From hghazali at gmail.com Tue Mar 6 16:04:23 2007 From: hghazali at gmail.com (Hassaan Ghazali) Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 12:04:23 +0500 Subject: [sustran] Integrated Traffic Management System Message-ID: Friends, My organization, the Urban Unit, was established to integrate the urban sector and to find collective and participatory solutions to problems related to urbanization, motorization and population increase. Please find below a news article showcasing one of the projects we initiated. ** ** ** *Inauguration of integrated traffic management system:* *TEPA tells Forest Dept to relocate nursery* ** Chief minister to inaugurate project within a couple of days By Arshad Dogar* LAHORE: The Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) has served notice to the Forest Department to relocate a nursery on Ferozepur Road for the opening ceremony of a pilot project that will introduce an integrated traffic management system from Qurtaba Chowk to General Hospital. The nursery is located near a laboratory of the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) close to the Ferozepur Road-Canal intersection and is in the way of traffic. A TEPA official said the agency had served notice because Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was going to open the project within a couple of days and that the nursery had to be removed for the project's smooth implementation. He said TEPA had in its notice suggested an alternative piece of land for the nursery. The Punjab Planning and Development Department has planned the project called 'An Efficient Ferozepur Road'. This it did on the orders of Elahi for an integrated traffic management plan for five large cities of Punjab. Private consultants were hired to conduct a study of the road in which it was found that the following irregularities have been creating traffic problems. They are as follows: imperfect intersection geometry, lack of proper lane markings, non-standardised signage (international standards not being followed), poorly designed and managed signals, lack of a holistic approach (pedestrians, non-motorised and public transport, parking, facilities for special people), gaps in regulation and enforcement, poorly trained and irresponsible road users, disorganised institutional framework and lack of maintenance and futuristic planning. The study also revealed that the traffic load had multiplied from Qurtaba Chowk to General Hospital (11 kilometres) by 150 percent between 1990 and 2001. About 136,000 vehicles ply on this road every day. The Punjab government plans to resolve all existing traffic problems with the help of the pilot project. This will act as a model not only for Lahore, but also for roads in Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi. The TEPA official said stakeholders like the Traffic Police and Transport Department had been brought on one platform to resolve all issues related to the flow of traffic. He also said the project would be completed by the end of 2007 and would cost Rs 600 million. He said that during the first phase of the project work would be done on the stretch from Canal Road to Railway Lines. He said TEPA would deal with the engineering and development, Traffic Police would deal with operations while the Transport Department would try to change the mindset of drivers. The official said TEPA would improve the road, expand a certain stretch of service roads by 20 feet, widen and rehabilitate the remaining par of the service roads, remodel 14 bus stops (improve their capacity and depth) and remodel 22 accesses to service/side roads. The drainage system would be improved with the Water and Sanitation Agency's cooperation, he added. "Under the Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system about 17 signals will be interconnected and linked with the Area Traffic Control Room for a smooth and integrated flow of traffic," he said, adding that existing signals were not connected to each other, which was one of the main causes of traffic congestion. He said signals that would be connected to the central control room were the one at Qurtaba Chowk, Sanam Chowk, LOS, Shama, Shalimar, Muslim Town More, Canal Crossing, Gadaffi Stadium Chowk, Kalma Chowk, Model Town More, Bhabra, Gulab Devi, Ittefaq Hospital, Qainchi and Ghazi Road. Regards, Hassaan Ghazali -- Institutional Development Specialist Urban Sector Policy and Management Unit (The Urban Unit) Planning & Development Department, Government of the Punjab A: 4-B Lytton Road, Lahore, Pakistan T: 9213579-84 (Ext.116) F: 9213585 M: 0345 455 6016 Skype: halgazel http://hghazali.googlepages.com *When conditions are right, everything will go wrong* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070306/2e9a39e7/attachment.html From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Mar 6 18:10:49 2007 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (Eric Britton) Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 10:10:49 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Punjab Integrated Traffic Management System In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <041101c75fcf$567c1570$6501a8c0@home> 1. >>The Punjab government plans to resolve all existing traffic problems with the help of the pilot project. This will act as a model not only for Lahore, but also for roads in Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi<< 2. >> . . . the agency had served notice because Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was going to open the project within a couple of days and that the nursery had to be removed for the project's smooth implementation.<< 3. >> *When conditions are right, everything will go wrong*<< I would very much appreciate comment on this project, which somehow deeply troubles me. Perhaps wrongly? Eric Britton PS. I do like Hassan's PS. The New Mobility Agenda: 2007-2010 Francis Eric Knight Britton Innovation advisory The Commons EcoPlan Association 1901 8/10, rue Joseph Bara 75006 Paris, France eric.britton@ecoplan.org fekbritton@gmail.com www.ecoplan.org tel: mobile: Skype ID: +338 7044 0343 +336 7321 5868 ericbritton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070306/d5c95627/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 11542 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070306/d5c95627/attachment.bin -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 345 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070306/d5c95627/attachment-0001.bin From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Mar 6 19:31:57 2007 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (Eric Britton) Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2007 11:31:57 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Punjab Integrated Traffic Management System Message-ID: <00d801c75fda$acd8ff40$6501a8c0@home> 1. >>The Punjab government plans to resolve all existing traffic problems with the help of the pilot project. This will act as a model not only for Lahore, but also for roads in Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi<< 2. >> . . . the agency had served notice because Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi was going to open the project within a couple of days and that the nursery had to be removed for the project's smooth implementation.<< 3. >> *When conditions are right, everything will go wrong*<< I would very much appreciate comment on this project, which somehow deeply troubles me. Perhaps wrongly? Eric Britton PS. I do like Hassan's PS. The New Mobility Agenda: 2007-2010 Francis Eric Knight Britton Innovation advisory The Commons EcoPlan Association 1901 8/10, rue Joseph Bara 75006 Paris, France eric.britton@ecoplan.org fekbritton@gmail.com www.ecoplan.org tel: mobile: Skype ID: +338 7044 0343 +336 7321 5868 ericbritton -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 345 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070306/9f1195a1/attachment-0003.bin From edelman at greenidea.info Tue Mar 6 23:51:25 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:51:25 +0100 Subject: [sustran] YOU can change BBC World Service transport-related content Message-ID: <45ED7FED.1040206@greenidea.info> Hi, A producer of the BBC World Service radio show "The Beat" responded to a complaint of mine that the programme's occasional "Driving Songs" segment does not reflect the reality of how most people in the world get around, i.e. by public transport [if not walking, etc.]. So on last week's show, originally broadcast on 27 February - which is on their website until 21.30 GMT this Thursday, 8 March - the host reads most of my comments and also those from someone talking about what people listen to whilst cycling... and of course he makes some cheeky comments of his own. I also think they intentionally picked someone from Ghana, i.e. a developing world example, as the featured driver. To find it on the web go to: and click on "Audio - Listen to the Beat" The whole bit is about 90 seconds and starts at 1:09:00 but without reloading the page it is awkward to forward and impossible to rewind so I suggest just listening to the preceding nine minutes, which is about the great Ry Cooder. *** REQUESTED ACTION: I am sure they are monitoring listener comments - if any - on this issue, and will probably change the content a bit if people want it. To comment, just fill out the form on the right side of the page and click "submit". It will be automatically sent to the show's producers. If this email reaches you too late to listen to my comments, you can of course still make your opinion known on the issue on the same page. Thanks for listening, T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From chuizenga at adb.org Wed Mar 7 11:20:07 2007 From: chuizenga at adb.org (chuizenga at adb.org) Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2007 10:20:07 +0800 Subject: [sustran] CAI-Asia - Vacancy Executive Director Message-ID: Apologies for cross posting Executive Director Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center 1. BACKGROUND ON CAI-ASIA In 2001, Asian Development Bank together with the World Bank and the US Agency for International Development /US-Asia Environmental Partnership established the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) as a multisector network promoting measures to improve air quality in the region. Since then, CAI-Asia has become the recognized knowledge manager and regional convener on urban air quality in Asia. By early 2007, a new CAI-Asia Center will be incorporated as a regional non-profit organization based in the Philippines to continue this work. 2. POSITION OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Candidates for the position of Executive Director, CAI-Asia Center, are currently being sought. The incumbent will lead the establishment and start-up of the CAI-Asia Center, thereby contributing to the institutionalization of CAI-Asia?s role as the main regional convener and facilitator on air quality management in the Asia region. 3. REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS The position of Executive Director reports to the Board of Trustees of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Center. The Executive Director will oversee the staff of the Center, which initially will be 8-10 persons but which can increase to 13-15 over the first six months of operations depending on the success of ongoing fundraising activities. The CAI-Asia Center actively coordinates with local CAI-Asia networks, which have been recognized by the CAI-Asia Partnership in People?s Republic of China (PRC), Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam. In some cases, this involves financial support and supervision of consultants placed in the secretariats of such local networks. 4. IMMEDIATE RESPONSIBILITIES a. Organizational Development ? Formulate a vision to guide the medium-term development of the CAI-Asia Center ? Development and maintain effective linkages with strategic AQM partners in Asia and in other regions of the world ? Oversee the strengthening of existing CAI-Asia local networks in the People?s Republic of China (PRC), Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Viet Nam ? Establish linkages with potential CAI-Asia local networks in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Mongolia and Thailand ? Maintain and strengthen relationship with the Clean Air Initiative for Sub-Saharan Africa and the Clean Air Initiative for Latin American Cities ? Oversee the CAI-Asia Center?s functioning as the Secretariat of the CAI-Asia Partnership b. Management ? Represent the CAI-Asia Center in all contracts and agreements entered into for and in behalf of the Corporation ? Conduct regular periodic financial planning and budgeting ? Submit regular financial and programmatic reports to the Board of Trustees, private sector members and development agencies ? Manage and supervise staff of the CAI-Asia Center, including the implementation of staff development programs ? Oversee the planning and implementation of activities undertaken by the CAI-Asia Center with respect to knowledge management, capacity building, networking, and policy development on air quality management c. Fund raising ? Develop and implement a fund raising strategy for the CAI-Asia Center ? Oversee the development of project proposals for submission to development agencies, international NGOs and foundations d. Policy Advocacy ? Formulate jointly with UNEP, and with the strategic partners of the CAI-Asia Center, a long-term vision on urban air quality management in Asia in preparation of the second Governmental Meeting on urban air quality in Asia which the CAI-Asia Center is expected to organize together with UNEP in 2008 ? Represent the CAI-Asia Center in workshops, seminars and conferences on air quality management 5. CORE COMPETENCIES a. Technical Knowledge and Skills ? Communicates complex urban air quality issues in developing countries to a range of different stakeholders ? Uses technical knowledge and skills to oversee staff work ? Uses technical knowledge and skills to identify new areas of focus and funding for the CAI-Asia Center b. Achieving results ? Delivers agreed upon work programs ? Sets priorities for the team and ensures they are followed through ? Finds ways to improve work processes and reduce overhead costs of the CAI-Asia Center ? Recognizes strengths of team members and allows them to grow in their fields of expertise c. Strategic Thinking ? Identifies strategic partners to help overcome internal problems and finding alternative ways to complete work when necessary ? Identifies future priorities in urban air quality management and rally potential partners around such future priorities d. Learning and knowledge sharing ? Provides practical support and encouragement for team members ? Learns new skills and knowledge and applies them ? Continuously finds new solutions to problems ? Leads the team in sharing knowledge and expertise 6. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS An advanced university degree in an environment or development related discipline. 7. OTHER QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED ? At least 10 years of relevant experience in working on environmental issues in developing countries (including in Asia), preferably on urban air quality management ? At least 3-5 years experience in a managerial position ? Experience in fund raising evidenced by at least three established funding agreements ? Practical experience in the formulation and implementation of development projects as evidenced by three successful project proposals ? Excellent oral and written communication skills in English ? Able to work in multi-cultural and multi-skilled teams ? Able to inspire trust and confidence and to promote a strong culture of honesty, trust and openness ? International work experience working in several countries, preferably in Asia. 8. IMPORTANT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The Executive Director will be appointed by the Center?s Board of Trustees for an initial period of two years by early May 2007 and is expected to be in position no later than June 2007. The position is based at the CAI-Asia Center in Manila, Philippines and involves frequent travel. The successful candidate will be offered an internationally competitive salary paid in US dollars which will be subject to tax by the Government of the Philippines. The initial term of appointment will be for two years. Considering the funding for the position only applicants from Asian Development Bank member countries will be considered (see www.adb.org for an overview of ADB member countries). For further information on the position please contact Cornie Huizenga, the Head of the CAI-Asia Secretariat, at chuizenga@adb.org. Applicants should send their expression of interest electronically, quoting Ref. Application Executive Director on subject line and with an application letter and current cv to the email address chuizenga@adb.org no later than 27 March 2007, 5:00 pm, Manila time. All applicants should state the reasons for their interest in the position, relevant details of qualifications and experience, and contact details for three referees. Only short listed candidates will be contacted. Gender and cultural diversity are core recruitment values, and women are actively encouraged to apply. Cornie Huizenga (Mr) Head of Secretariat Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-Asia) Asian Development Bank Tel (632) 632-5047 chuizenga@adb.org www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia www.adb.org -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070307/916fed51/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 1763 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070307/916fed51/attachment.gif From carlos.pardo at sutp.org Thu Mar 8 11:39:19 2007 From: carlos.pardo at sutp.org (Carlos F. Pardo SUTP) Date: Wed, 07 Mar 2007 21:39:19 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Gender and Urban Transport module Message-ID: <45EF7757.6000500@sutp.org> Dear all, Commemorating Womens' day on March 8th 2007, GTZ SUTP has published a new module on Gender and Urban Transport, written by Mika Kunieda and Aim?e Gauthier (Module 7a of the GTZ Sourcebook). The module was written due to the need to deepen understanding of gender differences, needs and characteristics in urban transport, and as a next step in GTZ's sourcebook towards covering social aspects of urban transport. You can download it from www.sutp.org - documents section, topic 7 (available to registered users). If you are not registered, please register at the bottom left corner of the website. As always, comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please address these to sutp@sutp.org or carlos.pardo@sutp.org Best regards, -- Carlos F. Pardo (change in address details/ cambio en datos de direcci?n) Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708 Bogot? D.C., Colombia Tel/fax: +57 (1) 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 carlos.pardo@sutp.org www.sutp.org From chuwasg at yahoo.com Fri Mar 9 15:26:04 2007 From: chuwasg at yahoo.com (chuwa) Date: Thu, 8 Mar 2007 22:26:04 -0800 (PST) Subject: [sustran] Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them. - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar problems? Chu Wa Commuter cyclist Father of two The full news: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070308/3730d361/attachment.html From wzainab at usm.my Fri Mar 9 16:11:32 2007 From: wzainab at usm.my (Zainab Wahidin) Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 15:11:32 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't Message-ID: <7cd73805f4.805f47cd73@usm.my> Dear Chu Wa, Thank you fo raising this issue. I would love to see more people cycle but the traffic system in Penang is not cycle or pedestrian friendly. I myself was knocked down while cycling on Gurney Drive. In the race to develop and gain industrial country status, we have robbed children of the right to mobilty. Perhaps this is the right time to capitalise on the climate change issue and make governments realise their auto dependence policy is back firing. Zainab W. -------------- next part -------------- - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them. - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar problems? Chu Wa Commuter cyclist Father of two The full news: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070309/a8c1e0bc/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From info at autofrei-wohnen.de Sat Mar 10 01:50:48 2007 From: info at autofrei-wohnen.de (Autofrei Wohnen) Date: Fri, 9 Mar 2007 17:50:48 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't References: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <03da01c7626b$36c43700$0100a8c0@Markus> Hi Chu Wa. in Berlin is a working Group "Mobility Education Berlin", several environmental and education-NGOs are involved: www.mobilitaetserziehung-berlin.de/ (only german, will be relaunched soon) * for more information contact Mr Martin Schlegel, Friends of the Earth, section Berlin (in german: BUND Berlin e.V.): Martin Schlegel Verkehrsreferent BUND Berlin e.V. Crellestr. 35 D-10827 Berlin Germany Fon: +49 - (0)30 - 78 79 00-17 Fax: +49 - (0)30 - 78 79 00-18 e-Mail: mschlegel [at] BUND-berlin [dot] de * see also the (german) website from BUND Berlin e.V. about mobility education with a lot of useful information and links. I think it`s worth to translate: www.bund-berlin.de/index.php?id=124&type=10 * Not to forget the annual "I walk to school" campaign: www.iwalktoschool.org/ (in engl.) * best wishes, Markus Heller Carfree Living Berlin Collaborative www.autofrei-wohnen.de/homeEngl.html ----- Original Message ----- From: chuwa To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Sent: Friday, March 09, 2007 7:26 AM Subject: [sustran] Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them. - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar problems? Chu Wa Commuter cyclist Father of two The full news: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070309/b908a208/attachment.html From edelman at greenidea.info Sat Mar 10 02:50:14 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 18:50:14 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: <03da01c7626b$36c43700$0100a8c0@Markus> References: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <03da01c7626b$36c43700$0100a8c0@Markus> Message-ID: <45F19E56.7080604@greenidea.info> Hi, I think there be possibilities for some EU - Developing World Twinning projects on this (but the funding for these programmes is changing)... ... including knowledge sharing of "Safe Routes to School" programmes: Click on: There is also Cycle Training for Children. One example: My main advice is to prioritize creation or re-creation of infrastructure which slows down, reduces or eliminates private traffic... RATHER than making children (and really everybody) feel that they are guests in the road, and the road is dangerous (and will always be). This is to say that it is not the fault of the children that the streets are dangerous, and also relying too much on things like orange safety vests for children just enforces the idea that the street is for transport, rather than for play and interaction. Finally, someone like Todd from VTPI probably has information about how many deaths and injuries to children riding or walking to school are caused by cars which themselves are being used to take children to school! T Autofrei Wohnen wrote: > Hi Chu Wa. > > in Berlin is a working Group "Mobility Education Berlin", several > environmental and education-NGOs are involved: > www.mobilitaetserziehung-berlin.de/ > (only german, will be > relaunched soon) > * > for more information contact Mr Martin Schlegel, Friends of the Earth, > section Berlin (in german: BUND Berlin e.V.): > Martin Schlegel > Verkehrsreferent > BUND Berlin e.V. > Crellestr. 35 > D-10827 Berlin > Germany > Fon: +49 - (0)30 - 78 79 00-17 > Fax: +49 - (0)30 - 78 79 00-18 > e-Mail: mschlegel [at] BUND-berlin [dot] de > * > see also the (german) website from BUND Berlin e.V. about mobility > education with a lot of useful information and links. I think it`s > worth to translate: > www.bund-berlin.de/index.php?id=124&type=10 > > * > Not to forget the annual "I walk to school" campaign: > www.iwalktoschool.org/ (in engl.) > * > best wishes, > Markus Heller > Carfree Living Berlin Collaborative > www.autofrei-wohnen.de/homeEngl.html > > -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From zvi at inro.ca Sat Mar 10 03:34:21 2007 From: zvi at inro.ca (Zvi Leve) Date: Fri, 09 Mar 2007 13:34:21 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <45F1A8AD.9090508@inro.ca> I think that different cities/regions face different problems. Generalizing from one place to another is a problem.... There are cultural factors as well. I grew up in the 1970's riding a bicycle everywhere in upstate NY (and I certainly caused my parents quite a few gray hairs at the time), but I doubt that this is a common practice anymore. I still commute to work on bicycle (weather permitting), and I drop my children off on the way. They are not yet old enough to ride their own bicycles, but I imagine that we will encourage them to ride (or walk) to school when they are a bit older (and assuming that they go to a close-by school). I agree that it is important to 'empower' children to be independent and responsible, but this requires a certain level of trust (and faith perhaps), both within the family, and within the community. There are many reasons for this decline in child bicycle commuting, not all of which are related to the road environment: * increase in two-worker (and two-car) households -> more stress on family travel time budgets, plus parents don't want their children home alone! * more flexibility in school choices and fewer extra-curricular activities -> fewer children attend their 'neigbourhood' school and are in the school's "care" less time. * greater traffic congestion -> more safety concerns (both perceived and real). Todd mentioned that parents dropping off their own children seem to be particularly dangerous (presumably to other children) near schools, and from anecdotal experience I tend to agree. One of the things which struck me in China was how few /children/ I saw on bicycles! I asked a colleague about this (were there special bicycle driving licenses required?), and he told me that basically they will ride with the other bicycles when they feel comfortable. Given the speed at which things are changing there, I could imagine China having a significantly reduced bicycle rider population within a generation! Cheers, Zvi --- __ o __~o __ o ---- _`\<, _`\<, _`\<, --- ( )/( ) ( )/( ) ( )/( ) ========================== V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V > < < zvi leve, programmeur/analyste/bicycliste > > email: zvi@inro.ca zvileve@videotron.ca < < > ^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^V^ Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race. - H.G. Wells chuwa wrote: > - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but > parents' concerns are stopping them. > > - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to > cycle to school, only 1% actually do > > - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of > dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance > > - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to > experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried > about their safety on the roads > > All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore > directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are > facing similar problems? > > Chu Wa > Commuter cyclist > Father of two > > > > The full news: > http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > -------------------------------------------------------- > IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. > > Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From c_bradshaw at rogers.com Sun Mar 11 01:34:56 2007 From: c_bradshaw at rogers.com (Chris Bradshaw) Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2007 11:34:56 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: [LotsLessCars] Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't References: <038101c76226$1ccdd800$6501a8c0@home> Message-ID: <034401c76333$c8db5dd0$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> The idea that children should get to school via independent movement, rather than being driven in school buses or their caregiver's car is a worthy goal. However, cycling is a poorer choice than walking. First, cycling without an adult is not recommended by cyclist-trainers before the age of 10, and then only on residential streets. Second, such children need a cycling course first. Unfortunately, children are provided bikes long before their 10th birthdays. During that time, they use it as a plaything, usually emulating their parents' behaviour towards cars. Also, they don't learn how to get places on their own. These are bad attitudes that must be changed before letting them move about on their own. Since the use of a bike is only an advantage over walking when the trip is in excess of about 2 kms, the child should not need using it until their cognitive abilities allow them to grasp the specifics of the road-path network over a 16-square-km area. And that is about the time that they can survive along the cruel, car-dominated streets they will encounter, and have the strength for that length of trip. In any case, within the 2-km distance, I find that children quickly tire of bike use for the trip to school, and switch back to walking. It's far more social, and it avoids them having their favourite 'steed' stolen. Chris Bradshaw Ottawa = = = original message = = = = - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them. - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar problems? Chu Wa Commuter cyclist Father of two The full news: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php __._,_.