Brt Special Issue

7/30/2019 Brt Special Issue

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The Transportation Research and Injury Prevention Programme (TRIPP) at the transportation systems, and developing designs for vehicles, safety equipment and infrastructureIndian Institute of Technology Delhi, is an interdisciplinary programme focussing on the for the future. Activities include applied research projects, special courses and workshops, andreduction of adverse health effects of road transport. TRIPP attempts to integrate all supervision of student projects at postgraduate and undergraduate levels. Projects are done inissues concerned with transportation in order to promote safety, cleaner air, and energy collaboration with associated departments and centres at IIT Delhi, government departments,conservation. Faculty members are involved in planning safer urban and inter-city industry and international agencies.

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SPECIAL BRTS SUPPLEMENT DECEMBER 2008

BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEMS

WHO COLLABORATING CENTRE

Why do we have central bus lanes?

The central lane is the preferred location for the left. Bus movement has to be separatedthe buses in the BRT system in most cities of from car movement so that bus travel speedsthe world; this is largely because it avoids are not less than that of cars. Any unfortunatecoming into conflict with left turning traffic; this incident like a breakdown on the BRT corridor

increase throughput unlike buses on the can be addressed immediately and effectivelycurbside lanes which are forced to stop for without inconveniencing the others on theother left turning vehicles; it is also safer road because the median separating the twobecause the high volume of bicyclists, bus lanes is a mountable rumble strip; themotorized two-wheelers and three-wheelers stalled bus can be easily overtaken by ando not come into conflict with buses. This ambulance or the other buses as per theseparation also ensures that cars do not get ground requirements at the time. Thestuck behind buses halting at bus stops. A concept of central lanes for public transport is

dedicated bus lane on the left side of the road not new. Trams have been running in centralwould make it very difficult for other road users lanes in most cities of the world includingto access homes, offices and small roads on Kolkata.


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With bus lanes in the centre how do commuters access the buses safely?

As bus users, people have to cross the roadprior to boarding or after alighting from the bus.This would be true for all commuters whetherbuses are in the central or curbside lanes.Since people live and work on both sides of theroad at least half the passengers have to crossthe full width of the road in the case of the

curbside lane. In the case of the central lane,only half the width of the road has to be coveredon foot, the latter arrangement requires ashorter red light signal phase for cars, whichincreases safety all round. Unlike the existing safely with signalized pedestrian crossings,arrangement, all BRT systems provide special foot over-bridges or underpasses.arrangements for commuters to cross the road


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Why are low floor buses preferred to high floor buses?

Low floor buses are advantageous to all

commuters whether-the bus runs in the BRTScorridor or outside it. Low floor buses wereintroduced in Delhi for the first time in India with theadvent of the BRTS. These buses have floors at aheight of 40 cms from the ground; even outside theBRTS corridor, this requires a single step up toenter the bus. A simple, manually operated ramphas been designed which can be used easily bywheelchair-bound commuters. These are someof the main reasons for preferring low-floor buses.These buses, when plying in the BRTS corridorshave floors that are level with the platforms in the

considerable saving of time in boarding andbus shelters, making for the safety anddisembarking at the bus shelters. Economies ofconvenience of all passengers including children,scale require that a majority, if not all, of the busesthe infirm and those who are physicallyoperating in a city should be alike.challenged; because of this, there is a

Why are bus stops near intersections in the BRTS corridor in Delhi?Bus shelters are located at the near side of the Overhead bridges for commuters at mid-block stops

junction. From the commuter's point of view, this have been used in a few cities like Bogota; mid-blockis the safest place to cross the road because all stops increase walking distances for bus users, andtraffic must come to a halt at the red light; this many users have difficulty going up slopes or steps.makes for a safer and easier route transfer. At However, the positioning of the bus shelter atthe fourway junction, commuters can access all junctions obviates the need for overhead bridges fordirections with equal facility; in this way, the commuters.

catchments area of the bus system increases.



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Transportation Research and Injury Prevention ProgrammeRoom MS 808 (Main Building)

Indian Institute of TechnologyHauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, IndiaPhone: 91-11-26596361, 26858703Fax: 91-11-26858703, 26851169Email: [email protected]/tripp

Establishment funds have been received fromMinistry of Industry, Government of India

Asian Institute of Transport DevelopmentTata Motors

Volvo Research and Education Foundations

Endowments for perpetual ChairsVolvo Chair for Urban Transport

CONFER, India: TRIPP Chair for Transportation Planning

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Why an open BRT system?

Internationally, two types of BRT systems arein operation: open and closed systems. Busesin an open BRT system can move in and out ofthe dedicated bus corridor as per their routerequirements. Buses in a closed systemcannot move outside the BRT corridor andother buses cannot operate within the corridor.The open BRT system reduces the need fortransfers and feeder buses which is desirable

for short (6 to 8 km) trips. This system benefitsthe largest number of commuters possible; thebenefits to the commuter accrue in accordancewith the time/distance s/he travels on the efficiency at the cost of losing patronage; while incorridor. It is easier to integrate the existing Indian cities, which have mixed land use patterns,city bus service with an open BRT system. The short trip lengths and high two-wheeler ownership,bus system in Bogota is a closed system with the open system is to be preferred. A majority offeeder buses; Bogota has longer trip lengths South American cities have a closed BRT systemthan Delhi and other Indian cities and a while a majority of cities in Australia and Asiacompletely different land use pattern. These (Taiwan, China, etc.) have an open BRT system.closed systems provide short term operational


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