Bengaluru's first interactive mobile bus stop highlights mobility gaps in the city

Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], October 6 (ANI): On Friday, Bengaluru notched up another first with the demonstration of the first collapsible and mobile bus stop.

Alli Serona (Kannada for 'Let's meet there') , a women's collective, is addressing this mobility gap with Bengaluru's first collapsible and mobile bus stop, which hopes to demonstrate how the transportation needs of the informal sector can be met. This 'mobile bus stop' will journey through four chosen areas in Bengaluru namely, Hosa Nagar, Seegahalli, Thursday Sante Area, and Byrasandra, across October.

The bus stop will be installed from October 5 - 7 behind Baiyappanahalli Metro Station, Hosa Nagar, from where it will move to Seegehalli and Priyanka Nagar on October 9 - 10, at the Thursday Sante Area on October 16-18, and at Byrasandra on October 20-21.

Designed to resemble a wooden, scaled-down version of a typical bus stop, the installation will have a ticket counter, seating arrangements, a shared space for waiting, and a newsstand. "Through this installation we have created a platform with and for women working in the informal workforce of the city, to increase their participation in decision-making for improved public transport services for all," says Suresha Kantha B, a community coordinator from APSA for the Jayanagara constituency.

Sujatha, a woman leader and tailor from Vijayanagar, Whitefield, shares how this activity represents their shared commitment to better transport for women like her and their families. "We're a family of four. My husband, maternal uncle, and I share a two-wheeler for work. Each of us having a vehicle increases carbon emissions. Many families do the same. Buses accommodating 50-60 people significantly reduce emissions. Leaving early doesn't always help due to traffic. I've seen cars carrying one person, though they can seat five to six. Imagine if everyone used buses. This could positively impact the environment, leading to better rains, enhanced greenery, improved air quality, and overall better quality of life and health."

Mallika Arya of Bengaluru Moving says, "Goal 11 of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals appeals to member countries to provide safe, affordable, and accessible transportation to all, especially those in vulnerable situations. Inclusive mobility in urban areas is however often overlooked. The Alli Serona Mobile Bus Stop demonstrates how a good public transport system can bring people into the fold of the city."

Upon arrival in this bus stop installation, the visitors will be guided through answering five questions that will seek to identify what their take on bus transportation in Bengaluru is. Do they find it affordable, expensive, reliable, available, and accessible?

The questionnaire will also seek to know more about the barriers hindering women from benefiting from the Shakti Scheme. Women leaders from Alli Serona will also highlight the intention behind the setup and engage in conversations about the challenges faced by their community.

Alli Serona is a collective of civil society organizations, creators, and think tanks that are working together to bring the voices of those working in the informal workforce of Bengaluru to the center of the city's shift to a more sustainable, low-carbon city. (ANI)