___ Messages in this topic (1) Reply (via web post) | Start a new topic Messages | Files | Photos | Links | Calendar "LotsLessCars in Cities" at http://lotslesscars.org Organize a Car/Free Day: The nose of the camel. World Car/Free Days at http://worldcarfreeday.com To leave list: LotsLessCars-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com To post messages: LotsLessCars@yahoogroups.com Also check out New Mobility Agenda at http://newmobility.org Need some help? Send an email to Help@newmobility.org Or call via Skype to "newmobility' Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | Switch format to Traditional Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe Recent Activity 1New Photos Visit Your Group SPONSORED LINKS Ecology Ecology book General ecology Lot Car Top Scientist 10 Greatest Ever Share and vote on Bix.com! Take a Trip Find Great Deals Yahoo! Travel makes it easy Yahoo! News Space News Get the latest space related news. __,_._,___ From edelman at greenidea.info Sun Mar 11 10:03:07 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 02:03:07 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: [LotsLessCars] Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: <034401c76333$c8db5dd0$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> References: <038101c76226$1ccdd800$6501a8c0@home> <034401c76333$c8db5dd0$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> Message-ID: <45F3554B.2080908@greenidea.info> Hi Chris, WALKING is better than cycling in general, no matter what the distance. I have some other comments on your response, starting in CAPS: Chris Bradshaw wrote: > The idea that children should get to school via independent movement, rather > than being driven in school buses or their caregiver's car is a worthy goal. > > However, cycling is a poorer choice than walking. > > First, cycling without an adult is not recommended by cyclist-trainers > before the age of 10, and then only on residential streets. > IN a car city, arterials can have fully separated bike paths. IN a carfree city or quarter (i.e. an area encompassing both the home and school of the child, a child could ride anywhere (though arterials might haver surface public transport), and possibly even at a younger age, especially if accompanies by older children or older children-at-heart (i.e. adults), or there could even be a coloured line or signs with some familiar animal to guide them. > Second, such children need a cycling course first. > I AGREE some kind of course is useful even in a carfree area, but not as necessary. It is more about bike control, than defensive driving. There are of course pedestrians, animals, people playing in the street, children sitting on the street, children lying in the street for no reason at all, cycle rickshaws as mobile sales points for ice cream causing riots, and so on. > Unfortunately, children are provided bikes long before their 10th birthdays. > During that time, they use it as a plaything, usually emulating their > parents' behaviour towards cars. Also, they don't learn how to get places > on their own. These are bad attitudes that must be changed before letting > them move about on their own. > I AM no expert on teaching children but I learned to ride through just riding, in a relatively calm suburban setting. We did use it for fun, but also for getting to close by places quickly. Most stores - but not school - were only reachable by crossing big streets. But I don't see what is the problem with play, even now: During Critical Mass rides in Prague, a few times I have led the group, and when I do things like leading other adults around (and around, and around) a kind of circle-square near the traditional starting point of the Mass, people get confused and ask me where we are going. I respond of course that we are going in circles. And when after that I just ride randomly (but not on big streets, or illegally) people still get confused because I am not being linear. On the other hand the Mass here - as opposed to most other places - usually starts with a man (male) telling us where we are going. We are simultaneously told that (in general) driving is unnecessary for many trips but that having a geographical goal is necessary for a fun bike ride. I hate that. There is no reason to need a reason, and while it is essential to know a bike can be used for transport (and to enable that as much as possible), it can also be mixed with play (on the same ride or just in general, but also on the same streets). > Since the use of a bike is only an advantage over walking when the trip is > in excess of about 2 kms, the child should not need using it until their > cognitive abilities allow them to grasp the specifics of the road-path > network over a 16-square-km area. And that is about the time that they can > survive along the cruel, car-dominated streets they will encounter, and have > the strength for that length of trip. > WHERE do these 2km and 16km2 rules come from? What kind of density (in a car city) are they based on? What about uncruel, fun-dominated streets? I am sure there is something to do what you say about strength (and also children have to be mature enough to keep their bike secure or in their possession, unless of course there are free bikes). > In any case, within the 2-km distance, I find that children quickly tire of > bike use for the trip to school, and switch back to walking. It's far more > social, BACK to what I said at the top, walking IS generally better, but bikes can open up other possibilities. > and it avoids them having their favourite 'steed' stolen. > I THINK there are relatively very simple solutions for that, in a car- or carfree city. IN any city, kids need to be within comfortable walking distance of school, but bikes will extend their range, and in a carfree area or city this can be done much more easily. To mention again what I said in an earlier reply, we need to build or adapt cities to children, rather than adapt children to car-cities. It is necessary of course for interim defensive measures, but if we place too much emphasis on them (or only talk about them), we will ALWAYS be doing that, for our grandchildren, and so on. And please remember that I am in Prague, THE most automobilised city in Europe, though not the most dangerous, but where I fear that new initiatives like "Safe Routes to School" I mentioned in an earlier email will limited effect if they focus too much on symptoms. It should also be mentioned that the Safe Routes programme here is a project of an organisation which takes money from the automobile industry... T p.s. This reminds me: I am going to look at the schedule for VeloCity in Munich this June (where I am also giving a presentation, as well as a few others on this list) and see how many presentations, workshops etc. are about defensive cycling, or are in general about cycling in cities where cars are a given. VeloCity also has an automobile company as a main sponsor. > Chris Bradshaw > Ottawa > > = = = original message = = = = > > - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' > concerns are stopping them. > > - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle > to school, only 1% actually do > > - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of > dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance > > - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience > this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on > the roads > > All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. > I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar > problems? > > Chu Wa > Commuter cyclist > Father of two > > > > The full news: > http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php > - > -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From chuwasg at yahoo.com Mon Mar 12 11:38:13 2007 From: chuwasg at yahoo.com (chuwa) Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 19:38:13 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: <17798.89537.qm@web36913.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <439428.62547.qm@web36905.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thanks to all who share their views. I am frustrated and am a bit shocked to see how cities are developing in the same way in terms of automotive against human powered transport. I believe the energy goes into automotive transport yield 1% transport value and 99% pollution (air, noise, danger) while cycling yield 20% transport value and 80 % fitness for the rider. http://jz88.com/jz88-blog/?p=4 This argument is valid for me but obviously not for the majority. I have friends who earn much less and able to justify to use half of their income for buying a small car in Singapore. The "status symbol" and perceived utility factors are the driving force behind. I wish more high profile persona will help to raise the status of cyclist and pedestrian. I also wish more government agencies will see the connection between transport planning and the consequences in population health and living environment. Practically, I don't want my children to risk their life nor want to block them from developing a life long skill in cycling, they need a solution now. I will bring them out cycling on pavement and safer streets, highlight to them the potential danger in common places. Bit by bit, to built up their competent level and confident. Chu Wa chuwa wrote: - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' concerns are stopping them. - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would like to cycle to school, only 1% actually do - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to experience this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about their safety on the roads All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to Singapore directly. I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar problems? Chu Wa Commuter cyclist Father of two The full news: http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070311/3af0f805/attachment.html From edelman at greenidea.info Mon Mar 12 13:16:29 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 05:16:29 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't In-Reply-To: <439428.62547.qm@web36905.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <439428.62547.qm@web36905.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <45F4D41D.7040704@greenidea.info> Hi again, I would like to re-emphasize that cycling education for children and other measures to protect them - and other vulnerable road users - are fine, but they have to be in the correct balance with longer-term measures. I do not want to denigrate the great efforts of anyone who has done brilliant work to save lives. But, just as higher-efficiency personal automobiles can arguably perpetuate bad urban planning, safety measures we take now - especially if applied inconsistently and/or for emotional, rather than logical reasons - can also have unintended effects. I wrote the following to fellow local "reasonable street advocates" at the recent occasion of the one-year anniversary of the death of a well-known bicycling activist in Prague. - T PHOTO EVIDENCE Look at this photo from the memorial ride for Jan Bouchal on Friday: As you can see in the glare of a camera flash (or headlights of a car) all the reflective material on the vests gets really bright. In the photo, the guy on the right does not have a vest, but his bike seems to have most of the legally-required reflectors and front light, though possibly missing pedal reflectors. The guy on the bike in the middle is riding illegally as he has no front light, no reflectors, etc.. BUT he is more visible, at least to cars... but NOT to pedestrians, nor to people in cars looking in a rear direction in side-view mirrors, for example, when they are pulling out of a parking space or opening a door facing the street. MAIN PROBLEM IS FAST CARS, right? The problem is that cars go too fast, not that equipment for night-riding is inadequate. The other problem is that cars think they own the road. A properly-equipped bike is more visible to drivers going slower than 50km/h, but while wearing a vest might seem to give you more protection, I have yet to see a study that proves this. And it just makes cyclists think they are safer when they might not be. (It is also unclear if having a pink [http://ruzovekolo.cz] bike helps in road safety, though it obviously has other benefits, and probably indirectly contributes to road safety by creating a bigger psychological presence for cycling). The orange safety vests read as "emergency" or "roadwork in progress". Motorcyclists only wear those while training, and cops and road construction people do too for obvious reasons. Cycling is not an emergency!! WHEN NOT EVERYONE WEARS A VEST When you have a vest it makes you more visible than other riders, which means that other riders are NEGATIVELY affected by your vest-wearing. In addition to saying "emergency", the vest sends the message to drivers that we (cyclists) are going beyond legal minimums BUT you (drivers) don't have to. To draw on another current example, ECF and ETRA are campaigning against the law for cars to have daytime running lights. See . It seems like having cars turn their lights on all the time would be helpful, but it is not, as it obscures turn signals on the cars and also makes drivers think they can be seen so people get out of their way. In cycle-friendly places like Germany, Netherlands, Denmark it is only a requirement to have lights and reflectors on bikes, similar to here, except that the lights - in Germany at least - have to have a capacitor feature which keeps the lights on for awhile while you are stopped at a light, for example. And of course all these lights are run off generators and are built on to the bike. So, no batteries to go dead (and throw away), no lights to forget somewhere, no vests to care about. GET LEGAL In addition to slower speeds for cars and less arrogant behaviour by drivers, we need to at least get people to equip their bikes properly and legally, and we should recommend generator power over Temelin [more controversial than normal nuclear power plant near Austrian border] power. ONLY then can we say: "We are behaving responsibly and within the law. How about you, drivers?" Reflective vests are a well-intentioned and emotional response to the danger of automobiles and other road vehicles. But they are counter-productive to safety. VESTS (like traffic signs) SEND A SECOND MESSAGE Vests and too many traffic signs on the street are part of a visual language which sends an implicit message: "You don't have to take personal responsibility, think and communicate with eyes/body language with the other people on the street." I am not as strongly against very young children wearing safety vests, but when a city implements this AHEAD of lowering speed limits (not just in front of schools) it is a [big] mistake. ******** chuwa wrote: > Thanks to all who share their views. I am frustrated and am a bit > shocked to see how cities are developing in the same way in terms of > automotive against human powered transport. > > I believe the energy goes into automotive transport yield 1% transport > value and 99% pollution (air, noise, danger) while cycling yield 20% > transport value and 80 % fitness for the rider. > http://jz88.com/jz88-blog/?p=4 > > This argument is valid for me but obviously not for the majority. I > have friends who earn much less and able to justify to use half of > their income for buying a small car in Singapore. The "status symbol" > and perceived utility factors are the driving force behind. > > I wish more high profile persona will help to raise the status of > cyclist and pedestrian. I also wish more government agencies will see > the connection between transport planning and the consequences in > population health and living environment. > > Practically, I don't want my children to risk their life nor want to > block them from developing a life long skill in cycling, they need a > solution now. I will bring them out cycling on pavement and safer > streets, highlight to them the potential danger in common places. Bit > by bit, to built up their competent level and confident. > > Chu Wa -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From rajendra_media at yahoo.com Mon Mar 12 13:21:14 2007 From: rajendra_media at yahoo.com (Rajendra A (Hindustan Times)) Date: Sun, 11 Mar 2007 21:21:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! In-Reply-To: <20061123030121.C8B132BD39@mx-list.jca.ne.jp> Message-ID: <308285.8319.qm@web61317.mail.yahoo.com> Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm Rajendra Aklekar Mumbai, March 11, 2007 Mumbai?s Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus lanes? project turned into a joke. The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got them painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and timetable has been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered and comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed corridors. But there?s no road to run these buses and kick off the plan! The state transport ministry has appointed a ?core group? to look to the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a report, the government will then consider it, after which a decision will be taken. Simply speaking, it?s stuck in red tape and won?t kick off before 2008 or even later. This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the core group officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. While the MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government officials want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the issue, the matter is now hanging fire. To the specific question when will buses start running on the BRTS project principal secretary (transport) GS Gill told HT, ?By the end of this calendar year hopefully.? Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the condition of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as they would not slow down buses. ?If lanes are built in the right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, but in left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, have to invest in infrastructure to build stops.? There?s another group of experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the middle of the road for higher speeds. Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a promise that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to the reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban mass transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in Maharashtra to kick off the BRTS in November. Mumbai?s BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got test-run done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for its project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of buses. It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between Thane and Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated from existing traffic by spring posts. But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses simply would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be difficult to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes. State officials said that actual project had been delayed for the benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that there is better planning and co-ordination between the state government, transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure better planning for the project. The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after which the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The core group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and the BMC, among others. ?My buses are ready. The moment I get a green signal from the government, I shall run them,? says BEST general manager Uttam Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more years. Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com --- Rajendra Aklekar Transport Correspondent Hindustan Times HT Media Limited Mumbai Edition -- 140-4752, Nehru Nagar Mumbai, 400024 Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 Office: 66539200 Fax: 66539250/60 --- ____________________________________________________________________________________ Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL From litman at vtpi.org Tue Mar 13 01:42:20 2007 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 09:42:20 -0700 Subject: [sustran] Will you let your children cycle to school? In-Reply-To: <45F3554B.2080908@greenidea.info> References: <038101c76226$1ccdd800$6501a8c0@home> <034401c76333$c8db5dd0$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> <45F3554B.2080908@greenidea.info> Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20070312092947.074457a8@mail.islandnet.com> Urban planners are increasingly aware of the importance of allowing children to travel to school under their own power, for a variety of economic, social, environmental and health reasons. The portion of children walking or bicycling to school can be considered a key indicator of community sustainability. In recent years a number of programs have developed to support non-motorized school travel, in both developed and developing countrires. Some address community design, emphasizing the value of having smaller, neighborhood schools instead of larger, more centralized schools, and the location of schools in the center of neighborhoods rather than on busy arterials and highways. Some focus on physical design, including sidewalks, crosswalks, bike paths and traffic calming on streets around schools. Some include bicycle safety education and encouragement. For information see the "School Transport Management" (http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm36.htm ) and "Campus Transport Management" (http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm5.htm ) chapters of our Online TDM Encyclopedia. Best wishes, -Todd Litman Chu Wa wrote: > > > > - primary school pupils want to cycle to school on their own but parents' > > concerns are stopping them. > > > > - 90% of youngsters have bikes and more than 30% of them would > like to cycle > > to school, only 1% actually do > > > > - parents who drive their children to school risk creating a habit of > > dependency that undermines children's confidence and self-reliance > > > > - It's a great shame children are being denied the opportunity to > experience > > this (cyling) independence because parents are worried about > their safety on > > the roads > > > > All above remarks from THE HERALD (UK) can be applied to > Singapore directly. > > I am just wondering how many cities (developing or not) are facing similar > > problems? > > > > Chu Wa > > Commuter cyclist > > Father of two > > > > > > > > The full news: > > http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.1247222.0.0.php > > - > > Sincerely, Todd Alexander Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) litman@vtpi.org Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070312/d858e7b3/attachment.html From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Mar 13 15:42:37 2007 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (Eric Britton) Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 07:42:37 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Bus only lanes - Seoul-inspiring change Message-ID: Seoul-inspiring change By MIKE KOREEN http://torontosun.com/News/World/2007/03/12/pf-3736397.html Buses in Seoul now travel faster than cars thanks to an extensive network of bus-only lanes. It was Seoul's version of the Gardiner Expressway -- a bumper-to-bumper elevated highway blocking the water. For years, the South Korean capital deemed the Cheonggyecheon road a necessary evil. That changed in 2003. After 400 meetings with worried downtown business owners, Seoul send in the wrecking ball. Four years later, the results are spectacular. The Cheonggyecheon stream, previously invisible, is now a major attraction and wildlife has returned. Almost 75,000 fewer cars travel in the area each day thanks to major public transit improvements. "What Seoul has been able to do has been nothing short of incredible," said executive director Brian Shifman of Smart Commute North Toronto, Vaughan. "It's absolutely astonishing." With the population doubling to 10.4 million in 2003 (from 5.4 million in 1970) and the number of vehicles climbing 46 times in the same period, Seoul was dealing with a transportation and environmental nightmare. With its back against the wall, Seoul built an extensive network of bus-only lanes, running through the middle of roads. Now buses often race past cars at rush hour. The average bus speed has doubled to 20 km/h. Cars average 16 km/h downtown. "We told them if you use public transit, you can keep your appointments ... your life will improve," said Dr. Gyeng Chul Kim, of the Seoul Development Institute's department of urban transit. Seoul also reduced parking spaces downtown and has made Monday a transit day, taking away even more spaces and raising parking rates. A popular electronic debit device available as a card, necklace or bracelet, which allows users to pay for subways and bus rides, is another effective tool in taking people out of cars. BY THE NUMBERS A quick comparison of three subway transit systems: LONDON - Began operation: 1863 - System length: 408 km - No. of lines: 12 - No. of stations: 275 - Daily ridership: 2.7 million SEOUL - Began operation: 1974 - System length: 490 km - No. of lines: 8 - No. of stations: 112 - Daily ridership: 8 million TORONTO - Began operation: 1954 - System length: 68 km - No. of lines: 4 - No. of stations: 69 - Daily ridership: 1.2 million STAFF, Transport for London, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Corp., Toronto Transit Commission -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070313/c3ff85f2/attachment.html From info at autofrei-wohnen.de Wed Mar 14 04:35:50 2007 From: info at autofrei-wohnen.de (Autofrei Wohnen) Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 20:35:50 +0100 Subject: [sustran] exhibition "on the move in Africa" Message-ID: <02f701c765a6$d5f75080$0100a8c0@Markus> a Senegalese painter is looking for the next location to present his exhibition: * "on the move in Africa" Pictures of Louis Armstrong