We get featured on CNN IBN tomorrow, 8th Dec 930pm!!

Our traffic initiative in Hyderabad will be featured on the 'Be The Change' episode on 8th Dec, 930pm. Through this we hope that people in Hyderabad start changing their driving habits.

Catch us on CNN IBN and let us know your views/comments/suggestions.

If it doesn't get aired, well.... tough luck... for us! :)

Next steps - Autos and how do we get people to walk a little

As part of the CNN IBN 'Be the Change' show, our next steps towards traffic improvement in CT junction include solving the problems that the auto drivers and passengers create.

Broadly, the problems are:

• Auto drivers stop their autos wherever they please, even stopping in the middle of the road.
• Passengers get off the autos right in front of Cyber Towers causing vehicles to hold up behind them.
• "Shared autos" keep hovering near the intersection in hopes of getting passengers and take up nearly 2 out of the 3 available lanes causing a bottleneck.
• Passengers oblige these waiting autos by getting in them right at the intersection
• People standing in the middle of the road to catch a bus/auto.

How we want to tackle this:

• Create auto stands 50 meters away from the junction-any parking or auto stands need to be atleast 50 mtrs away from traffic junctions. At least 1 auto stand near Wipro and the other in front of Shilparam.
• Put up boards near the traffic signal that informing people about the auto stands and that they shouldn't catch autos right at the signal.
• Get the auto drivers to start using the auto stands. Same goes for the people intending to catch autos.

It is going to be EXTREMELY difficult,if not impossible; but as Anthony Hopkins says in Mission: Impossible 2 : "Mr. Hunt, this isn't Mission Difficult, it's Mission Impossible. "Difficult" should be a walk in the park for you."

I can use all the help that I get, so please if there are folks out there who would like to be involved in this "Mission", please send me an email at sikhoya [at] gmail [dot] com

We spoke with ADCP Ashok Reddy yesterday and he mentioned that the traffic police is willing to help out. I just went across and met DCP MuniSwamy and Addl DCP Ashok Reddy and handed them the letter requesting for their help. We should get the signed copy of the letter (approval) by Nov 30.

Created a Google Group..

Hello

I had toyed around with the idea of creating a Google Group to reach out to people who are genuinely interested in helping this cause, but do not get the time to visit the blog frequently.

I finally created the group; here's the information:
* Group name: Traffic in Hyderabad
* Group home page: http://groups.google.com/group/trafficinhyderabad?hl=en
* Group email address trafficinhyderabad@googlegroups.com

This group is open to all who want to help make the traffic better in Hyderabad. I hope people join it and use it as a platform to discuss ideas, problems and solutions.

You can use the group to reach out to us.

How I would like to start the "Be the Change" episode!!

From the Matrix!

Neo: I know you're out there. I can feel you now. I know that you're afraid... you're afraid of us. You're afraid of change. I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world <original lines edited from here > with rules and controls, with borders and boundaries. A world where anything is possible. Where we go from there is a choice I leave to you.

This is essentially what we're trying to do. We're giving us a chance and where you go from here is a choice we leave to you!! And then I fly away! :)

The "Reality show on traffic" idea has been accepted by CNN IBN - woohoo!

I had a call with CNN IBN yesterday and they said that they liked the idea and are going to use it for a show called Urban Chaos starting in Jan next year. :) I hope to get involved in the planning and execution of the show.
Meanwhile, they have asked me to shoot an episode for 'Be the Change', a show about citizens who tackle problems on their own. I have requested Jayarama, Ruchira and Murali to be a part of it as they, like me, are passionate about solving the traffic problems. (If you want to join in, send me an email)
I will be given a camera and will be expected to shoot for about 3 weeks, detailing what problem we face and what we are doing to solve it.
I hope it's not a prank (would be a good one though ;) ).
Anyway, this is just the means to get more traction on our efforts to ease the flow of traffic in CT (and maybe in Hyderabad as well).

Submitted an idea for a reality show to CNN IBN

I submitted an idea to CNN-IBN about a reality show on traffic in Indian cities. Here is what I submitted:

Idea:
Why don't we have a reality show to find out which Indian city has the best traffic? This will give a chance to involve the people in the respective cities, a grassroots movement of sorts.

You can have user votes, a panel of judges, but most importantly, residents of the cities will take pride in making their city's traffic better. The end result will be that all the participating cities will have better traffic at the end of the show and everyone wins.
=======================================================

Let's see if they like the idea, because I think there will be a lot of positives coming out of such a reality show.

So what do we do next?

After the relatively successful Free The Left Lane (FTLL) initiative, we are left thinking about the obvious question: What next?
I termed FTLL as "relatively successful" because for the 6 weeks that we were actively regulating the traffic, the traffic flow around CT was actually under control, primarily because of following one simple rule - keep the left lane free.
Now this proved that if the citizens wish to improve the traffic in Hyderabad, they can.

How can we sustain the momentum built up by FTLL?
In my opinion, in addition to changing people's mindsets about traffic rules, the traffic police should become strict with traffic offenders and start fining drivers who do not follow rules.

You could get fined for rash driving, using your mobile while driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, not wearing a seatbelt/helmet. Punishments could range from monetary fines to revoking licenses or even community service (I don't know how that would work in India)

This would raise funds for the Traffic Police and these funds could be used for procurement of better equipment. Quite honestly, I would rather prefer that the fines collected be used to increase the Traffic Policemen's salaries. It is hard, strenuous work out there; try standing on the road for 2 hours in a day, you'll realise how tough it is for the Traffic Policemen.