Traffic management and road designs for improving traffic flow: A case for bus priority lanes with segregated cycle tracks

Detailed field studies in Delhi show that since bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles rise the left side of the road, buses are unable to use the designated bus lanes and are forced to stop in the middle lane at bus stops. This disrupts the smooth flow of traffic in all lanes and makes bicycling more hazardous. Motorized traffic does not use the curbside lane even when bicycle densities are low. All modes of transport move in sub-optimal conditions in the absence of facilities for non-motorized vehicles. In this paper we illustrate that pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized rickshaws are the most critical elements in mixed traffic. If the infrastructure design does not meet the requirements of these elements all modes of transport operate in sub-optimal conditions. It is possible to redesign the existing roads to provide safe and convenient environment to non-motorized modes. This also results in improved efficiency of bus transport vehicles and enhanced capacity of the corridor when measured in number of passengers per hour per lane. The paper illustrates that the capacity achieved in a corridor by redesigning the road cross section, which includes segregated cycle tracks, and exclusive bus lanes compares favorably to capital intensive option like MRTS.