Gomes - Senegal Locomotion and Transport in Africa - the Heidelberg exposition "Moving in Africa" - we might think of travellers and globetrotters - but the Senegalese painter Louis Armstrong Gomes shows how Africans themselves are moving in their daily life: In overcrowded busses, on animal-tracted carts, at the coast on boats and in the rural Africa where there is no motorized transport the women and children are moving on foot and carry their loads on the head. http://www.armstrong-gomes.de/heidelberg/ Contact: in co-operation with: Partnership Westafrica - Kanalweg 54 - D-76149 Karlsruhe - Germany Hannes Schindler - tel +49 (0)721 9714088 * best wishes, Markus Heller www.autofrei-wohnen.de/homeEngl.html ----- Original Message ----- Sent: Tuesday, March 13, 2007 8:11 PM Subject: [afl-Forum] Jemand eine Idee f?r Bilderausstellung? Hat jemand Idee f?r eine Lokalit?t oder eigenes Interesse an einer Bilderausstellung eines afrikanischen Malers zum Thema nichtmotorisierte Fortbewegung? http://www.armstrong-gomes.de/heidelberg/ Hannes Schindler 0721 9714088 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070313/6215e2d0/attachment.html From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Mar 14 18:59:32 2007 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (Eric Britton) Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 10:59:32 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Citizen proejcts adn programs to helpguide city policiees Message-ID: Thanks Sean Roche for the heads-up on this excellent initiative of Streetsblog and Aaron Naparstek, which we copy below in full text in the hope of getting yet further additions. My hope is that you will not only mail your leads here but that you will also go to http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/22/help-us-find-livable-streets-blogs-in- cities-outside-nyc/ to add them there as well. For our part, we are in the process of developing a set of related links, which you can find today if you go to the Agenda at http://newmobility.org and click the link Citizens Speak Out at the top of the left menu. Your thoughts and suggestions on all this are more than welcome. Eric Britton Help us Find Livable Streets Blogs in Cities Outside NYC We are interested in creating a new feature -- a collection of links to Streetsblog-ish web sites in other cities around the world. Ideally, this collection of links will represent the best, most comprehensive, most readable group of Livable Streets bloggers anywhere. We could really use the help of the Streetsblog online community to build this collection. If you know of a site that fits the bill, or if you wouldn't mind spending a few minutes poking around online to find some good potential sites in specific cities, please do. Just add your finds to the comment section. Here are some starter links to give you a sense of the kinds of sites we've been finding so far... Boston: http://newtonstreets.blogspot.com http://www.livablestreets.info Toronto: http://bikingtoronto.blogspot.com Portland: http://www.bikeportland.org Cleveland: http://www.gcbl.org Washington DC: http://washcycle.typepad.com http://pedshed.net San Fran: http://bikecommutetips.blogspot.com Berkeley: http://www.localecology.org/localecologist Miami: http://www.transitmiami.blogspot.com London: http://www.kingscrossenvironment.com Vancouver: http://sfucity.wordpress.com/about/ Filed by Aaron Naparstek under Livable Streets , Pinned Comments ( latest by Fran Taylor ) Link E-Mail This Post/Page _____ 23 Comments (leave a comment) 1. Here's a good one from Edinburgh, Scotland: http://cyclingedinburgh.wordpress.com/ And, they're not blogs, but here are a couple sites from Scotland's biggest city, Glasgow: http://www.sustrans.org.uk www.gobike.org/ Comment by ddartley ? February 22, 2007 @ 10:48 am | Link 2. Atlanta, Georgia: http://peds.org Savannah, Georgia: http://www.pacesavannah.org Comment by john ? February 22, 2007 @ 11:06 am | Link 3. From Berkeley: http://www.preservenet.com/freeways/ Comment by Clarence ? February 22, 2007 @ 11:56 am | Link 4. Also from Portland, Oregon http://www.portlandtransport.com Comment by nuovorecord ? February 22, 2007 @ 12:03 pm | Link 5. Not exactly localized, but This Place Is... covers "people-centered place design." Shin-pei from Bird to the North just started blogging for them about NYC public spaces. Comment by Nick ? February 22, 2007 @ 12:29 pm | Link 6. Minneapolis, Minnesota http://www.wowflutter.com Comment by sjt ? February 22, 2007 @ 12:57 pm | Link 7. SF used to have San Francisco Cityscape (sfcityscape.org) which was terrific until they stopped blogging and became a discussion forum. I'm still looking for a good replacement one (the one you list is a bike blog written by someone in SF but it doesn't seem to be about local SF issues in particular). DC has Richard Layman's Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space (http://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/) and Beyond DC (http://beyonddc.com/log) It'd be nice to distinguish between bike blogs and more general livable streets blogs. Streetsblog is great because it covers development, parking, walking, transit, and biking, and everything from policy decisions in City Hall to specific neighborhood incidents. Some of the blogs listed above are just about how to pedal around the cities, which is great but less broad, while others are more similar to StreetsBlog. Comment by David Alpert ? February 22, 2007 @ 1:47 pm | Link 8. (Oops, SF Cityscape is actually sfcityscape.com not .org). Comment by David Alpert ? February 22, 2007 @ 1:51 pm | Link 9. Los Angeles: http://www.cicle.org/wordpress/ http://www.bike-los-angeles.com/ (looks to be just getting started) Haven't found pedestrian or public space-focused blogs yet but I will keep looking. Comment by keri ? February 22, 2007 @ 1:52 pm | Link 10. Yeah, that's kind of the challenge, David -- trying to find the blogs that go beyond just being about bicycling. But I'm still interested in getting links to the good bike blogs. So feel free to post those too. Comment by Aaron Naparstek ? February 22, 2007 @ 1:56 pm | Link 11. New Jersey (getting started) http://walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/ Comment by keri ? February 22, 2007 @ 2:05 pm | Link 12. San Francisco: http://livablecity.org/path.html Comment by carrie ? February 22, 2007 @ 5:35 pm | Link 13. It's an honor to be "Streetsblog-ish" -- thanks! Another great DC-area blog is Rethink College Park: http://www.rethinkcollegepark.net/blog/. They get into a lot of design details and development politics too. College Park is small, but may have some useful lessons for other college towns. Comment by Laurence Aurbach ? February 22, 2007 @ 7:21 pm | Link 14. Kansas City, Missouri KCBike.Info - http://kcbike.info Clearing the Air - http://bikefriendlykc.blogspot.com/ Comment by eric ? February 23, 2007 @ 10:53 am | Link 15. Thanks for the link... a really good one based in Toronto is the Spacing Wire (http://spacing.ca/wire) - "your hub for daily dispatches from the streets of Toronto to cities around the world, offering both analysis and a forum for discussion. The Wire covers news, events, art, architecture, urban planning and just about anything that involves the public realm of our cities. Comment by Joe (BikingToronto) ? February 23, 2007 @ 1:14 pm | Link 16. Aaron: If you'll lower your standard from "good bike blogs" to just "bike blogs," I'd like to offer mine to your list. Comment by John ? February 24, 2007 @ 9:00 am | Link 17. Thessaloniki, Greece (mostly Greek): http://streetpanthers.blogspot.com/index.html Comment by James ? February 24, 2007 @ 11:15 am | Link 18. The above post focuses on pedestrian and bicycle issues. You can translate the site at http://babelfish.altavista.com/tr Choose Greek to English Comment by James ? February 24, 2007 @ 11:19 am | Link 19. Seattle: http://friendsofseattle.typepad.com/blog/ http://citycomfortsblog.typepad.com/cities/ Comment by Aaron Naparstek ? February 26, 2007 @ 12:17 am | Link 20. Actually, Its Just www.TransitMiami.com I got rid of the blogspot address although it will still redirect you to the proper site... Comment by Gabriel Lopez-Bernal ? March 1, 2007 @ 8:43 pm | Link 21. Another good one from Down Under www.spinopsys.com Comment by Clarence Eckerson Jr. ? March 2, 2007 @ 2:59 am | Link 22. Philadelphia Bicycle News Blog http://bcgp.blogspot.com Comment by John ? March 10, 2007 @ 1:17 pm | Link 23. San Francisco Monthly column on transportation issues: http://www.missiondispatch.com/news/view_alt_category.html?category_id=406 Comment by Fran Taylor ? March 13, 2007 @ 1:41 pm | Link -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070314/45cef6cd/attachment.html -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 579 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070314/45cef6cd/attachment.bin -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 541 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070314/45cef6cd/attachment-0001.bin -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: application/octet-stream Size: 588 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070314/45cef6cd/attachment-0002.bin From c_bradshaw at rogers.com Fri Mar 16 00:03:10 2007 From: c_bradshaw at rogers.com (Chris Bradshaw) Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:03:10 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: [LotsLessCars] Will you let your children cycle to school ? I won't References: <038101c76226$1ccdd800$6501a8c0@home> <034401c76333$c8db5dd0$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> <45F3554B.2080908@greenidea.info> Message-ID: <053701c76713$898bab60$0202a8c0@acer56fb35423d> Todd, Sorry I didn't notice this as a personal message sooner. > WALKING is better than cycling in general, no matter what the distance. I agree, and I hope my response -- which was about cycling -- suggested anything else. I have been a walking advocate for over 25 years, and even debated a cyclist on the relative merits of the two modes on a radio show 15 years ago. > I have some other comments on your response, starting in CAPS: > > Chris Bradshaw wrote: >> First, cycling without an adult is not recommended by cyclist-trainers >> before the age of 10, and then only on residential streets. . . . > IN a car city, arterials can have fully separated bike paths. These I am not a fan of. I favour segregating by speed, as in my CURBBBB proposal. > IN a carfree city or quarter (i.e. an area encompassing both the home and > school of the child, a child could ride anywhere (though arterials might > haver surface public transport), and possibly even at a younger age, > especially if accompanies by older children or older children-at-heart > (i.e. adults), or there could even be a coloured line or signs with some > familiar animal to guide them. Obviously, in a car-FREE city, cycling becomes less dangerous and simpler. My personal vision is for a PRIVATE-car-OWNERSHIP-free city, in which cars are available only via collective fleets, and individuals don't NEED or WANT to have their own, thus saving huge amounts of road and parking space, reducing vehicle size, and allowing for a new, more comprehensive regime of enforcing civil road behaviour by drivers. >> Second, such children need a cycling course first. >> > I AGREE some kind of course is useful even in a carfree area, but not as > necessary. It is more about bike control, than defensive driving. There > are of course pedestrians, animals, people playing in the street, children > sitting on the street, children lying in the street for no reason at all, > cycle rickshaws as mobile sales points for ice cream causing riots, and so > on. I would think that a city of bicycles would still require defensive driving (riding), as cyclists don't conform as much to the formalities that highway traffic legislation -- and the physics of car-driving -- impose. I have not travelled to a more bike-dominant part of the world, but I have never seen children pictured with adults moving along in heavy city traffic. >> Unfortunately, children are provided bikes long before their 10th >> birthdays. >> During that time, they use it as a plaything, usually emulating their >> parents' behaviour towards cars. Also, they don't learn how to get >> places >> on their own. These are bad attitudes that must be changed before >> letting >> them move about on their own. >> > I AM no expert on teaching children but I learned to ride through just > riding, in a relatively calm suburban setting. We did use it for fun, but > also for getting to close by places quickly. Most stores - but not > school - were only reachable by crossing big streets. Crossing big streets is best done by walking, rather than cycling. > But I don't see what is the problem with play, even now: "Go play in traffic!" is a favour joke. Play is fine, and child's play is even more natural (studies show children who cannot play enough suffer in the development process). But I specfically refer to role playing, as if they are adults. That too, is good and natural, but often means they emulate the ownership thing, and that they use their bikes to intimidate pedestrians and other cyclists. Parents need to notice the kind of play children do with bikes, and both admonish where appropriate, and also to learn about their own bad behaviour that their child picks up on. > During Critical Mass rides in Prague, a few times I have led the group, > and when I do things like leading other adults around (and around, and > around) a kind of circle-square near the traditional starting point of the > Mass, people get confused and ask me where we are going. I respond of > course that we are going in circles. And when after that I just ride > randomly (but not on big streets, or illegally) people still get confused > because I am not being linear. On the other hand the Mass here - as > opposed to most other places - usually starts with a man (male) telling us > where we are going. We are simultaneously told that (in general) driving > is unnecessary for many trips but that having a geographical goal is > necessary for a fun bike ride. I hate that. There is no reason to need a > reason, and while it is essential to know a bike can be used for transport > (and to enable that as much as possible), it can also be mixed with play > (on the same ride or just in general, but also on the same streets). Whew! I don't consider your circular mass rides to be play, but rather a political act to prove a point. But the critics do have a point. If you are taking precious road space (and motorists are in no position to criticize uneconomical use of it), you should have a reason. Having a political reason is a reason, but it must compete with other road users' reasons, coupled with the amount of road space that they need. For instance, how WIDE is your demonstration? >> Since the use of a bike is only an advantage over walking when the trip >> is >> in excess of about 2 kms, the child should not need using it until their >> cognitive abilities allow them to grasp the specifics of the road-path >> network over a 16-square-km area. And that is about the time that they >> can >> survive along the cruel, car-dominated streets they will encounter, and >> have >> the strength for that length of trip. >> > WHERE do these 2km and 16km2 rules come from? What kind of density (in a > car city) are they based on? What about uncruel, fun-dominated streets? I > am sure there is something to do what you say about strength (and also > children have to be mature enough to keep their bike secure or in their > possession, unless of course there are free bikes). I think you misread me. I am not talking about rules, but about normal human sense of value. Use of a vehicle imposes 'overhead' costs related to obtaining the mode of travel for each leg of the trip, and having to follow a longer route to comply with the demands of the mode. In this way, walking is a faster mode of travel for trips up to 2 kms. It's not based on any study, but on my own experience. >> In any case, within the 2-km distance, I find that children quickly tire >> of >> bike use for the trip to school, and switch back to walking. It's far >> more >> social, > BACK to what I said at the top, walking IS generally better, but bikes can > open up other possibilities. >> and it avoids them having their favourite 'steed' stolen. >> > I THINK there are relatively very simple solutions for that, in a car- or > carfree city. > > IN any city, kids need to be within comfortable walking distance of > school, but bikes will extend their range, and in a carfree area or city > this can be done much more easily. I believe that schools should be sized and located so that the children can navigate the trip on their own -- by whatever mode they choose. That is at the heart of independence. That means that elementary schools should be split between the Grade 3 and 4, with separate schools for the younger group being smaller and located in the 'quarter' of the neighbourhood where the children live, rather than the whole neighbourhood. As to range, yes, the range is extended with a bike, but then the issue is whether the child can navigate the longer trip without adult assistance. A longer trip by a group of young people might be OK, as ONE of them will probably have the navigation skills. Another factor re: human economy, that comes in to the equation of picking mode is the length of the stay at the other end. My mention of bikes being subject to being stolen at schools is partly a factor of the length of the child's stay. For 6-7 hours, a walk will seem economical, whereas the same distance of travel for a shorter stay will make the bike seem more economical. And the shorter stay will reduce the chance of theft of the bike (if you don't ever leave your bike, as with a tour, then theft is not a factor at all -- you don't even need to bring along a lock). > To mention again what I said in an earlier reply, we need to build or > adapt cities to children, rather than adapt children to car-cities. It is > necessary of course for interim defensive measures, but if we place too > much emphasis on them (or only talk about them), we will ALWAYS be doing > that, for our grandchildren, and so on. Agreed completely. That is also why convenience shopping needs to be on a smaller scale and this closer to where people live. It is also the kind of shopping that can be done by a child, relieving the parent of having to do it, leaving very young children in harm's way, either alone at home or alone in a car with a running engine (a 2-year-old in Calgary just suffocated when she out her head out of such a car, and her knee triggered the auto window to close.) And, the child doing the buying is getting both good practice and feeling important to the functioning of the family. > And please remember that I am in Prague, THE most automobilised city in > Europe, though not the most dangerous, but where I fear that new > initiatives like "Safe Routes to School" I mentioned in an earlier email > will limited effect if they focus too much on symptoms. It should also be > mentioned that the Safe Routes programme here is a project of an > organisation which takes money from the automobile industry... That's not surprising. Since SFTS is so popular, don't be surprised that car companies will want to get some of 'the glow' of being associated with it. > T > > p.s. This reminds me: I am going to look at the schedule for VeloCity in > Munich this June (where I am also giving a presentation, as well as a few > others on this list) and see how many presentations, workshops etc. are > about defensive cycling, or are in general about cycling in cities where > cars are a given. VeloCity also has an automobile company as a main > sponsor. Ditto. Chris Bradshaw Ottawa From zvi at inro.ca Fri Mar 16 00:59:10 2007 From: zvi at inro.ca (Zvi Leve) Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2007 10:59:10 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Citizen proejcts adn programs to helpguide city policiees In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <45F96D4E.8030501@inro.ca> My personal favourite is the UrbanPhoto blog - it is not specific to any one city, but there is a concentration of Montreal-related entries. Zvi Eric Britton wrote: > > Thanks Sean Roche for the heads-up on this excellent initiative of > Streetsblog and Aaron Naparstek, which we copy below in full text in > the hope of getting yet further additions. > > > > My hope is that you will not only mail your leads here but that you > will also go to > http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/02/22/help-us-find-livable-streets-blogs-in-cities-outside-nyc/ > to > add them there as well. > > > > For our part, we are in the process of developing a set of related > links, which you can find today if you go to the Agenda at > http://newmobility.org and click the link *Citizens Speak Out* at the > top of the left menu. Your thoughts and suggestions on all this are > more than welcome. > > > > Eric Britton > > > > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070315/a7fa4b7b/attachment.html From binac at rediffmail.com Fri Mar 16 17:00:28 2007 From: binac at rediffmail.com (Bina C. Balakrishnan) Date: 16 Mar 2007 08:00:28 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Message-ID: <20070316080028.29065.qmail@webmail101.rediffmail.com> ? I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra?s reporting: I always thought you were one of the more responsible reporters. The following response has been approved by the Core Working Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a little more bite! ?Let?s start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs. The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the progress of the project, as well as the work of the consultants. The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning. Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the project had to be temporarily shelved. Regarding the concerned BRTS lane ? you are all confused. The CWG has recommended the median lanes ? ie the lanes alongside the median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is removal of all parking on all arterial roads ? so the interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, as I said ? the Consultant is expected to look into all these aspects, and recommend the best option. As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, ?Hopefully, by the end of the year.? End of formal reply. My apologies for being so dense ? but what is the joke? Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote : >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm > >Rajendra Aklekar > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007 > >Mumbai?s Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus >lanes? project turned into a joke. >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got them >painted in devoted colours, a >special fare structure and timetable has been set, more fleet of >international brand of buses >ordered and comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed >corridors. But there?s no road >to run these buses and kick off the plan! > >The state transport ministry has appointed a ?core group? to look >to the project and study its >aspects. The group will submit a report, the government will then >consider it, after which a >decision will be taken. Simply speaking, it?s stuck in red tape and >won?t kick off before 2008 or >even later. > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the core group >officials and the MMRDA as >to where should the bus lane be. While the MMRDA wants the lanes to be >on the left, state >government officials want it on the right side of the roads. With no >decision on the issue, the >matter is now hanging fire. > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the BRTS >project principal secretary >(transport) GS Gill told HT, ?By the end of this calendar year >hopefully.? > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the condition >of anonymity, said bus >lanes on the left would be helpful as they would not slow down buses. >?If lanes are built in the >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, but in >left, there would not be >any such problem. We will, however, have to invest in infrastructure to >build stops.? There?s >another group of experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be >in the middle of the road >for higher speeds. > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a promise >that the project would be >eligible for funding under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal >Mission, a number of cities >woke up to the reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of >urban mass transit in >crowded areas. Pune was the first city in Maharashtra to kick off the >BRTS in November. > >Mumbai?s BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got test-run >done, placed an order for 20 >hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for its project and also converted 20 of >its existing Star Bus >fleet of buses. It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run >between Thane and Dadar for >four hours in morning and evening each, segregated from existing >traffic by spring posts. > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses simply >would jam all traffic during >the peak hours and it would be difficult to stop other vehicles from >coming in these bus lanes. >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for the >benefit of the city. The core >group has been formed so that there is better planning and >co-ordination between the state >government, transport department and all the agencies concerned to >ensure better planning for the >project. > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local Self >Government (AIILSG), will decide >the terms of reference, after which the MMRDA will issue the bids and >appoint the consultants. The >core group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and the >BMC, among others. ?My buses >are ready. The moment I get a green signal from the government, I shall >run them,? says BEST >general manager Uttam Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may >take a few more years. > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com > > >--- >Rajendra Aklekar >Transport Correspondent >Hindustan Times >HT Media Limited >Mumbai Edition >-- >140-4752, Nehru Nagar >Mumbai, 400024 > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 >Office: 66539200 >Fax: 66539250/60 >--- > > > >____________________________________________________________________________________ >Get your own web address. >Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. >http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com Mobile : +91 98926 41341 Home : +91 22 23630572 Skype : binacb From Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk Fri Mar 16 19:15:47 2007 From: Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:15:47 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! In-Reply-To: <20070316080028.29065.qmail@webmail101.rediffmail.com> Message-ID: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7202@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> My problem is that having spent six weeks in Mumbai last year, while I mastered reasonably well the transport issues and the geography, I still have not got all these institutions and acronyms sorted out! What is the MTSU? I would guess Mumbai or Maharashtra Transport Studies Unit - but knowing the name does not tell me what it is or what it represents. Would anyone like to volunteer to put a glossary of Maharashtra transport acronyms on a website somewhere? Anyway, it's obvious that judgement of "responsible reporting" is something of a subjective matter - but I did wonder whether Raj could tell his right from his left. My understanding is that all proposed Mumbai bus lanes will be on divided highways - when Raj wrote about lanes in the "middle of the road" I really did not know whether he meant the middle of the carriageway or next to the median (and did "right" mean on the wrong side?). Anyway, my understanding of the MMRDA proposals is as explained in Bina's post. The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). I would be interested to know if this proposal is still being pursued. But I have to say that I will be very pleasantly surprised if a significant amount of properly-designed, properly-enforced bus lanes are in operation in Mumbai by the end of 2007. