Surat: More the number of users, more the chances that people would follow the rules.This is what the authorities and urban transport experts feel about Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS), which is struggling to find users in the city of nearly 50 lakh. The percentage of population using BRTS is a poor 4%, which experts say should be at least 10-12% to make this alternative transport system a success.Experts say if SMC can make 10 per cent of Surtis stop using their vehicles and switch to public transport even once in a day, damage to BRTS property and encroachment of its lanes would come down . Surat has nearly four lakh cars plying in the roads, which effectively means that more than 60% of the families have at least one private vehicle.Transportation expert, Sardar Vallabhhai Patel National Instiute of Technology (SVNIT), Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh said, “If half of the daily commuters in areas like Varachha and Katargam using motorcycles to go to their work start using city buses or BRTs buses, they would think twice about infringing on the BRTS lanes or breaking rules.”“At present, the issues of breaking rules and damaging BRTS property crop up because people think it’s a liability or useless for them. Once they understand its utility, they would think twice before breaking the rules,” he added.Assistant commissioner in-charge of BRTS Kamlesh Nayak said, “When people get used to travelling in airconditioned BRTS buses, they wont damage the vehicle or driver in the BRTS lane.”In Brazil and other Latin American countries, at least 20% of daily commuters use public transport smoothly.Feeder routes must for BRTS successSurat: Unlike a metro city ilke Mumbai, where citizens don’t walking distances to get a good public transport or their destinations, majority of people in smaller cities are averse to walking that extra mile. Feeder buses, which connect BRTS to maximum destinations where these buses don’t ply, are the key to success of this alternative transport.“We are introducing another 300 buses on different routes with the hope that people will start making use of these facility, consider it as an asset for the city and abide by rules,” an SMC official said.“Unless people get connectivity for their entire journey, they are unlikely to use the transport and instead prefer their own vehicle. SMC will have to develop feeder routes and connect all parts of the city through mass transport,” said Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh of SVNIT. “Success of mass transport in many cities is due to their excellent feeder services. Even Mumbai suburban trains and city bus service BEST connect maximum destinations,” he said.

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