Why are subway and light trains in developed countries more reliable than buses or private vehicles on the roads?
ISLAMABAD: Why are subway and light trains in developed countries more reliable than buses or private vehicles on the roads? It is simply because they run on dedicated tracks and don’t mix with other vehicles and get dragged down by vehicular traffic. This helps subway and light trains move quickly.
But if we give buses a fair shot by giving them a dedicated lane, they may be able to become more efficient. Although not every street is fit for a dedicated bus lane, Karachi’s main roads such as Sharea Faisal, Shaheed-e-Millat and Khayaban-e-Ittehad, among others, are fit for a dedicated bus lane, which can double or triple transport efficiency on these roads by eliminating delays cause the traffic jams of cars and vehicles.
When will Karachi residents, who use motorbikes and cars, learn that they won’t be stuck in traffic if they use buses? The government needs to come up with a similar public transport system with buses so that those who use motorcycles, rickshaws and small cars can commute at minimal price. This will keep most vehicles off the road and prevent everyday traffic jams. The people of Karachi are frustrated because it takes them long hours to commute between home and workplace. I personally hate being stuck in traffic every day and it is a major inconvenience for as a lot of my time is wasted in travelling. This way fewer vehicles will be on roads and this will ease the traffic congestion in the city.
If the government doesn’t have quality buses on dedicated lanes, they can simply allow ride-hailing services to run on these tracks and levy an additional tax on them.
This will be a win-win situation for all as these services will save on fuel and provide efficient transport services, resulting in happy customers. On the other hand, the government can earn additional taxes that it can use to maintain those roads and bus lanes.
The government should think about this quick and easy solution to traffic congestion in Karachi.
Adnan Ahmed
Published in The Express Tribune, January 2nd, 2020.
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