Hi, I originally posted this as a continuation of my earlier diary post, and in response to all the replies I got to that post. (Link to that post: http://www.mouthshut.com/diary
/3000/Need-to-know-what-you-guy
s-think). Am putting it as a continuation, since it got a little long with all that typing!
To all the MSians who replied, thanks for posting your views.
However, my Q still remains unanswered...
rvbbabu, in response to your valid points...
1. Make Public transport attractive: This I think is impossible in this country, largely because the pressure of the population negates any headway you may have in this field. The public, coming from as diverse backgrounds (social, and economic) as they do, do not respect a ’shared’ resource as public transport, and think it’s their right to vomit through windows, or rip out seats. Of course, then there are so many of them, that if people using their own transport to this, the infrastructure would collapse.
2. Make private transport expensive and unattractive: I think the higher fuel prices are already doing a good job of that.
3. Invest in Technologies for sustainable non fossil alternate energies such as Jatropha, Solar, Hydrogen etc: Extremely expensive, and very long term. By the time this happens, at least I am hoping to be in my 60s, around 30 years from now.
4. Create Public awareness about using least taxing transport option in any given situation : Like :
a) Walk short distances for neighbourhood tasks
b) Use Cycle/ Mobike instead of car
c) Use buses/ trains instead of Bike/Car where possible
This I have done to a limited extent. I now walk to the neighbourhood Food Bazaar (and the rest of the bazaar as well), in part because it is walking distance. I recently quit my job at a foreign bank and started up my own practice, which allows me to visit my clients, on a cycle, as two of them are around 5 kilometres away. I can tell you that besides the petrol bill, the advantages on the personal fitness, stress, and overall health are bonuses that never accrued to me in my MNC career.
The reason I am averse to public transport is that it does not respect my time, and moreover, I cannot reach for a client meeting, dressed exactly the way I stepped out from the house. By the time I get to my destination, besides being late, I have been practically molested by hundreds of other people in the first class compartment, (who I am sure feel the same way), and my clothes look as if they have never been ironed, besides I smell as if I have an alternate career in something like rag-picking or drain - cleaning. Trust me, I’d love to get off driving around, because of the sheer waste of time (and I am one who loves driving!), except for the ‘personal’ time driving with friends and family that I enjoy.
I have also set up my office, and try telecommuting for the most part of my work, to the extent possible.
Nevertheless, I ask the two Q’s because I am not sure that all that I have done is enough in the first place, and I would like to know that as individuals, is there anyone else who’s done anything smarter?
To madhuriesingh.... Thanks for the compliment. How do you get around your city? Also: Last night I took my daughter out to the ’naturals’ ice cream parlour for a scoop of her favourite. The prices there, have gone up by Rs2.00 per scoop (in a matter of weeks!)... attributed to inflation, and of course oil.
Please, someone tell me that there is more that can be done
Faisal... how do you think this issue is going to affect the way MouthShut runs? Are you going to pay your guys more just to afford a ‘sane’ ride to the office, and the fuel bills? Or will the overall rise in the prices of everything increase your costs of running MS?
Regards, Dhruv