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PT InFocus: This month in Public Transport

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Cover Image by Biswarup Ganguly
Collated by Sai Ratna Chaitanya Gurugubelli

This week’s InFocus brings to you news in the public transport sector from October, from around the world including Indian cities. How does the FIFA U-17 World Cup affect Kolkata’s bus system? Can public transport generate profits? Read on to find out more.

Special service for FIFA U-17 World Cup in Kolkata

A treat for football fans and public transport users – Kolkata will see at least 600 buses, including 430 air-conditioned coaches, servicing the FIFA Under-17 World cup matches from October 8. “While the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) will ply 480 buses of its own, it has given permits to app-cab service provider Ola for 130 buses to Salt Lake Stadium from different parts of the metropolis on match days”, said Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari to newspersons at The Indian Express.

 

Kochi’s buses under one umbrella soon

London successfully managed to bring private and public rail operators under one entity – Transport for London. Singapore is taking similar steps for its buses. The latest to join the bandwagon is Kochi – efforts are underway to bring all private buses operating under the six limited liability partnership (LLP) companies and Kochi Metropolitan Transport Cooperative (KMTC) Society, under one umbrella. The Hindu explains the benefits and other details of this move.

 

Public transport for profits?

“One issue that everyone must come to terms with is the matter of unprofitability of public transport systems. Only in rare instances is urban public transport turning a profit around the world. A true public transport system requires subsidy, provided by the state or municipalities, with the rationale that a good system makes the metropolis efficient and dynamic. It will be hard to be profitable working under public transport standards (running early and late, running even with low occupancy, keeping to labour standards, etc.).” Read more about ‘the myth of public transport profitability’ on Nepali Times

 

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PT InFocus: Women in Public Transport

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Collated by Sai Ratna Chaitanya Gurugubelli

Transportation plays a key role in women upliftment, by allowing them access to opportunities both outside the transport sector and within. It is pivotal to integrate women’s concerns in urban transport programmes and projects. However, our urban transportation system and facilities are only gradually becoming women-friendly, with much more left to be done. This week’s PT InFocus brings to you news about public transport from the woman’s perspective.


Lactation Rooms soon in Bengaluru bus stands

Breastfeeding mothers who use public transport regularly in Bengaluru can heave a sigh of relief – women’s lounges with lactation rooms are soon to be set up in BMTC bus stops, on a Rs.2.25 Crore budget under the Nirbhaya fund. “We had received several suggestions for a space for breastfeeding at bus stations. Many travelling women wait at bus terminals for long hours, but there are no facilities at most places for them to be able to feed their babies privately. Tamil Nadu has it. It is a good plan and appreciated by many. So, we have decided to set it up in Bengaluru,” a senior BMTC official told The News Minute.


No relief: basic amenities lacking for women bus conductors of TSRTC

Despite Corporation’s efforts to bridge gender gaps in employment, basic amenities such as toilets and drinking water remain lacking. “Padma (name changed), a conductor with the Greater Hyderabad zone of Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has made a mark in a male-dominated professional space. However, relieving herself while on board is still a challenging part of her job. With no toilet facilities available at any of the city bus stops or change-over-points, not just Padma, but all the 1,670 women bus conductors have no choice but to wait till they reach the respective bus depots before using the toilets”, reports The New Indian Express.


PT in Canada – Women in front-line jobs on the rise

The public transport industry that has been heavily male-dominated until now is witnessing changes in its organisational structure – the biggest transit agencies in Canada have made major strides in recent years bringing on female staff. “Half the senior leadership of the government agency that runs Toronto-area commuter transit is female…From a rarity to a substantial presence, women are now more common on the front lines and especially in executive boardrooms.” However, a lot is left to be done – “if you visit the washrooms in the executive wing of the head office, the guys [still] get twice the facilities and at least three times as much space.” Find out more on The Globe and Mail.

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PT InFocus: Tech Savvy Bus Services

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Cover Image Source: Society of Cyberabad Security Council
Collated by Sai Ratna Chaitanya Gurugubelli

PT InFocus is a weekly series presenting to you news about public transport from around the world, including Indian cities. Ride-hailing has been growing in popularity due to the convenience it entails. Now, private entities like Shuttl and government organisations like the Land Transport Authority in Singapore have joined the bandwagon to experiment with on-demand bus services.

“SAFE” travels with Shuttl: Facial recognition now on buses

Biometric sensors have been popularly used at banks, big businesses, houses, etc to increase security and protection. Shuttl, an Indian app-based bus service, is the latest to incorporate biometrics: in buses! “Shuttl says this service has been launched to ensure safety for urban commuters, especially women. The bus will offer face-based check-in where a camera will be placed at the entrance and all you have to do is walk in and the bus will recognise you as a registered passenger. It ensures that only validated, genuine commuters board the bus. The bus will have a physical panic button in case of emergencies and also the Shuttl app will come with an SOS and panic button to help commuters trigger an emergency response when in danger. There will also be live CCTV recording which will have an auto alert feature”, reports the Quint.

