Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds longer trip times, and increased vehicular queuing With the economy booming, there has been an increase in the disposable income of the people. This had led to a boom in the number of cars that run on the roads. Given the insufficient road infrastructure in place and the lack of traffic sense prevalent among the Indians, traffic congestion require no introduction. In fact, in a recent survey, Bangalore traffic and Delhi traffic have been rated the 6th and 7th worst in the world.
There have been numerous ways implemented by countries in-order to circumvent this problem, and some of them have been successful. The following are methods that have been implemented in other countries:
Parking restrictions - This involves making motor vehicles use less attractive by increasing the monetary and non - monetary costs of parking, introducing greater competition for limited city or road space.
Reducing the road capacity so as to encourage people to use other modes of transport. For e.g. traffic calming and the shared space concept. In traffic calming, the road is laden with bumps, humps, tables, chicanes and diverters so as to prevent speeding by motorists and car users. In the shared space concept, roads are planned taking into consideration cyclists and pedestrians by installing seats and cycle lanes effectively narrowing the road for cars and motor vehicles.
Road pricing, which involves charging money for access onto a road at specific times, similar to toll gates.
Vehicles can also be limited by giving out a fixed number of license plates every year by auction, thus preventing a rapid increase in the number of vehicles. But this system has the problem of favoring the rich.
Road space rationing, where regulatory restrictions prevent certain types of vehicles from driving under certain circumstances or in certain areas. This system is generally enforced by number plate restrictions based on the days of the week. The problem with this system being that rich people can buy cars with different number plates.
Addressing the last mile problems, by providing cycles at bus stops, or asking companies to provide for seeker vans.
Introducing and encouraging car-pooling, in which people commuting to the near-by destinations from near-by sources can travel together using their vehicles in alternation.
Other indirect methods like encouraging video-conferences, flexible working hours, installing traffic counters to provide real-live traffic counts thus preventing the exacerbation of jams and congestion.
There have been numerous ways implemented by countries in-order to circumvent this problem, and some of them have been successful. The following are methods that have been implemented in other countries:
Parking restrictions - This involves making motor vehicles use less attractive by increasing the monetary and non - monetary costs of parking, introducing greater competition for limited city or road space.
Reducing the road capacity so as to encourage people to use other modes of transport. For e.g. traffic calming and the shared space concept. In traffic calming, the road is laden with bumps, humps, tables, chicanes and diverters so as to prevent speeding by motorists and car users. In the shared space concept, roads are planned taking into consideration cyclists and pedestrians by installing seats and cycle lanes effectively narrowing the road for cars and motor vehicles.
Road pricing, which involves charging money for access onto a road at specific times, similar to toll gates.
Vehicles can also be limited by giving out a fixed number of license plates every year by auction, thus preventing a rapid increase in the number of vehicles. But this system has the problem of favoring the rich.
Road space rationing, where regulatory restrictions prevent certain types of vehicles from driving under certain circumstances or in certain areas. This system is generally enforced by number plate restrictions based on the days of the week. The problem with this system being that rich people can buy cars with different number plates.
Addressing the last mile problems, by providing cycles at bus stops, or asking companies to provide for seeker vans.
Introducing and encouraging car-pooling, in which people commuting to the near-by destinations from near-by sources can travel together using their vehicles in alternation.
Other indirect methods like encouraging video-conferences, flexible working hours, installing traffic counters to provide real-live traffic counts thus preventing the exacerbation of jams and congestion.
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