riding is not in an enclosed area, the person actually has much better ventilation and tends to perspire less on average than a public transportation commuter.

 

Q: Who will ride a bicycle in the monsoons?

A: People in Europe ride bicycles when the mercury is at -10 degrees and snowing and continue to ride in inclement weather because of bicycle infrastructure and the great advantages–from time efficiency and cost-effectiveness, to it being pleasurable and healthy.

The bottom line: We will use bicycles anytime, provided there is dedicated infrastructure.

 

 

 

 

Q: Where will I lock up my bicycle? Don’t things in India get stolen?

A: They get stolen everywhere in the world. Therefore, dedicated bicycle infrastructure needs to have bicycle facilities specifically designed for securely parking and locking bicycles. The parking stations need to be placed at strategic locations around the city like railway stations, bus terminals, other transit hubs, shopping areas, office complexes, parks, sports clubs, and other heavily trafficked areas.

 

Q: Bicycles are too expensive!

A: For a Rs.1500 you can get one. The cycle will be paid off in 2-5 months only. If a person normally utilizes the bus for 1-5 KM journeys twice a day, every day, they would begin saving money after only 5 months if those same trips were made on their bicycle. If rickshaws are the primary mode of transportation, a person would start saving money in only 2 months or less! Bicycles are a great investment because if you want to upgrade or stop using it altogether, you can sell your cycle and make money back.

 

Q: There’s no political will for this. This is India.

A: Political will starts on an individual level. If there is political will to build roads and flyovers for cars, there can be political will for the city’s bicycle riders, which presently equal if not outnumber cars. There already are a number of dedicated bicycle infrastructure initiatives that are ongoing in India: New Delhi has already built a pilot bicycle lane, there is more than 16km of bicycle lane in Pune, and several kms has been built in Nanded. Initiatives are continuing in many other Indian cities. Political will starts at a local, neighborhood level, and Bandra will be used as a model for the rest of Mumbai.

 

Q: Why should I really care anyways?

A: Because it will directly benefit YOU and YOUR family. Whether you’re a car owner, a bicycle rider, or commute by foot, bicycle infrastructure is one important step closer to living in a less congested, less polluted, and more pleasant city. Bicycle infrastructure embodies the idea of a Democratic India: a free, fair and equitable society.

 

Q: How can we do this? What are we going to do? What can I do?

A: Since the problem and its solutions directly affects you and your community, it is up to individuals like us and the neighborhoods that we live in that need to get directly involved in organizing for a more livable, equitable society.

Here’s what you can do right now:

 

1)    Start bicycling yourself if you don’t already do so. Once you start, it becomes an enjoyable routine and you will better understand the benefits of bicycle riding and the importance of implementing bicycle infrastructure

2)    Tell your family, friends, and coworkers about why this will help everybody– bicyclists, rickshaw drivers, motorcyclists, and even car drivers!

3)    Talk to your local corporator and insist on bicycling parking and lockup facilities

4)    Ride your bicycle with family, friends, and coworkers together in order to publicly assert the presence and importance of cyclists on the roadways

5)    Write in the newspapers, target local media, and letters to the editor, etc.

 

If you want to get directly involved in helping us build a mass movement for demanding and creating bicycle infrastructure, please contact the Open Bicycle Project at openbicyclesproject@gmail.com. Building an inclusive and more livable Mumbai starts at the individual level, with you!

 

The above information and statements are associated with the Open Bicycle Project, Mumbai, and have received support and praise from the KBS (Khar Bandra Santa Cruz) Foundation.

Mission Statement

Spreading awareness about sustainable transport and working towards more equitable, livable cities. Through the process, changing people themselves.