[sustran] Motorcycles and sustainable transport

[Dr.Rajeev Saraf]

>From the road space usage perspective and from pollution perspewctive, 
Motorised Two wheelers ( MTWs) are most inefficient at capacity loading. 
However, their operational cost and purchase cost for the user is quite 
low, making it the choice of middle class. From user perspective, they are
very convenient to use since they provide higher accessibility ( due to their
small size) compared to other motorised. Since, the trip lengths are 
generally shorter in most cities in Low income countries ( due to mixed
land use), they do provide time savings too.
MTWs are going to be there ( 65% of the registered vehicles in delhi) are 
MTws. Therefore, we have to focus towards pollution standards for these 
vehicles. In some cities, they are the main contributor to the pollution 
emissions. 
To start off with:
1. All these vehicles must be made 4-stroke.
2. Catalytic convertors for these vehicles should also be developed.
In the meantime, more research should be done towards using alternate 
fuels ( e.g., CNG) or using battery.

We would be interested in debate in this area too.

___________________________________________________________________________
Dr Rajeev Saraf                 |
Urban and Transport Planner     |
SENIOR PROJECT SCIENTIST        |      PHONE : 91-11-6858703
APPLIED SYSTEM RESEARCH PROGRAM |      EMAIL : sarafrk at cbme.iitd.ernet.in
IIT DELHI 110016                |      FAX   : 91-11-6862037
INDIA                           |
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On Mon, 30 Jun 1997, Paul Barter wrote:

> Dear sustran-discuss friends
> 
> I am keen to hear your views about motorcycles. What policies on
> motorcycles should sustainable transport advocates be pushing?
> 
> At the moment they seem to me to be a big part of the problem for many
> Asian cities and towns. But are they potentially part of the solution too?
> If Asian cities decided to begin to restrain motorcycles, how could they
> best do it? Motorcycle users are generally lower income than car users so
> there are big equity issues if motorcycles were restricted more than cars.
> Could motorcycles be cleaned up? Can the safety issues be addressed? If the
> choice is a flood of cars or a flood of motorcycles then are motorcycles
> preferable?
> 
> Western experience is probably not much use here. There have never been
> this many motorcycles in cities before!  (expect perhaps in southern
> Italy???)  Several countries in Asia have the highest rates of motorcycle
> ownership in the world!!  For example, most Taiwanese, Malaysian and Thai
> cities have more than 200 motorcycles per 1000 people (and even up to 400
> in some cities). Indonesian, Vietnamese, and some Indian cities seem to be
> following this same trend and many already have more than 100 motorcycles
> per 1000 people.
> 
> So we have the amazing situation that some large low income cities, such as
> Ho Chi Minh city have a very small role for public transport!! Most trips
> are on motorcycle or bicycle or foot, with motorcycles increasing all the
> time. What is the future scenario for such a city?
> 
> SUSTRAN plans to produce educational and promotional materials on various
> sustainable transport issues (action guides). But on the issue of
> motorcycles, what policies should we be recommending??? The sustainable
> transport agenda is well developed for many other issues but not for this
> issue.
> 
> Best wishes,
> 
> A. Rahman Paul Barter
> Sustainable Transport Action Network for Asia & the Pacific (SUSTRAN)
> <barter at central.murdoch.edu.au>
> 
> 
>