Sustainability analysis of pedestrian and cycling infrastructure - A case study for Bangalore

The current paper proposes a methodological framework incorporating a Composite Sustainability Index (CSI) to determine the sustainability impact on providing segregated footpaths and cycle-lanes. It establishes a link between the proposed Non Motorized Transport (NMT) infrastructure and CSI using the explanatory indicators: number of motorized vehicles and vehicle-kilometers travelled by the motorized modes. The main components of the framework include an estimation of the mode choice model, calculation of the explanatory indicators for the scenarios before and after providing NMT infrastructure, and determination of the sustainability impact. The proposed framework is then used to determine the sustainability impact on providing NMT infrastructure inside the Central Business District (CBD) of Bangalore and around the bus stops carrying trips to the CBD. Three case studies were undertaken with the first one considering only intra zonal (CBD) trips, the second one considering only inter zonal trips having CBD as destination, and the third one considering both the trips. The results of all case studies found an increase in the CSI, and thus an improvement in the sustainability on providing segregated footpaths and cycle-lanes. Further, from a social equity perspective, providing NMT infrastructure offered an alternate modal option for the low-income group and reduced their dependence on public transport.