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Bina C. Balakrishnan Sent: 16 March 2007 08:00 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Cc: Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! ? I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra's reporting: I always thought you were one of the more responsible reporters. The following response has been approved by the Core Working Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a little more bite! "Let's start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs. The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the progress of the project, as well as the work of the consultants. The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning. Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the project had to be temporarily shelved. Regarding the concerned BRTS lane - you are all confused. The CWG has recommended the median lanes - ie the lanes alongside the median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is removal of all parking on all arterial roads - so the interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, as I said - the Consultant is expected to look into all these aspects, and recommend the best option. As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, "Hopefully, by the end of the year." End of formal reply. My apologies for being so dense - but what is the joke? Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote : >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm > >Rajendra Aklekar > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007 > >Mumbai's Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus lanes' >project turned into a joke. >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got them >painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and timetable has >been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered and >comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed corridors. But >there's no road to run these buses and kick off the plan! > >The state transport ministry has appointed a "core group" to look to >the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a report, the >government will then consider it, after which a decision will be taken. >Simply speaking, it's stuck in red tape and won't kick off before 2008 >or even later. > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the core group >officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. While the >MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government officials >want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the issue, >the matter is now hanging fire. > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the BRTS >project principal secretary >(transport) GS Gill told HT, "By the end of this calendar year... >hopefully." > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the condition >of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as they would >not slow down buses. >"If lanes are built in the >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, but in >left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, have to >invest in infrastructure to build stops." There's another group of >experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the middle of >the road for higher speeds. > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a promise >that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal Nehru >National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to the >reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban mass >transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in Maharashtra to >kick off the BRTS in November. > >Mumbai's BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got test-run >done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for its >project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of buses. >It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between Thane and >Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated from >existing traffic by spring posts. > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses simply >would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be difficult >to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes. >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for the >benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that there is >better planning and co-ordination between the state government, >transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure better >planning for the project. > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local Self >Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after which >the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The core >group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and the BMC, >among others. "My buses are ready. The moment I get a green signal from >the government, I shall run them," says BEST general manager Uttam >Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more years. > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com > > >--- >Rajendra Aklekar >Transport Correspondent >Hindustan Times >HT Media Limited >Mumbai Edition >-- >140-4752, Nehru Nagar >Mumbai, 400024 > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 >Office: 66539200 >Fax: 66539250/60 >--- > > > >_______________________________________________________________________ >_____________ >Get your own web address. >Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. >http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com Mobile : +91 98926 41341 Home : +91 22 23630572 Skype : binacb -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From edelman at greenidea.info Fri Mar 16 19:44:08 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:44:08 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! In-Reply-To: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7202@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> References: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7202@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Message-ID: <45FA74F8.5060505@greenidea.info> Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk Fri Mar 16 19:52:38 2007 From: Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:52:38 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! In-Reply-To: <45FA74F8.5060505@greenidea.info> Message-ID: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7222@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 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From etts at indigo.ie Fri Mar 16 20:20:24 2007 From: etts at indigo.ie (Brendan Finn) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:20:24 -0000 Subject: [sustran] BRT - switchover lanes - has it been tried and does it work? References: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7202@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Message-ID: <002d01c767bd$1acc8780$0a01a8c0@finn> Dear all, I would also be interested to know if there are any practical examples of the switching lanes through the median at the bus stops. As Alan says, it seems attractive and perfectly feasible, but does it work well in practice and is it safe? It would be good if we could include it as an option in our toolboxes. The big motivation is to gain the speed advantages of running in the roadway away from the kerbside obstructions, without having to put the doors on the "wrong" side of the bus, or to have doors on both sides. 'Wrong-side' doors are OK in a totally closed system, but obviously this completely prohibits buses from other routes joining and leaving the bus facility, since they could then not function at regular stops. Doors on both sides are an expense which cost-constrained schemes would rather avoid, leaving aside the possible problems of procuring vehicles and being constrained about which operators you can work with. I think the potential problems of switchovers lie in two areas - potential conflict between buses on switch-over, and potential conflicts with other road-users. - For potential bus-bus conflict, intuitively I would have thought this should not be a problem as long as there are clear traffic rules. The vehicles will be coming head-on towards each other, so there is no risk of being blindsided, the issue is mostly driver training and discipline. The switch-over point will be at the stopping place, so speeds should be lower. Perhaps as an operations person I am placing excessive confidence in the people? - For potential bus / road-user conflict, the candidate victims are motor vehicles which illegally use the median cut, cyclists who illegally use or cross the median cut, and pedestrians who stray through the switchover point. (I assume that cyclists would not be permitted to use the bus lane). For motor vehicles, first, I don't see how it benefits them unless they want to do a u-turn, and anyway that can be made difficult by kerb alignment. Note that the vehicle would have had to already violate the bus lane to enter the median gap, and then emerge in the opposite side bus lane. Likewise for cyclists, although I don't discount the possibility of cyclists or handcarts actually travelling along the median itself. - I think the big potential conflict is with pedestrians. First, there will be the general population of pedestrians crossing the roads and using the median. Second, the switchovers will take place at the stopping places which (we hope) will be attracting thousands of persons per hour, with lots of potential for jay-walking unless they are channelled through the stops (e.g. for fare-collection and boarding management purposes) and pedestrian crossing facilities. The big question is whether having bus switchover areas close to the stopping places creates NEW conflict zones (remember, the buses and pedestrians will pass through there anyway whatever arrangement you choose) and what risk is associated with these. OK, that's my hypothesis, does anyone know if it's been tried and what were the outcomes? I guess the best indicator is whether it's been tried and is still in place! On a technical question, is there a minimum width of median needed, and what advice on alignments? I would like to thank Mumbai for explaining the process they are using, to wish them good luck in the next stages, and I would appreciate if they keep us informed of how it goes. With best wishes, Brendan Finn. _____________________________________________________________________________________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: Bina C. Balakrishnan ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:15 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! My problem is that having spent six weeks in Mumbai last year, while I mastered reasonably well the transport issues and the geography, I still have not got all these institutions and acronyms sorted out! What is the MTSU? I would guess Mumbai or Maharashtra Transport Studies Unit - but knowing the name does not tell me what it is or what it represents. Would anyone like to volunteer to put a glossary of Maharashtra transport acronyms on a website somewhere? Anyway, it's obvious that judgement of "responsible reporting" is something of a subjective matter - but I did wonder whether Raj could tell his right from his left. My understanding is that all proposed Mumbai bus lanes will be on divided highways - when Raj wrote about lanes in the "middle of the road" I really did not know whether he meant the middle of the carriageway or next to the median (and did "right" mean on the wrong side?). Anyway, my understanding of the MMRDA proposals is as explained in Bina's post. The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). I would be interested to know if this proposal is still being pursued. But I have to say that I will be very pleasantly surprised if a significant amount of properly-designed, properly-enforced bus lanes are in operation in Mumbai by the end of 2007. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Bina C. Balakrishnan Sent: 16 March 2007 08:00 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Cc: Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra's reporting: I always thought you were one of the more responsible reporters. The following response has been approved by the Core Working Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a little more bite! "Let's start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs. The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the progress of the project, as well as the work of the consultants. The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning. Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the project had to be temporarily shelved. Regarding the concerned BRTS lane - you are all confused. The CWG has recommended the median lanes - ie the lanes alongside the median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is removal of all parking on all arterial roads - so the interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, as I said - the Consultant is expected to look into all these aspects, and recommend the best option. As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, "Hopefully, by the end of the year." End of formal reply. My apologies for being so dense - but what is the joke? Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote : >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm > >Rajendra Aklekar > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007 > >Mumbai's Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus lanes' >project turned into a joke. >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got them >painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and timetable has >been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered and >comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed corridors. But >there's no road to run these buses and kick off the plan! > >The state transport ministry has appointed a "core group" to look to >the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a report, the >government will then consider it, after which a decision will be taken. >Simply speaking, it's stuck in red tape and won't kick off before 2008 >or even later. > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the core group >officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. While the >MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government officials >want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the issue, >the matter is now hanging fire. > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the BRTS >project principal secretary >(transport) GS Gill told HT, "By the end of this calendar year... >hopefully." > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the condition >of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as they would >not slow down buses. >"If lanes are built in the >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, but in >left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, have to >invest in infrastructure to build stops." There's another group of >experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the middle of >the road for higher speeds. > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a promise >that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal Nehru >National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to the >reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban mass >transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in Maharashtra to >kick off the BRTS in November. > >Mumbai's BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got test-run >done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for its >project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of buses. >It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between Thane and >Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated from >existing traffic by spring posts. > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses simply >would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be difficult >to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes. >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for the >benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that there is >better planning and co-ordination between the state government, >transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure better >planning for the project. > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local Self >Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after which >the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The core >group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and the BMC, >among others. "My buses are ready. The moment I get a green signal from >the government, I shall run them," says BEST general manager Uttam >Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more years. > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com > > >--- >Rajendra Aklekar >Transport Correspondent >Hindustan Times >HT Media Limited >Mumbai Edition >-- >140-4752, Nehru Nagar >Mumbai, 400024 > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 >Office: 66539200 >Fax: 66539250/60 >--- -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070316/5f4ee656/attachment.html From etts at indigo.ie Fri Mar 16 20:31:50 2007 From: etts at indigo.ie (Brendan Finn) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 11:31:50 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes References: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E7222@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Message-ID: <003d01c767be$b8b5fc50$0a01a8c0@finn> Dear Alan, I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : 1) It is simple and unambiguous 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation arises, no need for control systems. 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should have priority. With best wishes, Brendan. _____________________________________________________________________________________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070316/860248fd/attachment.html From Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk Fri Mar 16 21:30:17 2007 From: Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:30:17 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes In-Reply-To: <003d01c767be$b8b5fc50$0a01a8c0@finn> Message-ID: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E727C@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Great minds ... I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has - OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that guarantee action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - "we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" and then "The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments ..." So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what price bus lanes by the end of this year? Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? Sorry to ask so many questions! Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ ________________________________ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Brendan Finn Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Dear Alan, I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : 1) It is simple and unambiguous 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation arises, no need for control systems. 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should have priority. With best wishes, Brendan. _____________________________________________________________________________________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 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URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070316/e7830a4f/attachment.html From carlos.pardo at sutp.org Sat Mar 17 04:35:01 2007 From: carlos.pardo at sutp.org (Carlos F. Pardo SUTP) Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:35:01 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Google buses Message-ID: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070316/a726eab1/attachment.html From ajplumbe at hotmail.com Sat Mar 17 16:36:05 2007 From: ajplumbe at hotmail.com (Tony Plumbe) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 07:36:05 +0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: Google buses and Californian transport policies In-Reply-To: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> Message-ID: Fellow sustranners, Many of us would I guess wish to see the situation described for Google and others in California replicated where we live. Perhaps what the article does not highlight is that it is the legislative framework and taxation regime that the Californian State government has enacted that ensures employers pursue greener transport policies like ride share and parking cash-out. Hence any campaigning efforts are likely to be best directed at the feeble politicians in other parts of the world who procrastinate and prevaricate in establishing the required legislative framework. This past week in Britain the government has announced a draft Climate Change Bill (law) which almost certainly is a response to concerted public and campaign group pressures. It is said the British Prime Minister was much influenced by a visit last year to meet the State Governor of California. Tony Plumbe Local Government Transport Planner and International Consultant >From: "Carlos F. Pardo SUTP" >Reply-To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > >To: "Global 'South' Sustainable Transport" >,Newmobility Cafe > >Subject: [sustran] Google buses >Date: Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:35:01 -0500 > > > > > > >March 10, 2007 > >original source: >http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=dcb412d03d29e1f6&ex=1331182800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss > > > > > > > >Google’s Buses Help Its Workers Beat the Rush > > > >By MIGUEL HELFT > > >MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — The perks of working at Google >are the envy of Silicon Valley. Unlimited amounts of free chef-prepared >food at all times of day. A climbing wall, a volleyball court and two >lap pools. On-site car washes, oil changes and haircuts, not to mention >free doctor checkups. > >But the biggest perk may come with the morning commute. > >In Silicon Valley, a region known for some of the worst traffic in >the nation, Google, the Internet search engine giant and online >advertising behemoth, has turned itself into Google, the mass transit >operator. Its aim is to make commuting painless for its pampered >workers — and keep attracting new recruits in a notoriously competitive >market for top engineering talent. > >And Google can get a couple of extra hours of work out of employees >who would otherwise be behind the wheel of a car. > >The company now ferries about 1,200 employees to and from Google >daily — nearly one-fourth of its local work force — aboard 32 shuttle >buses equipped with comfortable leather seats and wireless Internet >access. Bicycles are allowed on exterior racks, and dogs on forward >seats, or on their owners’ laps if the buses run full. > >Riders can sign up to receive alerts on their computers and >cellphones when buses run late. They also get to burnish their green >credentials, not just for ditching their cars, but because all Google >shuttles run on biodiesel. Oh, and the shuttles are free. > >But if the specifics sound quintessentially Googley, as insiders >call the company’s quirky corporate culture, it is the shuttle >program’s sheer scale that befits Google’s oversize ambitions. This is, >after all, a company whose stated goal is to organize the world’s >information — and whose founders’ corporate jet is a Boeing 767. > >“We are basically running a small municipal transit agency,” said >Marty Lev, Google’s director of security and safety, who oversees the >program. > >Not that small, really. The shuttles, which carry up to 37 >passengers each and display no sign suggesting they carry Googlers, >have become a fixture of local freeways. They run 132 trips every day >to some 40 pickup and drop-off locations in more than a dozen cities, >crisscrossing six counties in the San Francisco Bay Area and logging >some 4,400 miles. > >They pick up workers as far away as Concord, 54 miles northeast of >the Googleplex, as the company’s sprawling Mountain View headquarters >are known, and Santa Cruz, 38 miles to the south. The system’s routes >cover in excess of 230 miles of freeways, more than twice the extent of >the region’s BART commuter train system, which has 104 miles of tracks. > > >Morning service starts on some routes at 5:05 a.m. — sometimes >carrying those Google chefs — and the last pickup is at 10:40 a.m. >Evening service runs from 3:40 p.m. to 10:05 p.m. During peak times, >pickups can be as frequent as every 15 minutes. > >At Google headquarters, a small team of transportation specialists >monitors regional traffic patterns, maps out the residences of new >hires and plots new routes — sometimes as many as 10 in a three-month >period — to keep up with ever surging demand. > >Many employers run programs for commuters, including van pools, >shuttles to and from transit hubs and subsidies for public transit and >alternative modes of transportation, but several transportation experts >say Google appears to have built an unparalleled transit network. > >“I don’t know of any program in the Bay Area or in a metropolitan >area nationwide larger than that,” said Tad Widby, the project manager >for the 511 Regional Rideshare Program, who has studied transportation >systems nationwide. > >As much as it is a generous fringe benefit or an environmental >gesture, the shuttle program is a competitive weapon in Silicon >Valley’s recruiting wars. > >One of the biggest challenges facing the Google juggernaut, with a >staff that has been doubling every year, is to continue to attract the >best. Many technology workers say that the potential benefit from stock >options for new hires is limited, since the company’s shares have >already surged more than fourfold since its 2004 public offering of >$85. > > The shuttles may not be able to lift Google’s stock price, but they >have struck a chord with employees. > >“It’s the most useful Google fringe benefit,” said Wiltse Carpenter, >a 45-year-old software engineer. Mr. Carpenter has been with Google >only a few months, but before that he had commuted from San Francisco >to the same Highway 101 exit since 1992, having worked at Silicon >Graphics and Microsoft, two Google neighbors. “It’s changed >my quality of life,” he said. > >That sentiment is not surprising. Even Googlers have to worry about >the area’s high real estate prices, which have sent families to the >outer confines of the region in search of cheaper housing. And the >hopping cultural and social life of San Francisco remains a magnet for >young workers, even though the commute to offices in Silicon Valley, >some 35 miles to the south, can take well over an hour. A recent survey >showed that traffic was the No. 1 concern for the area’s residents — >for the 10th year in a row. > >But on a rainy winter afternoon, as some 20 Google employees hopped >onto the 4:40 p.m. back to the Mission and Noe Valley districts of San >Francisco, those concerns seemed distant. The shuttle merged onto >Highway 101, made its way across three lanes packed with slow-moving >vehicles and into the carpool lane, where it began speeding past >hundreds of commuters. > >Inside, most riders appeared to abide by the shuttle’s etiquette >rules. Cellphone conversations are allowed if they are work-related and >sotto voce. But loud personal calls are definitely out. In fact, except >for a couple snuggled together, no one sat on adjacent seats. Many took >out iPods or