Transitopia - by Mansha Swami

  In the pursuit of creating vibrant and sustainable cities, a comprehensive and thoughtful approach is essential for designing transportation systems that prioritize the well-being of pedestrians and cyclists. Embracing a 6C approach—Comprehensiveness, Continuity, Contingency, Cooperation, Community Engagement, and Connectivity—bicycle planning can pave the way to safer, healthier, and more accessible urban environments. Let's explore each element of the 6C approach and its significance in shaping bicycle-friendly cities. Comprehensiveness: Bicycle planning must encompass a wide array of factors, from infrastructure design to safety measures and community needs. Embracing comprehensiveness means analyzing existing cycling conditions, understanding population growth, and addressing environmental and health concerns. Example: In Amsterdam, the Netherlands, the city's comprehensive bicycle planning has transformed it into a global cycling capital...

  Dehradun, the serene capital city of Uttarakhand, India, has experienced rapid urbanization and a surge in population from 3,63,000 in 1990 to 9,92,000 in 2023 as per UN projections which is almost triple than in 1990, resulting in increased mobility demands. This case study examines the current state of public transportation in Dehradun, focusing on its challenges and future plans. Current Public Transportation Scenario: The existing public transportation system in Dehradun primarily revolves around three main modes: buses operated by the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) and shared autorickshaws, commonly referred to as "Vikrams." Vikarms run across 9 fixed routes covering the most parts of the city. Dehradun Smart City Limited had recently launched 30 electric buses in city which have been quite popular across 5 different routes. There is a fleet of 389 buses traversing across 11 routes and a length of 198.96 Kms. There is also feeder bus connectivity across 4 ro...

  A Holistic Approach to Building Resilient Transportation Systems: The 4C's Framework In the fast-paced world of transportation planning, adopting a dynamic and adaptive strategy is vital to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of long-range plans. Building upon the foundational 3C's approach—Comprehensive, Cooperative & Continuous. Transportation authorities are embracing a new dimension: Contingent.  Welcome to the 4C's approach, a comprehensive framework that fosters resilience, inclusivity, and future-proofing in transportation systems. Let's delve into how the 4C's approach empowers transportation planning while safeguarding against complacency. Comprehensiveness: A robust transportation plan must consider multiple factors, such as population growth, urban development, environmental sustainability, and technological advancements. Embracing comprehensiveness means analyzing current and future needs to ensure long-term goals alig...

  Dehradun, amongst all other Indian cities, has a great potential to become the next sustainable mobility ambassador. The city is blessed with a supportive climate and soil profile. More trees on the roadsides will add more regular walking citizens to the local streets of the city. The cool climate of the city coupled with roadside vegetation or arboriculture, provides relief while walking in different areas of Dehradun such as Rajpur Road, Forest Research Institute (FRI), Malsi, Survey of India Campus, Dalanwala, Vasant Vihar, Kewal Vihar, Inder Road, Clement Town and more.   The tree species found in Dehradun include Sal, Oak, Pine, Jamun, Eucalyptus, Ashok along with the Apple, Mango, Litchi, Citrus, Guava, Plum, and Peach Orchards encompassing the city. Apart from being a major tourist attraction, Dehradun also boasts a rich cultural heritage, health, and wellness retreats with holistic healing practices such as Yoga and Ayurveda. The land use includes educational institu...

Micro-mobility refers to lightweight modes of transportation that enable individuals to travel short distances. Examples of micro-mobility options include bicycles, e-bikes (both docked and dockless), e-scooters (both docked and dockless), roller skates, tricycles, mobility scooters, unicycles, golf carts, kick scooters, one-wheels, quadracycles, wheelchairs, segways, personal transporters, and skateboards. These modes are commonly used in urban areas for commuting over shorter distances. Skateboarding, as a micro-mobility mode, has gained popularity among teenagers, college students, and adults in various countries such as the USA, Japan, England, Brazil, Germany, Australia, China, Denmark, and others. With an average speed of 10-20 km/h, skateboarding serves as a recreational sport that helps reduce stress while improving coordination and balance. Skateparks not only foster community bonding but also have a positive impact on local businesses by utilizing unused spaces. Notably, sk...

Besides the proliferation of large gyms across the hilly city, it is important to explore other fitness and mobility options available to the citizens of Dehradun. Do the residents of this city lack motivation or are they simply too busy to prioritize an active lifestyle? Let us not rely on outdated data from decades ago, as Swedish physician and bestselling author of the book "Factfulness" advises. In the past, it was true that the average citizen of Dehradun used to walk a considerable number of steps daily. However, over the past four years, the situation has changed significantly, contrary to popular belief. In 2019-20, students from DIT University's Civil Engineering Department, under my supervision, conducted an assessment of active mobility in Dehradun during and after the COVID-19 lockdown. We collected data from over 500 residents using Google Forms as part of our design project. Our findings revealed some interesting insights. When asked about their preferre...