[sustran] Re: Reducing number of cars on the road

[Mohsin J. Sarker]

Hi there

I agree that promoting public transport is a effective mean of reducing the
no. of car. But under certain situation. We all know that automobile is such
a transportation mode that no other mode can provide such
utility/convenience to user. Under this characteristics of automobile, if we
continue to improve transportation infrastructure or systems related to both
automobile and public transport in parallel, then I think, there will be no
reduction of car use. My suggestion in this regard, we should impose gap
between demand and supply of auto-related infrastructure or system, while
improving public transportation system. What do you think ? Is my idea
absurd or strange ?

Personally I do not like such TDM measures to reduce automobile use which
causes social inequality. Congestion pricing, road pricing, higher gasoline
tax may reduce automobile use, but will cause social inequality. In the
above sentence, I used the word 'may', because in high income country, if
everybody is able to pay the money of such pricing, then such TDM measures
will not be effective. In developing countries or in the countries where
both high and low income people live, such TDM measures will cause social
inequality by facilitating high income people to use automobile more & more
conveniently by forcing low income people to choose alternative transport
modes. I think, we should look for such TDM measures which will not cause
social inequality. About one of them I discussed in above paragraph. Other
may restricting odd & even number vehicle, but there are lot of arguments on
it.

So, do you know any other TDM measures which will not cause social
inequality but will reduce automobile use? Lets have a discussion on this
point.

Mohsin J. Sarker
Ph,D, Candidate
Regional Planning
Department of Civil Engineering
Utsunomiya University
7-1-2 Yoto, Utsunomiya, Japan 321-8585
Tel : +81-28-689-6223
Fax: +81-28-689-6230
Email: t9802 at cc.utsunomiya-u.ac.jp

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ashish Verma (99404003)" <rsashu at civil.iitb.ernet.in>
To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 5:55 PM
Subject: [sustran] Re: Reducing number of cars on the road


>
> Promoting public transport is a very effective means of reducing the no.
> of cars coming on to road. Besides this, some other measures could be-
> 1. Levying heavy car parking charges & car entry restrictions esp. in CBD
> area in order to discourage the use of car.
> 2. Promoting communication & information technology(internet, mobile phone
> etc.) so that the total no. of person trips can be reduced, thus reducing
> the car usage.
>
> Sincerely,
> Ashish Verma
> IIT Bombay
>
>
> On Tue, 28 Mar 2000, Ananthakrishnan wrote:
>
> > The goal of reducing the number of cars is undoubtedly very positive,
but
> > India has a poor record of enforcement of any kind of regulation. As any
> > visitor to India/citizen knows, regulation is only a route to bribery :
> > driving licences,  registration of vehicles, insurance claims, pollution
> > checks.
> > Such a ban is only likely to benefit corrupt policemen and transport
staff.
> > Todd's alternatives in TDM appear far more appealing.  Increasing supply
of
> > public transport (which in any case is a pre-requisite for such a ban)
and
> > taxing private automobile use would be both socially and politically
> > acceptable.
> > More traffic is generated in India because of the failure of public
> > transport to meet the need for greater mobility in a country which has a
> > growing economy in the post-liberalisation phase.
> > There is also little emphasis even from NGOs to integrate rail and bus,
> > which would provide a total solution.
> >
> >
> > G.Ananthakrishnan, Chennai-based journalist can be reached at Tel: + 91
44
> > 8413942 , Fax: + 91 44 8415395.
> >
>
>