laptops and worked, surfed the Web or watched videos. > >“People tend to be quiet and respectful that this is people’s >downtime,” said Diana Alberghini, a 33-year-old program manager. > >Google will not discuss the cost of the program, which it operates >through Bauer’s Limousine, a private transportation company in San >Francisco. But the shuttles appear to be having the desired effect on >recruiting. Michael Gaiman, a 23-year-old Web applications engineer who >lives in San Francisco and was recently hired, said he turned down an >offer from Apple before accepting the job at Google. “It >definitely was a factor,” Mr. Gaiman said of the shuttle. > >Colin Klingman, 38, who works at Google as an independent software >contractor — and hence has to pay a small fee for the shuttle to comply >with tax rules — said he waited to apply to Google until there was a >stop near his San Francisco house. > >Those types of decisions have been noticed around Silicon Valley. Yahoo, a >leading competitor to Google, began a >shuttle program in 2005 that could be described as the Pepsi >to Google’s Coke. It shuttles about 350 employees on peak days to and >from San Francisco as well as Berkeley, Oakland and other East Bay >cities. Yahoo’s buses also run on biodiesel and are equipped with >Internet access, but the company’s commute coordinator, Danielle >Bricker, said the program was only “indirectly” inspired by Google’s. > >Meanwhile eBay >recently began a pilot shuttle to five pickup spots in San Francisco. >And some high-tech employers are coming up with other approaches. >Instead of making it easier for employees to live far from work, >Facebook, the social networking site, makes it easier for them to live >nearby: it offers a $600 monthly housing subsidy for those who live >within a mile of the company’s Palo Alto headquarters. > >There are signs that Google’s shuttles could be affecting — albeit >in small ways — the region’s housing market. > >When Adam Klein, a 24-year-old software engineer, moved to San >Francisco in 2005 to take a job at Google, he looked for a rental >apartment within a 15-minute walk of a shuttle stop. His walk to the >Civic Center stop turned out to be a bit longer. “I didn’t take into >account the hills,” Mr. Klein said. Many of his friends are moving >close to other shuttle stops. “Those stops have attracted people,” he >said. > >The area surrounding one of the shuttle’s Pacific Heights stops had >a dozen or so Googlers living nearby in 2005. That number has surged to >more than 60. > >For all their popularity, the shuttles have yet to earn Google the >title of most commuter-friendly employer. The top spot in the Environmental >Protection Agency’s Best Workplaces for Commuters went to Intel, >which allows telecommuting, offers transit subsidies to employees and >helps pay for shuttles that bring workers from transit stops, among >other benefits. Google tied Oracle for third; Microsoft came in second. > >But Googlers hooked on the convenience of the shuttles say nothing >tops their commuting perk. > >“They could either charge for the food or cut it altogether,” said >Bent Hagemark, a 44-year-old software engineer who boarded a Google >shuttle in Cow Hollow, an upscale neighborhood in the north end of San >Francisco. “If they cut the shuttle, it would be a disaster.” > > >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via >YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to >join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the >real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you >can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >(the 'Global South'). _________________________________________________________________ Match.com - Click Here To Find Singles In Your Area Today! http://msnuk.match.com/ From binac at rediffmail.com Sat Mar 17 17:37:36 2007 From: binac at rediffmail.com (Bina C. Balakrishnan) Date: 17 Mar 2007 08:37:36 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Message-ID: <20070317083736.15791.qmail@webmail60.rediffmail.com> Alan, MTSU is a little know office, and may not have been in existence when you were in Mumbai - when was that? It stands for Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, and deals with a lot more than just transportation. It covers all aspects of the city - I deal with the transportation part. We are looking at with - flow bus lanes, but are looking at placing orders for buses with doors on the right for the BRT routes. The rest will continue to be used for the other routes, at least until the BRT can become city wide. The suggestion of swapping lanes was not made by the MMRDA, altho they were very much a part of the Core Group. We shall certainly look into it, altho I am personally not in favour of it. Thats because the bus speeds will be compromised, and given the fact that the Western Express Highway has about 17 flyovers along its length, the bus stations will have to be placed carefully in the valleys of the successive flyovers - ie between the down grade of one and the up- grade of the other. I think it is obvious that the safety of the system will be compromised if we have the buses weaving just as they come down the slope of the flyover. As regards the gap being used by other traffic - we hope to have these lanes fully segregated, so that wont happen anyway. And the MMRDA have a large number of pedestrian subways in place also along the WEH.?But I do agree with you - pedestrians do have a VERY raw deal in Mumbai. We're working on it at the MTSU - we just need a little time. Regards, Bina On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 Alan Howes wrote : >My problem is that having spent six weeks in Mumbai last year, >while I mastered reasonably well the transport issues and the >geography, I still have not got all these institutions and >acronyms sorted out! What is the MTSU? I would guess Mumbai or >Maharashtra Transport Studies Unit - but knowing the name does >not tell me what it is or what it represents. Would anyone like >to volunteer to put a glossary of Maharashtra transport acronyms >on a website somewhere? > >Anyway, it's obvious that judgement of "responsible reporting" is >something of a subjective matter - but I did wonder whether Raj >could tell his right from his left. My understanding is that all >proposed Mumbai bus lanes will be on divided highways - when Raj >wrote about lanes in the "middle of the road" I really did not >know whether he meant the middle of the carriageway or next to >the median (and did "right" mean on the wrong side?). > >Anyway, my understanding of the MMRDA proposals is as explained >in Bina's post. The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes >placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming >bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side >(an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious >proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap >sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and >after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only >potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be >used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a >pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > >I would be interested to know if this proposal is still being >pursued. > >But I have to say that I will be very pleasantly surprised if a >significant amount of properly-designed, properly-enforced bus >lanes are in operation in Mumbai by the end of 2007. > >Regards, Alan > >-- >Alan Howes >Associate Transport Planner >Colin Buchanan >4 St Colme Street >Edinburgh EH3 6AA >Scotland >email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk >tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) >fax: (0)131 220 0232 >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > >-----Original Message----- > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] >On Behalf Of Bina C. Balakrishnan >Sent: 16 March 2007 08:00 >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport >Cc: Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) >Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a >joke! > > >I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra's reporting: >I always thought you were one of the more responsible >reporters. >The following response has been approved by the Core Working >Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a >collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a >little more bite! > > >"Let's start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core >Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have >already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as >long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one >officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have >said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the >benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 >different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all >aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has >only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs. > >The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, >2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal >Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of >Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to >draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be >appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for >BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, >with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase >I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and >submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the >progress of the project, as well as the work of the >consultants. > >The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- >feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to >avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily >introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called >Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of >various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning. > >Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a >proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, >with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the >BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no >question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being >over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified >and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover >traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had >their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the >Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the >project had to be temporarily shelved. > >Regarding the concerned BRTS lane - you are all confused. The CWG >has recommended the median lanes - ie the lanes alongside the >median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and >reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses >to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. >Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus >stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by >parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? >We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope >of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of >using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. >Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is >removal of all parking on all arterial roads - so the >interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct >access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will >definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, >as I said - the Consultant is expected to look into all these >aspects, and recommend the best option. >As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, "Hopefully, by >the end of the year." > >End of formal reply. > >My apologies for being so dense - but what is the joke? > >Bina C. Balakrishnan >Consultant >Transportation Planning & Engineering >Mumbai, India > > > >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote : > >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > > > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm >?f> > > >Rajendra Aklekar > > > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007 > > > >Mumbai's Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus >lanes' > >project turned into a joke. > >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got >them > >painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and >timetable has > >been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered >and > >comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed >corridors. But > >there's no road to run these buses and kick off the plan! > > > >The state transport ministry has appointed a "core group" to >look to > >the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a >report, the > >government will then consider it, after which a decision will >be taken. > >Simply speaking, it's stuck in red tape and won't kick off >before 2008 > >or even later. > > > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the >core group > >officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. >While the > >MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government >officials > >want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the >issue, > >the matter is now hanging fire. > > > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the >BRTS > >project principal secretary > >(transport) GS Gill told HT, "By the end of this calendar >year... > >hopefully." > > > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the >condition > >of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as >they would > >not slow down buses. > >"If lanes are built in the > >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, >but in > >left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, >have to > >invest in infrastructure to build stops." There's another group >of > >experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the >middle of > >the road for higher speeds. > > > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a >promise > >that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal >Nehru > >National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to >the > >reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban >mass > >transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in >Maharashtra to > >kick off the BRTS in November. > > > >Mumbai's BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got >test-run > >done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for >its > >project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of >buses. > >It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between >Thane and > >Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated > from > >existing traffic by spring posts. > > > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses >simply > >would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be >difficult > >to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes. > >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for >the > >benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that >there is > >better planning and co-ordination between the state >government, > >transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure >better > >planning for the project. > > > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local >Self > >Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after >which > >the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The >core > >group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and >the BMC, > >among others. "My buses are ready. The moment I get a green >signal from > >the government, I shall run them," says BEST general manager >Uttam > >Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more >years. > > > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com > > > > > >--- > >Rajendra Aklekar > >Transport Correspondent > >Hindustan Times > >HT Media Limited > >Mumbai Edition > >-- > >140-4752, Nehru Nagar > >Mumbai, 400024 > > > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 > >Office: 66539200 > >Fax: 66539250/60 > >--- > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________________________________ > >_____________ > >Get your own web address. > >Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > >http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > >-------------------------------------------------------- > >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages >via YAHOOGROUPS. > > > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > > > >================================================================ > >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > > >Bina C. Balakrishnan >Consultant >Transportation Planning & Engineering >Mumbai, India >e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com >Mobile : +91 98926 41341 >Home : +91 22 23630572 >Skype : binacb > >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via >YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > >........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ >DISCLAIMER > >This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which >they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or >authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or >use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this >email in error please contact the sender by replying to this >email. > >Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do >not constitute or record professional advice relating to the >business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views >of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained >within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of >business. > >We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting >software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or >damage caused by software viruses. > > From edelman at greenidea.info Sat Mar 17 22:29:19 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:29:19 +0100 Subject: [sustran] A story about an increase in bus fare in China Message-ID: <45FBED2F.9020605@greenidea.info> People in the town of Zhushan, near the city of Yongzhou, in central China's Hunan province, burned buses in a protest against a rise in bus fares... Full story: -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From edelman at greenidea.info Sat Mar 17 23:11:31 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 15:11:31 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Google buses In-Reply-To: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> References: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> Message-ID: <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> Hi, To look at this story a bit more broadly, it is about corporate and also personal responsibility... While it is clear that it is better for employees to go by this shuttle bus rather than in their own cars, the main issue is that Google and its fellow Silicon Valley resident companies have their HQs in a low-density area with possibly inadequate public transport to the front door. The very successful CalTrain commuter railway - which goes from San Francisco to Silicon Valley - is not mentioned directly. The sitings of these Internet behemoths was the first mistake. So now everyone has to pay the price for that. And only a minority is using public transport. These companies should move to denser population centres - perhaps with incentives. Maybe one big facility should be split, e.g. with communication between a Google North and Google South done electronically or via the railway with local feeders (including cycling), which should be much more efficient per passenger than using a small shuttle bus. The greener mode of transport - I would call it "boutique public transport" - which is the main focus of the article does not mention the other problems with long-distance commuting, from the difficulties it creates for people staying connected - physically - to the places they live (including their children), and also to their colleagues. Both are important, and achieving both with a motorised solution - even a kind of communal one using bioDiesel (from what sources?) - is not necessarily sustainable. In proximity, T Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: > March 10, 2007 > original source: > http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=dcb412d03d29e1f6&ex=1331182800&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss > > > Google?s Buses Help Its Workers Beat the Rush > > By MIGUEL HELFT > > > MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. ? The perks of working at Google > > are the envy of Silicon Valley. Unlimited amounts of free > chef-prepared food at all times of day. A climbing wall, a volleyball > court and two lap pools. On-site car washes, oil changes and haircuts, > not to mention free doctor checkups. > > But the biggest perk may come with the morning commute...[...] > -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Sun Mar 18 00:33:44 2007 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (Eric Britton) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:33:44 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Google buses In-Reply-To: <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> Message-ID: Todd is so right on so many scores. But that word "should" - which I have run into so often over the last decades, and often from the mouths of my dearest and most respected friends and colleagues -- is one of the major reasons why eco-thinking has not made the much needed dents until now. We should (that's a joke) assiduously avoid it. Righteousness is not an effective instrument of social change in pluralistic democratic societies. Politics is the art of the possible. (Thanks Otto for the heads-up). Or ". . . the art of reconciling the often internally conflicting interrelationships among people in a society.' So with that in mind here, what I get from this Google experience is not what they are doing or have done wrong, but how the bits and prices are fitting together and what we can learn from them about future policy and support decisions. So thanks Google, and keep on truckin'. Eric Britton Hi, To look at this story a bit more broadly, it is about corporate and also personal responsibility... While it is clear that it is better for employees to go by this shuttle bus rather than in their own cars, the main issue is that Google and its fellow Silicon Valley resident companies have their HQs in a low-density area with possibly inadequate public transport to the front door. The very successful CalTrain commuter railway - which goes from San Francisco to Silicon Valley - is not mentioned directly. The sitings of these Internet behemoths was the first mistake. So now everyone has to pay the price for that. And only a minority is using public transport. These companies should move to denser population centres - perhaps with incentives. Maybe one big facility should be split, e.g. with communication between a Google North and Google South done electronically or via the railway with local feeders (including cycling), which should be much more efficient per passenger than using a small shuttle bus. The greener mode of transport - I would call it "boutique public transport" - which is the main focus of the article does not mention the other problems with long-distance commuting, from the difficulties it creates for people staying connected - physically - to the places they live (including their children), and also to their colleagues. Both are important, and achieving both with a motorised solution - even a kind of communal one using bioDiesel (from what sources?) - is not necessarily sustainable. In proximity, T From carlos.pardo at sutp.org Sun Mar 18 01:16:07 2007 From: carlos.pardo at sutp.org (Carlos F. Pardo SUTP) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 11:16:07 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Google buses- comfort! In-Reply-To: <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> References: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> Message-ID: <45FC1447.90502@sutp.org> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070317/e1b9004d/attachment.html From edelman at greenidea.info Sun Mar 18 01:50:41 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 17:50:41 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Google buses- comfort! In-Reply-To: <45FC1447.90502@sutp.org> References: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> <45FC1447.90502@sutp.org> Message-ID: <45FC1C61.8040209@greenidea.info> Hi, YES, Carlos is right... the part I left out of my earlier post was that I hope these GoogleShuttles will inspire other current operators to increase the quality of their offer... BUT that begs the question: "What if the huge amount of money Google seems to be spending on this - after all another Silicon Valley company is offer 600 dollar monthly proximity-incentives - was instead spend directly on the relevant existing public systems?" I think we would get more bang for the buck... and Google employees can be steered toward using it with any measures necessary to make their existing car-commute slog seem even more sloggy by comparison. These Google employees seem to like the service because it is convenient for them - more so for than for any "green" reasons - and I simply don't think it is a good trend if all the big companies start using their own micro-services to make it easier for people to get to work. Especially if people are using things like GoogleShuttles to replace their intermodal journey - with the train as the core mode - it could actually decrease the quality of public transport, possibly analogous to the situation where public schools lose out when children are sent to private ones. And regarding "mode shift"... I think we need "distance shift", of which mode shift is a component part. In proximity, T Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: > Hi, > > Actually, what I liked about the Google article was that it shows a > comfortable "public" transport arrangement, which is one of the things > that is few times implemented (at least in developing countries). The > race for high-speed and low-time-travel public transport has left us > in a 7personpersquaremeter situation where some of us can barely > breathe. Yes, it's part of the business structure and yes, it's > difficult to have buses where everybody can sit, read or sleep when > you need to lower the fare as much as possible. But we have to try and > do this somehow (cross-subsidies? congestion charging?), in order to > "pull" people from cars and "push" them to public transport. Comfort > is key, especially when it is one of the major reasons for which > people use unsustainable modes of transport (the car is sooo > comfortable, air conditioned, etc that users will never think of > another option). Please bear in mind that the majority of the > population can't care less about emissions or sustainable transport, > they just care about getting from A to B in the least time possible - > just themselves, nobody else in the city. Unfortunately, while we > should also promote sustainable transport by showing its > environmental, social and economic benefits, we should also work on > these selfish motives that drive people in the end (comfort, luxury, > apparent power, etc). I find this is one of the most important issues > we have to address in order to really promote mode shifts. We can't > keep thinking that people will start riding buses and bicycles just > because it's such a good thing for the environment! Unfortunately, at > least not for now. > > Best regards, > Carlos F. Pardo > Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator > GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) > Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708 > Bogot? D.C., Colombia > Tel/fax: +57 (1) 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 > carlos.pardo@sutp.org www.sutp.org > > ------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From mpotter at gol.com Mon Mar 19 23:27:39 2007 From: mpotter at gol.com (mpotter) Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 23:27:39 +0900 Subject: [sustran] Re: Google buses- comfort!, Japan, again, comfort, often combined with greater speed and lower cost In-Reply-To: <45FC1447.90502@sutp.org> References: <45FAF165.6080105@sutp.org> <45FBF713.9040701@greenidea.info> <45FC1447.90502@sutp.org> Message-ID: <4b628a03ae0aadbd53b6ff965943afa7@gol.com> I can certainly testify to the lure of comfort here in Japan. Here in Kyushu, for example, I have friends who routinely leave their cars in the driveway to take limited express trains with names like the Sonic, Kamome (seagull) or the Ariake (named for a small inland sea). These are all electric, 140 km hr. max cruising speed trains, spotlessly clean, quiet (save irritating announcements), frequent and on time. If one seems to be late better check your watch. They have comfortable (certainly more comfortable than what you see in the Google vans), plentiful seating except at the most crowded holiday times, and are smooth enough to read fine print without losing your place. Compared with a single driver, they are cheaper than paying tolls. Mostly they're used for suburbs of intermediate distance and cities within 100 kilometers or so away from a major city. The local trains are about 2/3 the price, but are slow aren't comfortable enough to lure people from their cars unless traffic is pretty bad, which it often is. They are populated by the old and the young and the visibly less well off. For lesser distances, one can choose between the smelly, jerky but very clean buses, in some cities the smooth, punctual but often overcrowded (hideously so in Tokyo at rush hour, only slightly less so in Osaka) subways, or the aforementioned local trains. One of the chief advantages of the subways and trains is that, in given situations, they are faster and cheaper than driving. The bus doesn't enjoy the former of these two advantages. And though longer distance buses can be quite comfortable, they can't compete with the better trains. All that said, my personal choice here in Fukuoka, when distance and weather permit, which they often do, is the bicycle. My point is that the Japanese system is very high quality and offers alternatives. In major urban areas, for many commuters it's truly competitive with the automobile along most parameters. The result is that Japanese are both more mobile and have better access to services than most Americans or Europeans outside a few select cities. And they have this mobility and access at a lower per capita transportation cost, particularly when compared to Americans. But that said, a key factor is that the car is much less heavily subsidized in Japan than in the US. In most cities, parking is cheap, but not free, as it is in America where free parking, outside of major city downtowns, is almost considered a basic human right. Cheers, Mark Potter millennium3 On Mar 18, 2007, at 1:16 AM, Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: > Hi, > > Actually, what I liked about the Google article was that it shows a > comfortable "public" transport arrangement, which is one of the things > that is few times implemented (at least in developing countries). The > race for high-speed and low-time-travel public transport has left us > in a 7personpersquaremeter situation where some of us can barely > breathe. Yes, it's part of the business structure and yes, it's > difficult to have buses where everybody can sit, read or sleep when > you need to lower the fare as much as possible. But we have to try and > do this somehow (cross-subsidies? congestion charging?), in order to > "pull" people from cars and "push" them to public transport. Comfort > is key, especially when it is one of the major reasons for which > people use unsustainable modes of transport (the car is sooo > comfortable, air conditioned, etc that users will never think of > another option). Please bear in mind that the majority of the > population can't care less about emissions or sustainable transport, > they just care about getting from A to B in the least time possible - > just themselves, nobody else in the city. Unfortunately, while we > should also promote sustainable transport by showing its > environmental, social and economic benefits, we should also work on > these selfish motives that drive people in the end (comfort, luxury, > apparent power, etc). I find this is one of the most important issues > we have to address in order to really promote mode shifts. We can't > keep thinking that people will start riding buses and bicycles just > because it's such a good thing for the environment! Unfortunately, at > least not for now. > > Best regards, > Carlos F. Pardo > Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator > GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) > Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708 > Bogot? D.C., Colombia > Tel/fax: +57 (1) 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 > carlos.pardo@sutp.org www.sutp.org > > > Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory wrote:Hi, >> >> To look at this story a bit more broadly, it is about corporate and >> also >> personal responsibility... >> >> While it is clear that it is better for employees to go by this >> shuttle >> bus rather than in their own cars, the main issue is that Google and >> its >> fellow Silicon Valley resident companies have their HQs in a >> low-density >> area with possibly inadequate public transport to the front door. The >> very successful CalTrain commuter railway - which goes from San >> Francisco to Silicon Valley - is not mentioned directly. >> >> The sitings of these Internet behemoths was the first mistake. So now >> everyone has to pay the price for that. And only a minority is using >> public transport. These companies should move to denser population >> centres - perhaps with incentives. Maybe one big facility should be >> split, e.g. with communication between a Google North and Google South >> done electronically or via the railway with local feeders (including >> cycling), which should be much more efficient per passenger than >> using a >> small shuttle bus. >> >> The greener mode of transport - I would call it "boutique public >> transport" - which is the main focus of the article does not mention >> the >> other problems with long-distance commuting, from the difficulties it >> creates for people staying connected - physically - to the places they >> live (including their children), and also to their colleagues. Both >> are >> important, and achieving both with a motorised solution - even a kind >> of >> communal one using bioDiesel (from what sources?) - is not necessarily >> sustainable. >> >> In proximity, >> T >> >> >> Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: >> >>> March 10, 2007 >>> original source: >>> http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/10/technology/10google.html? >>> pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=dcb412d03d29e1f6&ex=1331182800&partner=rssnyt >>> &emc=rss >>> >>> >>> Google?s Buses Help Its Workers Beat the Rush >>> >>> By MIGUEL HELFT >>> >> miguel_helft/index.html?inline=nyt-per> >>> >>> MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. ? The perks of working at Google >>> >> custom.marketwatch.com/custom/nyt-com/html- >>> companyprofile.asp&symb=GOOG> >>> are the envy of Silicon Valley. Unlimited amounts of free >>> chef-prepared food at all times of day. A climbing wall, a volleyball >>> court and two lap pools. On-site car washes, oil changes and >>> haircuts, >>> not to mention free doctor checkups. >>> >>> But the biggest perk may come with the morning commute...[...] >>> >>> >> > -------------------------------------------------------- > IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via > YAHOOGROUPS. > > Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss > to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The > yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post > to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it > seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing > countries (the 'Global South'). -------------- next part -------------- Skipped content of type text/enriched From litman at vtpi.org Tue Mar 20 01:13:05 2007 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:13:05 -0700 Subject: [sustran] VTPI News - Winter 2007 Message-ID: <6.2.3.4.2.20070319091251.06cb9bd8@mail.islandnet.com> ----------- VTPI NEWS ----------- Victoria Transport Policy Institute "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" ------------------------------------- Winter 2007 Vol. 10, No. 1 ----------------------------------- The Victoria Transport Policy Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to developing innovative solutions to transportation problems. The VTPI website (http://www.vtpi.org ) has many resources addressing a wide range of transport planning and policy issues. VTPI also provides consulting services. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ONLINE TDM ENCYCLOPEDIA ======================== The VTPI "Online TDM Encyclopedia" (http://www.vtpi.org/tdm ) is a comprehensive information resource to help identify and evaluate innovative management solutions to transport problems, available for free on our website. During March 2007 we significantly updated and expanded the Encyclopedia, with many more links and an easier-to-use reference format. As always, we appreciate feedback. Please let us know if you have suggestions for improving it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPDATED DOCUMENTS ============== "Evaluating Rail Transit Criticism" (www.vtpi.org/railcrit.pdf ) This report evaluates criticism of rail transit systems. It examines claims that rail transit is ineffective at increasing public transit ridership and improving transportation system performance, that rail transit investments are not cost effective, and that transit is an outdated form of transportation. It finds that critics often misrepresent issues and use biased and inaccurate analysis. "Distance-Based Vehicle Insurance As A TDM Strategy" (http://www.vtpi.org/dbvi.pdf ) Distance-based (also called 'Pay-As-You-Drive') pricing makes vehicle insurance premiums directly related to annual vehicle-travel. This makes vehicle insurance more actuarially accurate (premiums better reflect the claim costs of each vehicle) and gives motorists a new opportunity to save money when they reduce their mileage. It can help achieve several public policy objectives including equity, road safety, consumer savings and choice, congestion reduction, facility cost savings, energy savings and environmental protection. This indicates that distance-based pricing is technically and economically feasible, and can provide significant benefits to motorists and society. We believe that it is one of the best 'Win-Win Transportation Solutions' (http://www.vtpi.org/winwin.pdf ). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PUBLISHED ELSEWHERE Below are recently published reports and articles. Litman, Todd (2007), 'Evaluating Rail Transit Benefits: A Comment,' "Transport Policy," Vol. 14, No. 1 (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/0967070X ), January 2007, pp. 94-97. This commentary responds to recent articles criticize urban rail transit investments on grounds that they are ineffective at reducing traffic congestion and financially wasteful. It summarizes some of the findings of more detailed analyses of transit benefits and suggests that there is abundant evidence that high quality, grade-separated transit does reduce urban traffic congestion, and that urban transit improvements can be cost effective investments when all economic impacts are considered (based on "Smart Congestion Reductions II: Reevaluating The Role Of Public Transit For Improving Urban Transportation," http://www.vtpi.org/cong_reliefII.pdf ). "Urban Transportation Management," Handbook on Urban Sustainability, Nolberto Munier Editor, Springer (www.springer.com), 2006. This book, written by worldwide specialists from Canada, India, Italy, Palestine, Peru, Spain and the Netherlands, is a guide to establishing a city on a sustainable path. It addresses sustainable urban planning issues by breaking the city down to its main components. Interviews with Reid Ewing and Todd Litman, Smart City Radio (http://smartcityradio.fluidhosting.com/2007/01-January/010407_SmartCity.mp3 ), January 04, 2007. Smart City is a weekly hour-long public radio talk show that takes an in-depth look at urban life "Planetizen Interchange" (http://www.planetizen.com/interchange ) is a new blog created to host commentary from leading authors, scholars, and professionals in the fields of urban planning, design and development. This is intended to provide exposure to new viewpoints and ideas, encourage discourse that cuts across disciplinary boundaries, and expand and inform the community of people working to improve the built environment. We will be making regular contributions to this blog. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BEEN THERE/DONE THAT ===================== VTPI presented papers at the following event: Keynote presentation at the "National Conference on Disaster Planning for the Carless Society" (www.carlessevacuation.org), New Orleans, 8-9 February 2007. See Planetizen Podcast (http://www.planetizen.com/node/22898 ). This presentation was based on the paper, "Lessons from Katrinia and Rita: What Major Disasters Can Teach Transportation Planners," (http://www.vtpi.org/katrina.pdf ), ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ UPCOMING EVENTS ================ VTPI will participate in these upcoming events: "Plain Talk On Quality Growth" (http://www.etqg.org ) 29-30 March 2007 Knoxville Convention Center This conference, organized by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, will help identify strategies to better integrate economic, social and environmental objectives into transportation and land use planning decisions. "Parking Management Best Practices" professional development workshop (S009) Saturday, 14 April, 9:00am-noon American Planning Association Annual Conference 14-18 April 2007, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia (http://www.planning.org/2007conference) This seminar will explore various ways to efficiently manage parking facilities in order to achieve various transportation and land use planning objectives. Based on the book "Parking Management Best Practices" (http://www.vtpi.org/park_man.pdf ). "Transportation Land Use Impacts" Professional Development Seminar Monday, May 14, 9:00am-4:30pm Victoria, BC (Venue TBD) Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (http://www.apeg.bc.ca/prodev/prodevevents.html ) This seminar will investigate various impacts that transportation decisions have on land use patterns, and ways to incorporate 'smart growth' land use planning objectives into transportation decision making. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ USEFUL RESOURCES ================= "SMARTRAQ" Reports (http://www.act-trans.ubc.ca/smartraq/pages ) The new 'Active Transport Collaboratory' website (www.act-trans.ubc.ca ) provides extensive information to help create healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and energy efficient communities, including results of the groundbreaking SMARTRAQ (Strategies for Metropolitan Atlanta's Regional Transportation and Air Quality) study. This is one of the most comprehensive, innovative and academically rigorous research programs ever conducted on the relationships between land use, transportation, public health and the environment. The website provides free access to a range of research products that can help assist students, faculty, and those interested in this area of research, including reports, scientific journal articles and databases. The $4.6 million multidisciplinary SMARTRAQ program pioneered the integration of travel, land use, health outcomes and consumer preferences in a single comprehensive study. It helps answer key questions concerning the relationships between local land use development patterns, travel behavior, physical activity, obesity, air quality, and consumers? housing preferences. The ACT-Trans website hosts all materials and products to date from the project, established and co-codirected by Collaboratory director Lawrence Frank. The Active Transport Collaboratory website is maintained by the School of Community & Regional Planning (SCARP), and the Institute for Resources, the Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia. The lab opened in 2005 with funding from the Bombardier Foundation and the Canada Foundations for Innovation and conducts research on the relationships between land use, transportation, air quality, climate change, energy use, active transportation (walking and cycling), physical fitness and public health. Numerous agency reports, journal articles, and a massive slide collection of urban scenes have been posted to the website, including selections from the Gordon Price photo collection, which documents nearly three decades of urban environments, are available for download from this site. "Bus Rapid Transit in Johannesburg: Implications for Mini-bus Taxis" (http://itdp.org/STe/ste23/johannesburg.html) In November 2006, the Johannesburg City Council approved a full BRT system, to be called Rea Vaya, scheduled to open by April 2009, in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The 94-kilometer system will have a North ? South corridor connecting Sunninghill to Soweto, with service to the central business district, and an East ? West route connecting Sandton, Randburg, and Alexandra. The long-term vision is to develop a system that places over 85% of Johannesburg?s population within 500 meters (1/3 of a mile) of a Rea Vaya trunk or feeder corridor. This is particularly exciting because in July 2006 VTPI Director Todd Litman participated in a tour of South Africa to promote this concept with Lloyd Wright, author of the "BRT Planning Guide" (http://www.itdp.org/brt_guide.html ). For more information see the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy website (http://www.itdp.org ). The Clinton Climate Initiative is providing operational planning support for the system. Nelson\Nygaard (2006), "Traffic Reduction Strategies Study," City of Pasadena (www.cityofpasadena.net); available at www.cityofpasadena.net/councilagendas/2007%20agendas/Feb_26_07/Pasadena%20Traffic%20Reduction%20Strategies%2011-20-06%20DRAFT.pdf. This report recommends various congestion reduction strategies that can be implemented by a city to reduce traffic, including parking pricing and cash out, transit service improvements and congestion pricing. Gloria Ohland and Shelley Poticha (2006), "Street Smart: Streetcars and Cities in the Twentry-First Century," Reconnecting America (http://www.reconnectingamerica.org/html/TOD/StreetcarBook.htm ). David Levinson and Ahmed El-Geneidy "Development of Accessibility Measures," Report No. 1 published by the Access to Destinations program at the University of Minnesota?s Center for Transportation Studies (www.cts.umn.edu/access-study/publications). The Access to Destinations Study is a comprehensive research program investigating the relationships between the transportation system, land use trends, and travel behavior. "BC Clean Air Kit" (http://www.cleanairkit.ca ) is an online tool to help local government implement practical strategies that save energy and reduce transportation emissions. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please let us know if you have comments or questions about any information in this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our email list. And please pass this newsletter on to others who may find it useful. Sincerely, Todd Alexander Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) litman@vtpi.org Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070319/f05176ca/attachment.html From sri at giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Sat Mar 17 20:26:41 2007 From: sri at giaspn01.vsnl.net.in (Prof J G Krishnayya) Date: Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:56:41 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? In-Reply-To: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001037E727C@mail01.cbuchanan.co.u k> Message-ID: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical for India. Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the ?Fast Lane?, i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are ?Long? busses, with centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would exist at each location for both directions. An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run in the grade-separated, ?Fast lane? of the southbound side of the road. And busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. Contra-ideas, anyone? J G Krishnayya ============== Prof J G Krishnayya Director, Systems Research Institute, 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Alan Howes Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 6:00 PM To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Great minds ... I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has - OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that guarantee action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - "we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" and then "The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments ..." So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what price bus lanes by the end of this year? Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? Sorry to ask so many questions! Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ _____ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc. org] On Behalf Of Brendan Finn Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Dear Alan, I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : 1) It is simple and unambiguous 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation arises, no need for control systems. 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should have priority. With best wishes, Brendan. ________________________________________________________________________ _____________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc. org] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network ........................................................................ ........................................................................ ............................................ DISCLAIMER This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070317/18438f21/attachment.html From sujit at vsnl.com Tue Mar 20 14:44:02 2007 From: sujit at vsnl.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:14:02 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? In-Reply-To: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> References: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> Message-ID: <4cfd20aa0703192244v7fb1edacuf5b14edfd30bf00c@mail.gmail.com> 20 March 2007 Dear JG, I thought you had seen the BRT being implemented (even if shoddily) in Pune. The dedicated bus lanes are in the central as you describe: Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Do take a look. The design is good and will eventually start working but it seems such a waste to execute it so badly as Pune Municipal Corporation is doing. Already people traveling in these BRT buses are experiencing something unique - seeing the buses move faster than other auto vehicles on the road, and that's how it should be. Regards, -- Sujit On 3/17/07, Prof J G Krishnayya wrote: > > Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical > for India. > > > > Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a > divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking > the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half > of the road. > > This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and > from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) > or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers > can board and get off onto a central island.. > > Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are "Long" busses, with > centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut > doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would > exist at each location for both directions. > > > > An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS > busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run > in the grade-separated, "Fast lane" of the southbound side of the road. And > busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of > the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left > side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. > > > > Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with > our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, > Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the > BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS > lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses > running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. > > > > Contra-ideas, anyone? > > > > J G Krishnayya > > ============== > > Prof *J G Krishnayya* > > Director*, Systems Research Institute*, > > 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India > > www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 > > jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 > > sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 > > > > -----Original Message----- > *From:* sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org[mailto: > sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org] *On Behalf > Of *Alan Howes > *Sent:* Friday, March 16, 2007 6:00 PM > *To:* Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info > *Subject:* [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes > > > > Great minds ... > > > > I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather more > carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has - OK the > Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that guarantee > action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to > implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - > > "we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of > Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" > > and then > > "The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to > all the departments ..." > > > > So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see them > taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least nine > months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what price bus > lanes by the end of this year? > > > > Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? > Sorry to ask so many questions! > > > > Regards, Alan > > > > > > -- > Alan Howes > Associate Transport Planner > Colin Buchanan > 4 St Colme Street > Edinburgh EH3 6AA > Scotland > email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk > tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) > fax: (0)131 220 0232 > www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes= > cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto: > sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] *On > Behalf Of *Brendan Finn > *Sent:* 16 March 2007 11:32 > *To:* Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info > *Subject:* [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes > > Dear Alan, > > > > I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : > > > > 1) It is simple and unambiguous > > > > 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether > they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation > arises, no need for control systems. > > > > 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for > incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should > have priority. > > > > With best wishes, > > > > > > Brendan. > > > _____________________________________________________________________________________ > >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : > +353.87.2530286 > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Alan Howes > > *To:* edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > > *Sent:* Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM > > *Subject:* [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > > > > I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the > (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? > > Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or > are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows > are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there > would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I > could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no > problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always > give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that > would be an unnecessary expense. > > Regards, Alan > > > -- > Alan Howes > Associate Transport Planner > Colin Buchanan > 4 St Colme Street > Edinburgh EH3 6AA > Scotland > email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk > tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) > fax: (0)131 220 0232 > www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org[mailto: > sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On > Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory > Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 > To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > > Alan Howes wrote: > > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately > to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the > bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA > explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the > buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before > and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only > potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used > (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal > in terms of getting across the road). > > > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, > etc. Am I missing something? > > - T > > -- > > -------------------------------------------- > > Todd Edelman > Director > Green Idea Factory > > Korunn? 