 

SHE shuttle(s) between LB Nagar and Pocharam in Hyderabad

The latest addition to the shuttle fleet launched by the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), is a SHE shuttle, meant to improve transportation for women commuters. “More than 1600 users utilize the shuttle services in a day and at least 1200 users are present during the peak hours at any given day in the week…All five shuttles are being monitored continuously in Cyberabad Police commissionerate command control centre. We are also in discussions with the state government to launch a shuttle service to provide last-mile connectivity in Cyberabad, based on the SHE shuttle’s model,” said SCSC general secretary Aroll to The Times of India.

 

On-demand public bus services soon in Singapore

A mobile application could make public transit a breeze for commuters in Singapore, by allowing them to request pick-ups and drop-offs at any bus stop within an operating area, instead of relying on fixed timetables or routes. The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called a tender to develop bus services based on commuters’ demand via a mobile application in real time, and trials will start in the second half of next year. Group director of Public Transport at LTA, Mr Yeo Teck Guan, said the tender will allow the authority to explore data analytics and mobile technology which have “revolutionised the way that we travel, as we have seen in the success of ride-hailing”. Find out more on Channel News Asia.

PT InFocus: Public-private partnerships for better PT

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Cover Image – Source: BOMBMAN

This new series PT InFocus presents to you news about public transport from around the world, including Indian cities. With governments across the globe aiming to strengthen their public transport networks, public-private partnerships are being encouraged in order to meet the resource demand. This fortnight’s InFocus focuses on such partnerships – measures being taken to invite private investments and some initiatives by PPPs.

 

New Metro Rail Policy approved – encourages compact urban development, multi-modal integration and private investments

In this age when Indian Cities are aspiring to develop effective mass rapid transit systems, the new Metro Rail Policy approved by the Cabinet serves as a guiding light.  To encourage private investments to meet the huge demand of a metro project, the policy makes the PPP component mandatory to avail central assistance. Prior to the selection of the Metro, an Alternate Analysis evaluating other modes of mass transit like BRTS, Regional Rail, etc, has been mandated by the policy.To improve usage, the new policy seeks to ensure that States provide necessary last mile connectivity through feeder services, Non-Motorised Transport infrastructure like walking and cycling pathways and introduction of para-transport facilities. The Press Information Bureau – Govt. of India states other key points of the policy.


KTC partners with Scania: buses powered by alternate fuel ply in Goa

“Goa has always been known as India’s leading tourist hub. Our beaches, churches, and culture have attracted tourists from across the world. Now is the time to preserve the natural beauty this state is known for, by switching to non-polluting transport solutions. We are excited to partner with Scania Commercial Vehicles, and look forward to working closely with them to transition our beautiful state to a cleaner, greener and better future”, said ­­­­Derick P Neto, managing director, Kadamba Transport Corporation, at the launch of the green buses on August 15, as reported in Autocar Professional.


A TRANSIT PROBLEM : DART’s focus on rail hurts those who need transit most

“Now that DART has completed the lion’s share of its light rail build-out, it’s time for the agency to focus much more on buses, at least until it can develop a service plan that adequately serves the riders who most depend on it. That means a tougher look at some of the light-rail plans already on DART’s books, and it will mean money for more buses, more stops and more routes. Without these investments, and without at least a temporary reordering of priorities, the working poor in Dallas are going to continue to have their backs up against the wall as they attempt to work themselves out of poverty. Dallas News compares ridership and other parameters to make a case for DART’s bus service.

PT InFocus: Increasing public transport usage

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ITDP brings you news about public transport from around the world in this new series PT InFocus. From BEST’s new public transit route to London’s night buses,  this fortnight’s InFocus looks at the different attempts by cities around the world to increase its public transport mode share.

“The idea is to change the mindset of commuters and encourage him or her to travel by public transport buses.”
– BEST general manager Surendrakumar Bagde

 

BEST’s South Bombay ring route a hit, eats into share taxi business

BEST’s recent experiment to run buses along the busy Crawford Market-CST- Churchgate route on which share kaali-peeli taxis ply seems to have come out with flying colours. Two weeks after BEST introduced ring route number 113, it has found more than 2,000 takers and this, in turn, has led to 500 less taxi trips on south Mumbai roads. Bagde further stated that the Crawford Market-Churchgate-CST ring route will be taken as an ‘ideal route’ and replicated elsewhere.
Published on July 07 in TOI
 

Coming soon to India: Electric buses that can swap batteries at petrol pump-like facilities

The primary roadblock was the high cost of batteries for EVs, which could not be offset without subsidies, he explained. But interacting with the automotive and EV industry, Jhunjhunwala realised that there was an opportunity to build volumes if EVs could be separated from the single most expensive component: batteries. “We said we’ll start buying vehicles without battery,” he said. “For example, if I want to buy a bus or a three-wheeler, I’ll buy it without (the) battery but with enhanced (vehicle) efficiency.”
Published on July 19 in Quartz
 

Citymapper announces first licensed bus service for London

Licensed by Transport for London (TfL), the ‘CM2 – Night Rider’ route will operate night buses between Aldgate East and Highbury and Islington, passing through the popular East London nightlife haunts of Shoreditch and Dalston. The service will launch in late August or early September, between 9pm and 5am on Fridays and Saturdays. Citymapper chose the route based on experiments using their “SimCity” simulation software, which models transport networks in cities and is informed by data collected by the Citymapper app.
Published on July 20 in Wired

 

*Cover image from Wikemedia Creative Commons