Cycling encouraged in Sri Lanka Megapolis transport plan

Feb 08, 2016 (LBO) - Sri Lanka's Megapolis plan for the Western region aims to promote bicycle usage as a mode of transportation as it is environmentally friendly, reduces emissions and fuel costs and improves public health, the report states.



This is one aspect of intervention to improve transportation in the Western region, a copy of the report obtained by Lanka Business Online states. "Environmental sustainability is a very important factor to be considered in regional planning.





Reduction of vehicle emissions, air pollution and noise pollution will improve the health conditions of the public in the country." Actions to be taken in this regard include: providing vegetation cover or paved areas on either side of roads; in suburban to rural areas the center median can sometimes be converted into a bicycle path; canal banks can be converted to bicycle or motorcycle lanes; park and ride facilities at railway stations can be promoted. "Promoting cycling and walking for transportation can benefit lower-income people by increasing public acceptance and support of non-motorized travel," the report states.





Environmental sustainability together with transport demand management, public transport improvement and road infrastructure development constitute interventions envisaged in the Megapolis plan for transportation.

Another aspect of environmental sustainability in transportation would be having 50 rapid charging stations for electric vehicles, the report states.