At a press conference dedicated to the General Plan for the development of Bishkek until 2050, the city's mayor, Aibek Junushaliev, emphasized that an integrated approach is necessary for effectively addressing public transport and traffic congestion issues. He believes that relying solely on one type of public transport is ineffective.
The mayor noted that the General Plan implements the idea of "15-minute accessibility," which implies creating conditions where residents can reach necessary services on foot within 15 minutes. At the same time, the use of personal vehicles should be considered a last resort, the mayor stated.
According to him, Bishkek is experiencing a shortage of about 45 educational institutions, including kindergartens and schools. This leads to parents having to transport their children across the city, which in turn increases traffic congestion. Therefore, even the construction of one new school can significantly impact the traffic situation.
In practice, it is evident that when schoolchildren go on vacation or during major events, and traffic is restricted, the number of cars and passengers on the roads significantly decreases. We need to focus on such aspects to improve the situation.
Aibek Junushaliev
"It is necessary to develop several transport systems simultaneously, rather than limiting ourselves to just cars and buses. One of the first steps could be the introduction of trams, which can transport a larger number of passengers compared to buses. One tram route can serve many people," the mayor added.
He also reported that the city administration is considering the possibility of developing tram networks. There are modern versions of trams that do not require tracks and overhead lines.
Additionally, as Aibek Junushaliev noted, a Chinese company involved in the development of the General Plan proposed to implement monorail systems in the transport infrastructure.
"We are open to this proposal. We said that we are ready to consider your concept and, if it is feasible, include it in the General Plan. The main thing is that it does not become a financial burden for the local budget. We are ready to implement such projects in an investment format," the mayor emphasized.
He also noted that all citizens' wishes will be taken into account when making changes to the General Plan project and urged residents to visit a special website to submit their proposals and comments. The mayor emphasized that the city hall will only consider official applications.
