But how can we really make Sajha Yatayat easily available and accessible to those members of the citizenry that now commute only with two wheelers or with personal cars? How can they be won over
Can Kathmandu become the Bogotá of South Asia?
Wait, I am not talking about the bad things. Yes, there might be many problematic issues affecting Colombia and, by extension, its capital, Bogotá, but there are lots of generic, simplistic stereotypes linked to them. Yet, all in all, the whole country is in a different league of development in comparison with Nepal.
Bogotá is the place where car-dominated streets leave space every Sunday, from 7am to 2pm, to bicycles, and it is something that does not happen in a tokenistic way. Around 75 miles of the whole city streets are shut down, and individuals, families and groups alike become the owners of the city. The idea of what is called La Ciclovía was born back in 1974, and since then it has expanded throughout the nation.
I have been thinking a lot about how Kathmandu can become a more habitable and people-centered metropolis. For example, more parks and micro parks would help. Every time I pass through the Narayanhiti Palace, I am still wondering why its extensive spaces within the walls have not turned into a public park. Similarly, the area of Tundikhel occupied by the Army could be open up to the public with some strict regulations.
But let's go back to the La Ciclovía initiative. Can we imagine having the Saturday morning only exclusively for bicycles? Perhaps, it is not feasible to do it overnight.
We need, after all, be willing to build a culture in which travelling by bicycle becomes the norm and, in all honesty, we are still far from it.
What about La Ciclovía in Kathmandu once in a month? The government of the metropolitan city could, in a relatively easy way, start planning this initiative, a sort of "call for actions" to pave the way to a consultative process to lay down the foundations for a more livable city strategy.
Doing away with cars is going to be paramount no matter the increasing number of EV SUVs that have started occupying our streets. In this regard, I do remember a column that Farhad Manjoo wrote for the New York Times a few years ago about EVs. He had written something like "Yes they are a huge improvement despite some critical issues related to the rare earth minerals they require; yet, they are still cars, that occupy space and create traffic". How true it is, and that's why we need to find smart ways to promote different means of transportation.
For example, will the new ring road from Kalanki to Maharajgunj be designed to support people using bicycles? I am aware that Mayor Balen Shah has been vehemently protesting to ensure that the work for this major infrastructure will start as soon as possible.
I believe that the idea of having one Saturday free of cars for half of the day would motivate people to think harder about a comprehensive strategy because, at the end of the day, it is not only about more cycle lines and more people encouraged to use bicycles. It is going to be a cultural shift, but a holistic approach is needed.
Only having a Saturday once in a month or every Saturday partially free of cars won't be so useful in the long term. After all, let's not forget that the vast majority of citizens do not even have a bicycle. Before embracing the use of a bicycle, I was a frequent commuter, and I do know well what it means to use a public transportation vehicle.
There have been some improvements in the last few years, though. Sajha Yatayat has a huge potential. But how can we really make Sajha Yatayat easily available and accessible to those members of the citizenry that now commute only with two wheelers or with personal cars? How can they be won over?
This is the big challenge and it requires a major paradigm shift in the way transportation is regulated in the valley of Kathmandu. We probably even need a Board or Authority in charge of regulating public transportation even if it makes sense that the Metropolitan Government of Kathmandu remains in charge of it through the appointment of competent managers.
After all, we do not need dispersion of decision-making, and the Mayor and Deputy Mayor should have the power to make what are, at the of the day, political decisions.
For sure, the current owners of the hundreds of micros should be brought into the conversation. Maybe they can be hired by a much stronger Sajha Yatayat and become co-owners of it as it still remains a cooperative. Maybe they could associate themselves to establish another transportation entity like Sajha Yatayat that would operate in other parts of the Valley.
In both cases, there should be some financial incentives for them to give up their own vehicles. It is a very complex issue, and that's why we need a real debate, guided by experts, about the future of public transportation in the capital city and surrounding areas.
Let's build on what we have achieved. Kathmandu now has or is about to have very nice sidewalks that are also to be inclusive for the needs of visually impaired persons. We surely need more zebra crossings. What about putting more smarter traffic lights especially designed for pedestrians that only work when there is a pedestrian in need of crossing the street? A simple button would work the magic to allow the pedestrian the time to cross the street and then again allow the normal flow of vehicles.
Now in places like Lazimpat and Bhat-Bhateni and in many other places, you find a specially assigned Traffic Police for the sole purpose of allowing pedestrians to cross very busy intersections. A smart automation solution would free the manpower to carry their work in different and more useful ways.
I have no doubt that one day, even not too far from today, Kathmandu will also embrace the concept of La Ciclovía. But as we see, there are many other intermediary steps to be taken to create the conditions for the capital of the nation to thrive with less cars, less scooters and less traffic. It is never late to start this exciting journey.
