Buses for safer cities: Mobility forum asks artists for their take

Contest invites citizens to submit visual artwork — from painting to songs to short films — exploring how buses can give cities better ecosystems

Why are buses important for a city? A Pune-based organisation, Parisar for Sustainable Urban Mobility Network (SUM Net), has invited artists across Maharashtra to create and showcase their work to inspire citizens and influence changemakers to understand the role of bus-based public transport for safer ecosystems.

The best work will win a cash prize and be presented before state cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray. The contest is a part of the LakhKo50 bus campaign by SUM Net India which presses for the basic requirement of at least 50 buses per lakh of population. The deadline for submitting artworks is July 25.

“Art has the power to establish a connection with people and foster a deeper understanding of an issue. Through your art, you can also build the will to effect change, and inspire people and changemakers to understand the role of bus-based public transport for safer ecosystems,” said Vikas Tatad, state co-ordinator, Parisar.

The work can be in the form of art, photographs, videos or even a short film. It should be able to convey visually the connections between the city buses and biodiversity, water, land, air and trees. If a person has a written submission, say a poem, a song, a jingle, a vignette or a message, they can recite that in a video and submit that. Accepted languages are Marathi, Hindi, and English. Selected submissions will be exhibited on Parisar’s website or social media.

Also read: Mumbai's iconic MUTP buses retire, given tearful farewell

Points for artists

>> My City Buses, My Environment, My Earth
Our cities need more buses, better services for a better environment
Cities in Maharashtra need 50 buses per lakh population – LakhKo50
>> City buses are more environmentally friendly than personal motorised vehicles
>> Buses in my city help cut air pollution, mitigate climate change
>> Buses are important for maintaining green cover in the city
>> Buses and biodiversity
Infrastructure required for buses is less damaging to the city environment than the infrastructure required for accommodating personal motorised transport

25 July
Deadline for submissions

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