72 > CZ-10100 Praha 10 > Czech Republic > > ++420 605 915 970 > ++420 222 517 832 > Skype: toddedelman > > edelman@greenidea.eu > http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain > > Green Idea Factory, > a member of World Carfree Network > > > ............................................................................................................................................................................................ > > DISCLAIMER > > > > This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended > solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. > Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the > addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you > have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to > this email. > > > > Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not > constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin > Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any > professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our > terms and conditions of business. > > > > We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software > viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by > software viruses. > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via > YAHOOGROUPS. > > Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to > join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The > yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the > real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you > can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan sujit@vsnl.com sujitjp@gmail.com "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) www.pttf.net ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070320/8c47b09a/attachment.html From lutman at globalnet.co.uk Tue Mar 20 20:16:04 2007 From: lutman at globalnet.co.uk (Peter Lutman) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 11:16:04 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? References: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> Message-ID: <001a01c76ae1$284cb4d0$4003a8c0@yourc31f6adbb1> I believe that the 'wrong-way' working on dedicated, segregated bus lanes is used in Quito and elsewhere in South America so that (trolley)buses with doors on the right can unload and load at central platforms. It seems to work well, but I am not sure what arrangements would be necessary if the vehicles had to leave the busway and join general traffic on a section of the route. Peter Lutman -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070320/52224a6a/attachment.html From alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk Wed Mar 21 06:23:33 2007 From: alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 21:23:33 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? References: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> <001a01c76ae1$284cb4d0$4003a8c0@yourc31f6adbb1> Message-ID: <00a301c76b36$0e5a6680$2a7ab351@userukifbwjukr> I'm interested to hear that this is done in Quito. I had considered it a possibility - but my worry was about problems at junctions and the like. Needs thinking about. Anyone out there who can advise? Sujit - you say the bus lanes in Pune are "in the central" - can you be more specific? Or even better, point us to some photos of the scheme in action! Alan -- Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Lutman To: sri@pn1.vsnl.net.in ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 11:16 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not run on the other side of the road-divider? I believe that the 'wrong-way' working on dedicated, segregated bus lanes is used in Quito and elsewhere in South America so that (trolley)buses with doors on the right can unload and load at central platforms. It seems to work well, but I am not sure what arrangements would be necessary if the vehicles had to leave the busway and join general traffic on a section of the route. Peter Lutman ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----- Original Message ----- From: Prof J G Krishnayya To: 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport' Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:26 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not run on the other side of the road-divider? Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical for India. Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are "Long" busses, with centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would exist at each location for both directions. An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run in the grade-separated, "Fast lane" of the southbound side of the road. And busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. Contra-ideas, anyone? J G Krishnayya ============== Prof J G Krishnayya Director, Systems Research Institute, 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070320/e812a95b/attachment.html From lfwright at usa.net Wed Mar 21 09:38:45 2007 From: lfwright at usa.net (Lloyd Wright) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 20:38:45 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? Message-ID: <013Lcualt2186S29.1174437525@cmsweb29.cms.usa.net> Quito only ran counter-flow for a short period (2 months) on its Ecovia line while awaiting new vehicles with the doors on the correct side (left-sided doorways). The trolley vehicles were with right-sided doorways. In general, the evidence to date suggests that running counter-flow can work but there are consequeces for pedestrians. Invariably there are higher pedestrian injuries and deaths due to forcing the pedestrian to look 4 directions just to safely cross the street. Here in Quito, the trolley already has a higher pedestrian accident rate due to its quiet operation. Adding in couter-flow movements would only worsen this. ------ Original Message ------ Received: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 07:35:55 AM EDT From: "Peter Lutman" To: , "Global 'South' Sustainable Transport" Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? I believe that the 'wrong-way' working on dedicated, segregated bus lanes is used in Quito and elsewhere in South America so that (trolley)buses with doors on the right can unload and load at central platforms. It seems to work well, but I am not sure what arrangements would be necessary if the vehicles had to leave the busway and join general traffic on a section of the route. Peter Lutman From sujit at vsnl.com Wed Mar 21 13:06:17 2007 From: sujit at vsnl.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 09:36:17 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the road-divider? In-Reply-To: <00a301c76b36$0e5a6680$2a7ab351@userukifbwjukr> References: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> <00a301c76b36$0e5a6680$2a7ab351@userukifbwjukr> Message-ID: <4cfd20aa0703202106g916345g30f1d651a40ab856@mail.gmail.com> 21 March 2007 Alan, Sorry that was a typo. I meant they run in the centre of the road. I don't think yahoogroups permits attachments but I will send you a drawing in a separate mail. Meanwhile I will try to describe it: Nearest to the edge of the road is the Footpath (for pedestrians) Next is the cycle track (still under way) This is followed by two lanes for motorized traffic (other than BRT buses) Finally the BRT bus lane segregated from other traffic by 6 inch tall ferro-concrete blocks screwed into the road surface. The bus stops for BRT are located at about every 600 meters at road junctions and meant for serving BRT buses moving in one direction only hence they are on located between the second MV (motor vehicle) lane and the BRT lane. To accommodate the width the road is slightly broadened at the junctions and a BRT overtaking lane is also accommodated to enable express buses to overtake the buses standing on the bus stop. Bus stops are beforethe junction, which enables passengers to get off the bus and cross on the zebra crossing to reach the footpath. This is the design but presently to keep the dedicated lane active, the ordinary PMT (Pune Municipal Transport) buses are allowed to use the dedicated lanes. Many details need to be worked out and hopefully will be -- including enforcement to ensure the zebra crossings are not over run by vehicles stopping for the red light, signage, cycle tracks, BRT bus stops with facility for fine buses to be move close enough to bus stops for "same level boarding" (presently through old habits they park about 6 feet away making nonsense of the level boarding concept.) Hope this give you a better idea. Will try to send photos. -- Sujit On 3/21/07, Alan Howes wrote: > > I'm interested to hear that this is done in Quito. I had considered it a > possibility - but my worry was about problems at junctions and the like. > Needs thinking about. Anyone out there who can advise? > > Sujit - you say the bus lanes in Pune are "in the central" - can you be > more specific? Or even better, point us to some photos of the scheme in > action! > > Alan > > -- > Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Peter Lutman > *To:* sri@pn1.vsnl.net.in ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > *Sent:* Tuesday, March 20, 2007 11:16 AM > *Subject:* [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not > run on the other side of the road-divider? > > I believe that the 'wrong-way' working on dedicated, segregated bus lanes > is used in Quito and elsewhere in South America so that (trolley)buses with > doors on the right can unload and load at central platforms. It seems to > work well, but I am not sure what arrangements would be necessary if the > vehicles had to leave the busway and join general traffic on a section of > the route. > > Peter Lutman > > ------------------------------ > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Prof J G Krishnayya > *To:* 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport' > *Sent:* Saturday, March 17, 2007 11:26 AM > *Subject:* [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not > run on the other side of the road-divider? > > Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical > for India. > > > > Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a > divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking > the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half > of the road. > > This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and > from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) > or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers > can board and get off onto a central island.. > > Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are "Long" busses, with > centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut > doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would > exist at each location for both directions. > > > > An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS > busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run > in the grade-separated, "Fast lane" of the southbound side of the road. And > busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of > the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left > side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. > > > > Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with > our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, > Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the > BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS > lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses > running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. > > > > Contra-ideas, anyone? > > > > J G Krishnayya > > ============== > > Prof *J G Krishnayya* > > Director*, Systems Research Institute*, > > 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India > > www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 > > jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 > > sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via > YAHOOGROUPS. > > Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to > join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The > yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the > real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you > can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan sujit@vsnl.com sujitjp@gmail.com "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) www.pttf.net ------------------------------------------------------ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070321/dec2bb46/attachment.html From binac at rediffmail.com Wed Mar 21 18:29:54 2007 From: binac at rediffmail.com (Bina C. Balakrishnan) Date: 21 Mar 2007 09:29:54 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively, why not run on the other side of the r Message-ID: <20070321092954.27895.qmail@webmail27.rediffmail.com> ? Actually, we've already considered all the options that you have mentioned. - When I talked about the median lane, I was referring to the "Fast lane". This is what the Core Group (CWG) has recommended.The entry and exits are from the existing medians,which will be developed into bus stations, and we are , as I said in an earlier post, recommending doors on the right side. - Running buses on the "WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD " as you have said- we call them Contra Flow buses - were also considerd for a long time by the CWG,for precisely the reason you have mentioned : the location of the doors, and for various other reasons, dropped. Actually, Contra Flow bus lanes at the median had the added advantage of not likely to be violated by other traffic! Regards Bina C. Balakrishnan On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 Prof J G Krishnayya wrote : >Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical >for India. > >Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a >divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane >(taking the place of the ?Fast Lane?, i.e. to the right hand edge of the >left half of the road. >This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and > from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the >bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that >passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. >Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are ?Long? busses, >with centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body >and cut doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or >station would exist at each location for both directions. > >An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS >busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would >run in the grade-separated, ?Fast lane? of the southbound side of the >road. And busses going South would run in the fast lane of the >northbound side of the divided highway. Then one would use the normal >doors (on the left side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to >strengthen the chassis. > >Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that >with our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in >general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 >inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal >accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no >problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the >regular stream of traffic. > >Contra-ideas, anyone? > >J G Krishnayya >============== >Prof J G Krishnayya >Director, Systems Research Institute, >17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India >www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 >jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 >sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 > >-----Original Message----- > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org] On >Behalf Of Alan Howes >Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 6:00 PM >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info >Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes > >Great minds ... > >I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather >more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has >- OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that >guarantee action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to >implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - >"we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of >Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" >and then >"The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to >all the departments ..." > >So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see >them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least >nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what >price bus lanes by the end of this year? > >Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? >Sorry to ask so many questions! > >Regards, Alan > > >-- >Alan Howes >Associate Transport Planner >Colin Buchanan >4 St Colme Street >Edinburgh EH3 6AA >Scotland >email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk >tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) >fax: (0)131 220 0232 >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > > _____ > > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc. >org] On Behalf Of Brendan Finn >Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info >Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes >Dear Alan, > >I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : > >1) It is simple and unambiguous > >2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether >they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation >arises, no need for control systems. > >3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for >incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area >should have priority. > >With best wishes, > > >Brendan. >________________________________________________________________________ >_____________ > >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : >+353.87.2530286 >----- Original Message ----- > From: Alan Howes >To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > >Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM >Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > >I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the >(two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? > >Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop >or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus >flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai >there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm >wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I >see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses >always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but >IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. > >Regards, Alan > > >-- >Alan Howes >Associate Transport Planner >Colin Buchanan >4 St Colme Street >Edinburgh EH3 6AA >Scotland >email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk >tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) >fax: (0)131 220 0232 >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > >-----Original Message----- > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc. >org] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory >Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport >Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > >Alan Howes wrote: > > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed >immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on >the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to >fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - >at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a >gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly >feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the >necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even >pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the >road). > > >That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, >etc. Am I missing something? > >- T > >-- > >-------------------------------------------- > >Todd Edelman >Director >Green Idea Factory > >Korunn? 72 >CZ-10100 Praha 10 >Czech Republic > >++420 605 915 970 >++420 222 517 832 >Skype: toddedelman > >edelman@greenidea.eu >http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain > >Green Idea Factory, >a member of World Carfree Network >........................................................................ >........................................................................ >............................................ >DISCLAIMER > >This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they >are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to >receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it >to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact >the sender by replying to this email. > >Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not >constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of >Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any >professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to >our terms and conditions of business. > >We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software >viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by >software viruses. > >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com Mobile : +91 98926 41341 Home : +91 22 23630572 Skype : binacb From alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk Thu Mar 22 05:45:30 2007 From: alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 20:45:30 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Fw: [Transit-Prof] Re: BRT - switchover lanes ....alternatively, why not run on the other Message-ID: <004501c76bf9$e21febc0$33edb351@userukifbwjukr> Sustranners will be interested in this. -- Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland ----- Original Message ----- From: LEECH, Colin To: Transit-Prof@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 3:50 PM Subject: RE: [Transit-Prof] Re: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes ....alternatively,why not run on the other Robert Campbell wrote: > Boston's solution in the City of Cambridge is to have left hand > doors on its trackless trolleys (trolley buses): this is for the bus > (former trolley/tram) tunnel underneath Harvard Square and > for operation > on Aberdeen Avenue where boarding/alighting is done in the median of > this boulevarded type street. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston-area_trackless_trolleys > [ For light rail in Cleveland, there used to be wrong way running in > the section where the trolley cars ("Shaker Heights Rapid") run on the > same right of way as the heavy rapid transit. The trolleys used a > central low platform, and the CTS rapid used central high level > platforms. I don't know if this still pertains.] I don't know the geography of Cleveland to know whether this is the same area or not, but their new Silver Line BRT will have doors on both sides of the buses - see: http://www.euclidtransit.org/rapid_transit_system/design_engineering.asp Eugene Oregon got their "doors on both sides" BRT running a little bit before Cleveland, see: http://www.ltd.org/pdf/EmX%20how%20to%20ride%20brochure%20web.pdf http://www.ltd.org/search/showresult.html?versionthread=6eec24bb231297a66d73fb145404cef2 I have been told that such buses also exist in Mexico City and Leon, a city in central Mexico. Montreal had peak-period contra-flow bus lanes on Pie-IX Boulevard in the east end, with passenger stations in the median and conventional buses. This created several issues: - pedestrians stepping out in front of buses coming from a direction they aren't expecting - head-on collisions with oncoming traffic - collisions with other vehicles at intersections - confusion among passengers during the changeover times between the media contra-flow operations and the conventional curbside operations These contraflow lanes have not been service for a couple of years and I'm not clear on what the major factor was in their demise. Each bus used on this service had a large illuminated flashing arrow on the front to wake up oncoming drivers who may have ignored the static signage that was in place. Intersections can be handled to some degree by providing fully protected traffic signal phases for left turns, but cars entering the street from side streets are still an issue. In London UK there are signs in tourist areas warning pedestrians to look in both directions before crossing since there are so many tourists visiting from countries where traffic operates on the other side of the street. I don't know how Montreal handled the changeovers at each end of the contraflow lanes. I was thinking that having doors on both sides of the buses might be a way for Montreal to revive the Pie-IX bus lanes. The "problem" with this idea is that you wind up with a dedicated facility - good for transit, but bad for traffic capacity and hence tough to sell to the public and politicians. The old Pie-IX lanes were contraflow, which is good for traffic capacity, but bad for safety (especially in our winters when lane markings are buried under snow). Montreal also has peak period contraflow bus lanes on the Champlain Bridge, but there are no passenger stops to worry about. Ramps have been built at each end to allow access into/egress out of the lanes. In addition to the static signage along the road, they also put out traffic cones along the dividing line between the bus lane and the oncoming traffic. It's labour intensive but it has been in operation for about 30 years and works well. Prof J G Krishnayya wrote: > Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is > impractical for India. > > Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a > divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane > (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand > edge of the left half of the road. > > This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to > and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the > left side of > the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the > bus, so that > passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. The Spadina LRT line in Toronto has two reserved train tracks in the middle of a wide road. I believe the passenger platforms are on the outside of the tracks, resulting in separate islands between the tracks and the regular traffic. I see no reason why the passenger platforms could not be put between the tracks, or between the bus lanes in the case of a BRT. I see your choices as: - standard buses with standard doors, running contra-flow with a single median island - standard buses running with the regular traffic, with new passenger islands between the buses and the other traffic - buses running with regular traffic, with doors on the wrong side (may or may not need doors on the standard side also depending on whether they are used elsewhere as well) The ideal configuration will depend on your local conditions. > Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that > with our population density, and general attitude towards > discipline in > general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 > inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal > accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no > problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the > regular stream of traffic. My preference would be to physically separate the two transit lanes from the rest of the traffic. Whether this is through curbs or fencing is up to you (8" seems a bit high to me). Fencing is easier for LRT than BRT since you don't have to worry about the lateral width for vehicles to wander from side to side. Once the transit lanes are physically separated from the other traffic, it makes less difference which direction the buses are running in each lane. The problem with the Pie-IX lanes in Montreal IMHO was that they were used in one direction by cars during some times of the day, while used in the opposing direction for buses at other times of the day. If you have completely dedicated bus lanes, it's easier to avoid this kind of confusion. You will still have issues with other traffic at intersections, but those issues are a lot easier to control as the physical separation will help alert other drivers to the conditions. In Montreal they just used the regular lanes with some signs. Peter Lutman wrote: > 'wrong-way' working [...] I am not sure what arrangements > would be necessary if the vehicles had to leave the busway and join > general traffic on a section of the route. It shouldn't be too hard to design something suitable. You can install a set of traffic signals that turn red for all other traffic while allowing the buses to exit from the bus lane to wherever they are going. Ramps and other ideas are feasible if you have the space. I don't see this being the major hurdle with the scheme but it will take a bit of thought. All opinions are my own, not necessarily shared by my employer. Feel free to pass them along to the other mailing lists. -------------- Colin R. Leech City of Ottawa TPO - Transit Priority Measures Ville d'Ottawa DCS - Mesures de priorit? au transport en commun 613-580-2424 ext./poste 13826 Colin.Leech@Ottawa.ca This e-mail originates from the City of Ottawa e-mail system. Any distribution, use or copying of this e-mail or the information it contains by other than the intended recipient(s) is unauthorized. