[sustran] FW: Sustainable Transport E-Update 8

[Barter, Paul]

Forwarding this one slightly late, sorry.  The original had lovely colour formatting with pictures but I'm forwarding as plain text. See www.itdp.org for the full stories.

Paul

Dr Paul A. Barter
Public Policy Programme, 
National University of Singapore
5 Arts Link, Singapore 117570 
Tel: +65-6874 3324;  Fax: +65-6778 1020
Email:  paulbarter at nus.edu.sg
-----------------------------------

The Bulletin of the 
Institute for Transportation & Development Policy (ITDP)
 
Jakarta Governor Visit to Bogotá Jumpstarts TransJakarta Busway

 Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso visited Bogotá's TransMilenio bus system in May. After the trip, Sutiyoso reconfirmed his commitment to seeing the Trans-
Jakarta busway open by year end, and set up a management team headed by Assistant to the City Secretary, Irzal Jamal. In May, ITDP, Pelangi and other partners worked with the design team on pedestrian facilities in the corridor, and the Governor has now committed to much improved pedestrian access facilities and nicer, more comfortable stations.
FULL STORY
Governor Sutiyoso during
his visit to TransMilenio

 
Dar es Salaam Announces Bus Rapid Transit Project

Dar es Salaam Mayor Kleist Sykes, together with City Director Wilson Mukama, announced that the city will begin developing a new city-wide mobility blueprint. Speaking at a May 13 workshop organized by the Dar es Salaam City Council, Locomotives, the Association for the Advancement of Low Cost Mobility and ITDP, the Mayor said that the blueprint will include plans for a world-class Bus Rapid Transit system. FULL STORY and PROJECT WEBSITE
 
Accra Mayor Darko Leads Bicycle Caravan

On Saturday, June 7th, 2,000 cyclists converged on the streets of Accra,
Ghana to participate in the city's second bicycle caravan - an event designed to promote and celebrate cycling. The caravan, which opened 13 km of car-free streets to bicyclists, was sponsored by Promasidor Ltd., the manufacturer and distributor of Cowbell milk and other dairy products. 
Based on the success of the event, Promasidor now plans to expand the caravans to other countries in Africa, beginning in Burkina Faso.
FULL STORY 
Mayor Darko celebrates cycling on ITDP's
new "California Bike".

 
World Bank Policy Documents Draw Praise, Criticism

Two important documents were recently released by the World Bank.  The first document outlines the World Bank's priorities for the transport program (OP11) of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).  The paper, largely based on a 2001 meeting of the GEF's Standing Technical Advisory Panel in Nairobi, is the first official policy statement to reflect the GEF's new commitment to Bus Rapid Transit, non-motorized transport and traffic demand management strategies.  The second document is a draft of the upcoming Mobile Source Handbook being developed by the World Bank Air Quality Thematic Group, which received extensive comments from ITDP, Lloyd Wright, the Center for Science and Environment, and other leading experts.  FULL STORY
 
Modern Rickshaw Credit Plan Unveiled in Jaipur

ITDP recently unveiled a new revolving credit fund to support the purchase of modern cycle rickshaws in Jaipur, India. The fund will allow rickshaw operators to purchase modern vehicles at a very low interest rate. The first 20 vehicles sold under this program, which were co-financed by a local charity organization, were distributed during a public event in Jaipur on May 11. FULL STORY
 
Dakar Embraces Busways 

The Minister of Transport of Senegal, Mr. Mamadou Seck, has decided to begin a pilot Bus Rapid Transit project to develop two corridors in Dakar. 
The Minister's decision came after he received a report from Mr. Malick Ndiaye, one of his most senior advisors. Mr. Ndiaye's report was informed by his recent study tour to Paris and Rouen, undertaken with Colonel Mbareck Diop, ITDP's Senegal Country Director. The tour was organized by SYSTRA, CONNEX, and ITDP. 
 
New Jersey Case Sets Transportation Funding Priorities Straight

Across the world, deferred maintenance of existing roadways costs billions of dollars in safety hazards, lost time and wasted fuel. The South African National Consumer Union recently estimated that deferred maintenance costs the country US$1/2 billion a year, according to the Cape Times. Three years ago, a group of local advocacy organizations succeeded in pressuring the state of New Jersey to pass a law requiring that maintenance be given priority over spending funds to build new highways. A recent court victory should ensure that their efforts translate into concrete results.
FULL STORY
 
Editor: Lisa Peterson
Executive Director: Walter Hook
 
Sustainable Transport e-Update is published by the 
Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) mobility at itdp.org