Comment: Professional and public views vital to overcome transport problems

The recent remarks by the Chairman of the Road Development Authority (RDA) has received wide media coverage locally as well as internationally. He had proposed to increase petrol prices further to discourage the use of cars and improve the public transport system in Sri Lanka.

Explaining his views, he had said that a number of government officials use official cars and also represent the government transport Committee to decide on future transport projects and solutions for the prevailing transport problems.

He also said that the majority of commuters use the public transport system while high officials use government vehicles waste public money and create huge traffic jams on the city roads.

His contention is that the government should restrict the use of petrol and improve the public transport system to cater to the majority.

The RDA chief went a step further and said that Lanka doesn't need toll roads because the country has a few cars and nearly half this amount could pay toll if the government sets up a toll road. He pointed out that the use of private vehicles cause more of road accidents due to the heavy traffic jams and youth who drive vehicles fast on these busy roads.

The RDA chief's remarks on public transport would not make any impact on the ordinary citizens of this country who experience untold hardships in public transport. They are quite acquainted with this kind of hilarious suggestions of politicians and high-ranking government officials.

If anybody peruses all election manifestos presented by parties who assumed office during the last decade one may see how much we have been cheated.

The RDA chief's views which were published in the Asian Tribune had received reactions from readers.

If an ordinary person such as this web user can propose his solution to road transport problems, the RDA chairman, should be able to find better professional solutions, which should suit today's changing world and uphold the rights of the democratic social frame.

Increasing the price of petrol could be done instantly, but public transport would take considerable time, and it also needs thorough planning, finance, authority and other facilities which are not within our reach. So merely talking about one's fantasies would just amuse people.

One reader said, "The RDA Chief I presume must be living with the Veddhas who have a better thinking power.

As an ordinary citizen he had suggested many important points not new but spotlighted the many occasions where the authorities never seriously attempted to implement the decisions taken.

To address the issue he had suggested to improve parking facilities, make parking capacities compulsory in planning city buildings, ban parking vehicles blocking roads, construction of overhead bridges for people, penalise people crossing roads blindly which causes accidents and traffic congestion, proper pedestrian crossings with proper signal lighting, enforce the law strictly and fine private buses and trishaws that violate the laws.

Poor road conditions and roads full of potholes cause accidents and traffic jams. Pavements are used for parking of vehicles, booths and other activities, which force people to use the road instead of the pavement. Giving proper training to the traffic policemen (as most of them do not use common sense to direct traffic).

Another reader said, "Let him show it in practice. As a Sri Lankan I doubt the RDA chief has ever used public transport in years. We all are aware how top officials misuse government vehicles.

The RDA chief may not fall into this category. These suggestions may not be serious matters for the authorities, but the commuters know by experience as the causes for the crisis in transportation.

As the RDA chief suggests we can't expect a reduction in the number of vehicles and an improvement of the public transport system on account of the high oil price. If this is so the increase in petrol prices would have wiped out half the number of the private vehicle fleet on Sri Lanka's roads.

There is no sign of improving the quality of our three main public transport modes - railway, SLTB or the private buses. Politics, bureaucracy and trade unions have ruined the first two and the authorities have miserably failed at regulating the private buses.

People are now using more private cars although it is difficult to bear the cost of purchase and maintenance of vehicles as they are fed up with the public transport and there is no solution in sight.

On the other hand in all growing economies the number of private vehicles is increasing. China ended its status as the world's "bicycle kingdom" and emerging middle class is acquiring more private vehicles. It is the same in India and Vietnam.

However, due to the wide inequality in income distribution the masses are suffering in silence due to the transport problems as every Tom, Dick and Harry cannot afford to purchase vehicles. A research paper on the urban transport crisis in India published in 2005 highlighted the common issues in developing countries.

The wealthiest ten percent of the population earns over half of the total national income. Most of the population is so poor that they cannot even afford any motorised transport and must spend up to three or even four hours a day for travel.

Moreover, the concentration of wealth among an economic and political elite has distorted transport policies in all developing countries. While the poor suffer the most from severe and worsening transport problems in cities, government policies generally focus on serving the needs of an elite minority.

For example, a disproportionate share of government funds is spent facilitating the ownership and use of private cars, while the needs of mostly low-income pedestrians and cyclists are ignored. Similarly, public transport does not get the funding or traffic priority it deserves because the elite do not use it, the report said.

If the authorities want to find a true solution for the issue, the views of the bloggers as well as scientific research are important. But our problem is not the lack of proposals, it is the problem of lack of commitment of the authorities.