[sustran] Fw: [sustran] Re: FW: WSSD Johannesburg - WBCSD Sustainable Mobility Event

[kisan mehta]

----- Original Message -----
From: kisan mehta <kisansbc at vsnl.com>
To: <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 6:33 PM
Subject: Re: [sustran] Re: FW: WSSD Johannesburg - WBCSD Sustainable
Mobility Event


> Dear John and Sustran Colleagues,
>
> It is clear that the people not owning vehicles have to suffer
with the increase in car ownership in any given region.    Public
bus services suffer and there is no relief in railway commutation.
Have-nots have no access to international bodies. While car
will sponsor a meet at the WSSD, non-car owners will hardly
have a chance to participate in the WSSD.
>
 In Mumbai 88% of journeys (6 million by train and 4.6 million
by bus) are provided by suburban railways and public road buses.
Motor cars look after 7%.   Yet under the pressure of car makers,
the government constructs more roads having 4-6-8 carriageway
lanes but no pavements.   Flyovers are made at public cost and yet  public
road buses are not allowed to use flyovers.   Bus passenger
pays equivalent to 15% as tax and charges while cars owners are
not taxed even a rupee to cover the cost of roads and flyovers.
>
 In the Mumbai Urban Transport Project, the World Bank could
not provide more funds to ease crowding but had enough for roads.
In a 1500 capacity train, 5400 on average are huddled.  Indian authorities
and World Bank claim that this figure will decline to
4500 by the year 2008.  Yes this marginal reduction in crowding
can happen if we can like the authorities and the World Bank keep
eyes closed to the increased demand due to  population increase of about
20%.
>
 The proposed meeting, we are sure  automobie makers would tell
us on promoting sustainability through more personal cars for the meagre
minority  World Bank discloses that small
>
 Automobile manufacturers have every reason to feel happy as the
World Bank is promiting motorisation at the cost of sutainable
transport.    Best wishes   Kisan Mehta and Priya Salvi
> ----- Original Message  From: John Whitelegg <ecologic at gn.apc.org>

> > Dear Colleagues,

These discussions are not much use until real people get a voice.
At the very least a discussion of this kind should give a right of
reply to those for whom car ownership is an impossibility eg
> >
The 1-2 million people who arrive at Calcutta's 2 main railway
stations every day and struggle with the appalling road traffic environment
to get to their final destination.
> >
Who is speaking for children, the elderly, the mobility
disadvantaged and those who want to live a quiet life away
from the noise, danger and stink of the cars produced by Renault
and fuelled by Royal Dutch Shell?
This meeting is part of the problem.

> > very best wishes
> >
> > John Whitelegg
> > Editor
> > World transport Policy and Practice