Citation

Rastogi R. Curr. Sci. 2011; 100(9): 1340-1348.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, http://www.currentscience.ac.in/, Publisher Indian Academy of Sciences)

DOI

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PMID

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Abstract

Cities in developing countries owing to increase in population and motor vehicles are facing problems such as congestion, traffic jams, environmental pollution, high cost of travel, longer travel distances due to city sprawl, increasing cost of fuel imports, ill-health, etc. Planners are looking for different policy options and one such solution is to promote and integrate non-motorized modes in transportation systems, planned and developed for habituated areas. This article presents the key issues and guiding principles of sustainable transportation system, and then discusses the sustainability of non-motorized modes across travel modes and within the modes. Policies related to non-motorized modes, especially walking and bicycles, are also discussed. Planning issues are discussed with reference to walking along carriageways or on sidewalks or on similar facilities constructed along the road or for crossing the road. The effects of pedestrian characteristics on pedestrian flow characteristics such as speed and flow, acceptable gaps while crossing the road, etc. are also presented. It is emphasized that due consideration should be given to the above-mentioned aspects, which would help in the provision of non-motorized facilities in an area thus making them sustainable.

Language: en