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify me at the telephone number shown above or by return e-mail and delete this communication and any copy immediately. Thank you. Le pr?sent courriel a ?t? exp?di? par le syst?me de courriels de la Ville d'Ottawa. Toute distribution, utilisation ou reproduction du courriel ou des renseignements qui s'y trouvent par une personne autre que son destinataire pr?vu est interdite. Si vous avez re?u le message par erreur, veuillez m'en aviser par t?l?phone (au num?ro pr?cit?) ou par courriel, puis supprimer sans d?lai la version originale de la communication ainsi que toutes ses copies. Je vous remercie de votre collaboration. ------------------------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Transit-Prof/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Transit-Prof/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:Transit-Prof-digest@yahoogroups.com mailto:Transit-Prof-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: Transit-Prof-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070321/eb5f760e/attachment.html From alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk Thu Mar 22 06:05:43 2007 From: alan at ourpeagreenboat.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:05:43 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! References: <20070317083736.15791.qmail@webmail60.rediffmail.com> Message-ID: <005201c76bfc$b4d00210$33edb351@userukifbwjukr> Thanks Bina - I was in Mumbai for two weeks in Feb/March, and another four weeks in Aug/Sept. But most of my meetings were in the first visit. And now I have looked up the notes of my meeting with MMRDA (P K Murthy), they don't say anything about cross-over median bus lanes! However, someone I met in Mumbai definitely floated the idea. I note all you say. So BRT is definitely going to happen on the WEH? What are the other corridors in phase I? I would be very intersted to know more - are there any consultation documents around? I have to say that my initial reaction to the WEH proposal is a bit tepid. How will the BRT journey times compare with suburban rail - and how is the market expected to be segmented between rail and BRT? OK, rail is grossly over-crowded - but are there good reasons to put BRT into a corridor already well served by rail? Whether WEH is the place or not, I'm sure there are places in Mumbai that merit BRT. But what Mumbai also needs is the next rung down the ladder - comprehensive bus prorities for "regular" bus routes (not to mention getting on with SATIS). I am a bit worried that the powers that be are seduced by the Big Project of BRT (which on all past experience will take a lot longer than planned), rather than get on with the host of small schemes needed to ensure that using public transport, cycling and walking are made much more attractive - so avoiding Mumbai getting even more grid-locked as more people can afford to choose their mode of transport. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes, Perthshire, Scotland ----- Original Message ----- From: Bina C. Balakrishnan To: Alan Howes Cc: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Saturday, March 17, 2007 8:37 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan, MTSU is a little know office, and may not have been in existence when you were in Mumbai - when was that? It stands for Mumbai Transformation Support Unit, and deals with a lot more than just transportation. It covers all aspects of the city - I deal with the transportation part. We are looking at with - flow bus lanes, but are looking at placing orders for buses with doors on the right for the BRT routes. The rest will continue to be used for the other routes, at least until the BRT can become city wide. The suggestion of swapping lanes was not made by the MMRDA, altho they were very much a part of the Core Group. We shall certainly look into it, altho I am personally not in favour of it. Thats because the bus speeds will be compromised, and given the fact that the Western Express Highway has about 17 flyovers along its length, the bus stations will have to be placed carefully in the valleys of the successive flyovers - ie between the down grade of one and the up- grade of the other. I think it is obvious that the safety of the system will be compromised if we have the buses weaving just as they come down the slope of the flyover. As regards the gap being used by other traffic - we hope to have these lanes fully segregated, so that wont happen anyway. And the MMRDA have a large number of pedestrian subways in place also along the WEH. But I do agree with you - pedestrians do have a VERY raw deal in Mumbai. We're working on it at the MTSU - we just need a little time. Regards, Bina On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 Alan Howes wrote : >My problem is that having spent six weeks in Mumbai last year, >while I mastered reasonably well the transport issues and the >geography, I still have not got all these institutions and >acronyms sorted out! What is the MTSU? I would guess Mumbai or >Maharashtra Transport Studies Unit - but knowing the name does >not tell me what it is or what it represents. Would anyone like >to volunteer to put a glossary of Maharashtra transport acronyms >on a website somewhere? > >Anyway, it's obvious that judgement of "responsible reporting" is >something of a subjective matter - but I did wonder whether Raj >could tell his right from his left. My understanding is that all >proposed Mumbai bus lanes will be on divided highways - when Raj >wrote about lanes in the "middle of the road" I really did not >know whether he meant the middle of the carriageway or next to >the median (and did "right" mean on the wrong side?). > >Anyway, my understanding of the MMRDA proposals is as explained >in Bina's post. The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes >placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming >bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side >(an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious >proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap >sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and >after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only >potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be >used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a >pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > >I would be interested to know if this proposal is still being >pursued. > >But I have to say that I will be very pleasantly surprised if a >significant amount of properly-designed, properly-enforced bus >lanes are in operation in Mumbai by the end of 2007. > >Regards, Alan > >-- >Alan Howes >Associate Transport Planner >Colin Buchanan >4 St Colme Street >Edinburgh EH3 6AA >Scotland >email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk >tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) >fax: (0)131 220 0232 >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > >-----Original Message----- > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] >On Behalf Of Bina C. Balakrishnan >Sent: 16 March 2007 08:00 >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport >Cc: Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) >Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a >joke! > > >I am surprised and frankly disappointed at Rajendra's reporting: >I always thought you were one of the more responsible >reporters. >The following response has been approved by the Core Working >Group, of which I am also a member, and is being posted as a >collective reply. Left to myself, I should have responded with a >little more bite! > > >"Let's start with the Core Group: As Coordinator of the Core >Working Group (CWG) on BRTS for Mumbai, we at the MTSU have >already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as >long back as the 6th of February 2007. The CWG is formed of one >officer from all the directly concerned departments, as you have >said, to ensure better co-ordination between them. (For the >benefit of our international readers, Mumbai has about 17 >different agencies dealing with transportation- and this is all >aspects of transportation.) The Core Working Group, however, has >only 7 members, including representatives from NGOs. > >The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, >2007, to all the departments in the presence of the Principal >Secretary, Transport, and this was accepted by the Government of >Maharashtra right there. At the same meeting, we were asked to >draw up the Terms of Reference for the Consultants to be >appointed by the MMRDA to carry out the Feasibility Study for >BRTS. The study will examine the feasibility of a city wide BRTS, >with priority on the corridors that we have identified for phase >I. These Terms of Reference have also been finalized, and >submitted to the MMRDA. The CWG will continue to monitor the >progress of the project, as well as the work of the >consultants. > >The whole process of appointing a CWG and going thru a pre- >feasibility study and recommending a Feasibility Study was to >avoid the mistakes made by the BEST when they arbitrarily >introduced a dedicated bus lane between CST (formerly called >Victoria Terminus) and Churchgate, and which failed because of >various reasons- primarily lack of adequate planning. > >Prior to the formation of the CWG, the Government did have a >proposal to start a Dedicated Bus Lane between Thane and Dadar, >with a pilot section between Dadar and Sion. In this section, the >BEST have about 45 routes operating, and there would have been no >question of the lane being under-utilised and therefore being >over-run by other traffic. Moreover, we had already identified >and verified supplementary networks to accommodate any spillover >traffic on this route. It was in this context that the BEST had >their buses painted, but before it could be implemented, the >Election Code of Conduct time bar came into force, and the >project had to be temporarily shelved. > >Regarding the concerned BRTS lane - you are all confused. The CWG >has recommended the median lanes - ie the lanes alongside the >median - to capitalize on the available infrastructure, and >reduce delays from other traffic. This will enable the BRT buses >to use all the flyovers, and improve their operating speeds. >Also, the median width can be used to accommodate the bus >stations. Bus lanes on the LEFT will definitely be affected by >parked vehicles. (Where did the right lane come into the picture? >We drive on the left side of the road, right?) However, the scope >of work for the consultants includes examining the feasibility of >using either the median or the kerb-side lane for the BRTS. >Additionally, another aspect we are working on at the MTSU is >removal of all parking on all arterial roads - so the >interference from parked cars will not a problem: but the direct >access to private properties along all roads in Mumbai will >definitely be a major problem if the kerb-side lane is used. But, >as I said - the Consultant is expected to look into all these >aspects, and recommend the best option. >As the Principal Secretary, Transport has said, "Hopefully, by >the end of the year." > >End of formal reply. > >My apologies for being so dense - but what is the joke? > >Bina C. Balakrishnan >Consultant >Transportation Planning & Engineering >Mumbai, India > > > >On Mon, 12 Mar 2007 Rajendra A(Hindustan Times) wrote : > >Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! > > > >http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1949087,000600010004.htm >?f> > > >Rajendra Aklekar > > > >Mumbai, March 11, 2007 > > > >Mumbai's Bus Rapid Transit System or simply the dedicated bus >lanes' > >project turned into a joke. > >The BEST General Manager is ready with his fleet of buses, got >them > >painted in devoted colours, a special fare structure and >timetable has > >been set, more fleet of international brand of buses ordered >and > >comprehensive plans drawn to run them on these hi-speed >corridors. But > >there's no road to run these buses and kick off the plan! > > > >The state transport ministry has appointed a "core group" to >look to > >the project and study its aspects. The group will submit a >report, the > >government will then consider it, after which a decision will >be taken. > >Simply speaking, it's stuck in red tape and won't kick off >before 2008 > >or even later. > > > >This is not all. The latest problem is a dispute between the >core group > >officials and the MMRDA as to where should the bus lane be. >While the > >MMRDA wants the lanes to be on the left, state government >officials > >want it on the right side of the roads. With no decision on the >issue, > >the matter is now hanging fire. > > > >To the specific question when will buses start running on the >BRTS > >project principal secretary > >(transport) GS Gill told HT, "By the end of this calendar >year... > >hopefully." > > > >Asked about the lane problem, a senior MMRDA official, on the >condition > >of anonymity, said bus lanes on the left would be helpful as >they would > >not slow down buses. > >"If lanes are built in the > >right, they would be obstructed by parked vehicles and hawkers, >but in > >left, there would not be any such problem. We will, however, >have to > >invest in infrastructure to build stops." There's another group >of > >experts who are proposing that the bus lanes should be in the >middle of > >the road for higher speeds. > > > >Pushed by the Central Ministry of Urban Transport and with a >promise > >that the project would be eligible for funding under Jawaharlal >Nehru > >National Urban Renewal Mission, a number of cities woke up to >the > >reality of BRTS last year, a globally accepted mode of urban >mass > >transit in crowded areas. Pune was the first city in >Maharashtra to > >kick off the BRTS in November. > > > >Mumbai's BEST too drew plans in the middle of last year, got >test-run > >done, placed an order for 20 hi-end Kinglong brand of buses for >its > >project and also converted 20 of its existing Star Bus fleet of >buses. > >It was decided that these hi-end fast buses would run between >Thane and > >Dadar for four hours in morning and evening each, segregated > from > >existing traffic by spring posts. > > > >But officials woke up to reality after they found the buses >simply > >would jam all traffic during the peak hours and it would be >difficult > >to stop other vehicles from coming in these bus lanes. > >State officials said that actual project had been delayed for >the > >benefit of the city. The core group has been formed so that >there is > >better planning and co-ordination between the state >government, > >transport department and all the agencies concerned to ensure >better > >planning for the project. > > > >The core group set up by the All India Institute of Local >Self > >Government (AIILSG), will decide the terms of reference, after >which > >the MMRDA will issue the bids and appoint the consultants. The >core > >group consists of officials from the MMRDA, BEST, AIILSG and >the BMC, > >among others. "My buses are ready. The moment I get a green >signal from > >the government, I shall run them," says BEST general manager >Uttam > >Khobragade. But the green signal, it seems, may take a few more >years. > > > >Email author: rajendra.aklekar@hindustantimes.com > > > > > >--- > >Rajendra Aklekar > >Transport Correspondent > >Hindustan Times > >HT Media Limited > >Mumbai Edition > >-- > >140-4752, Nehru Nagar > >Mumbai, 400024 > > > >Mobile: +91 9892 190 761 > >Office: 66539200 > >Fax: 66539250/60 > >--- > > > > > > > >_______________________________________________________________________ > >_____________ > >Get your own web address. > >Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business. > >http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/?p=BESTDEAL > >-------------------------------------------------------- > >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages >via YAHOOGROUPS. > > > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > > > >================================================================ > >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > > >Bina C. Balakrishnan >Consultant >Transportation Planning & Engineering >Mumbai, India >e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com >Mobile : +91 98926 41341 >Home : +91 22 23630572 >Skype : binacb > >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via >YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > >........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ >DISCLAIMER > >This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which >they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or >authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or >use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this >email in error please contact the sender by replying to this >email. > >Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do >not constitute or record professional advice relating to the >business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views >of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained >within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of >business. > >We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting >software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or >damage caused by software viruses. > > -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070321/46fb9f69/attachment.html From sudhir at secon.in Thu Mar 22 14:43:42 2007 From: sudhir at secon.in (Sudhir) Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 11:13:42 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! References: <20070317083736.15791.qmail@webmail60.rediffmail.com> <005201c76bfc$b4d00210$33edb351@userukifbwjukr> Message-ID: <005101c76c45$0caa2950$d607a8c0@SA152A> Dear Sir/Madam, I am an Highway Engineer working in National and International Highway Design Projects. I was worried about the Highway Design aspects pertaining to BRT lanes in congested urban areas. Can you please forward any highway crossections being proposed? It would be very difficult to design the junctions. Bus Stop locations, Intersections,superelevation and drainage would be the controlling factors. Regards Sudhir Secon Pvt. ltd. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070322/16e69c51/attachment.html From binac at rediffmail.com Thu Mar 22 16:04:57 2007 From: binac at rediffmail.com (Bina C. Balakrishnan) Date: 22 Mar 2007 07:04:57 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Message-ID: <20070322070457.28213.qmail@webmail64.rediffmail.com> ?Dear Sudhir, I can assure you that the junction designs will be well taken care of, without in any way compromising on safety. These designs will be part of the scope of work of the Consultants handling the project. Regards Mrs. B.C. Balakrishnan On Thu, 22 Mar 2007 Sudhir wrote : >Dear Sir/Madam, > >I am an Highway Engineer working in National and International >Highway Design Projects. >I was worried about the Highway Design aspects pertaining to BRT >lanes in congested urban areas. >Can you please forward any highway crossections being proposed? >It would be very difficult to design the junctions. >Bus Stop locations, Intersections,superelevation and drainage >would be the controlling factors. > >Regards >Sudhir >Secon Pvt. ltd. >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via >YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Bina C. Balakrishnan Consultant Transportation Planning & Engineering Mumbai, India e-mail: binac@rediffmail.com Mobile : +91 98926 41341 Home : +91 22 23630572 Skype : binacb From martincassini at blueyonder.co.uk Wed Mar 21 03:02:41 2007 From: martincassini at blueyonder.co.uk (Martin Cassini) Date: Tue, 20 Mar 2007 18:02:41 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... no road dividers. Encourage natural co-operation References: <006701c76887$4a78c190$0e01a8c0@JGK> <4cfd20aa0703192244v7fb1edacuf5b14edfd30bf00c@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <00a801c76b19$f47bb190$fe3c2352@mc> Without seeing the location(s) it's difficult to say, but in principle I'm against intervention and enforcement. The Western rules of the road (contrived distinctions between major and minor roads, and main road priority irrespective who was there first, then lights causing aggression and needless delay) have helped kill more people than have died in two world wars. Instead I prefer to trust good design and human nature (Hans Monderman and shared space). What if you let all road-users use all available road space, but encourage private or commercial drivers to give way when they saw a bus approaching? To help warn of their approach, buses could use dipped headlights. Martin ----- Original Message ----- From: Sujit Patwardhan To: sri@pn1.vsnl.net.in ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:44 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not run on the other side of the road-divider? 20 March 2007 Dear JG, I thought you had seen the BRT being implemented (even if shoddily) in Pune. The dedicated bus lanes are in the central as you describe: Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Do take a look. The design is good and will eventually start working but it seems such a waste to execute it so badly as Pune Municipal Corporation is doing. Already people traveling in these BRT buses are experiencing something unique - seeing the buses move faster than other auto vehicles on the road, and that's how it should be. Regards, -- Sujit On 3/17/07, Prof J G Krishnayya wrote: Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical for India . Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are "Long" busses, with centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would exist at each location for both directions. An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run in the grade-separated, "Fast lane" of the southbound side of the road. And busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. Contra-ideas, anyone? J G Krishnayya ============== Prof J G Krishnayya Director , Systems Research Institute, 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Alan Howes Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 6:00 PM To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Great minds ... I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has - OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that guarantee action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - "we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" and then "The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments ..." So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what price bus lanes by the end of this year? Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? Sorry to ask so many questions! Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Brendan Finn Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Dear Alan, I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : 1) It is simple and unambiguous 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation arises, no need for control systems. 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should have priority. With best wishes, Brendan. _____________________________________________________________________________________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network ............................................................................................................................................................................................ DISCLAIMER This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan sujit@vsnl.com sujitjp@gmail.com "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) www.pttf.net ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070320/c61e73cd/attachment.html From Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk Fri Mar 23 17:57:03 2007 From: Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 08:57:03 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... no road dividers Encourag enatural co-operation In-Reply-To: <00a801c76b19$f47bb190$fe3c2352@mc> Message-ID: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001038988E6@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Each to their own opinion ... -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ ________________________________ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Martin Cassini Sent: 20 March 2007 18:03 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; sri@pn1.vsnl.net.in Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... no road dividers. Encouragenatural co-operation Without seeing the location(s) it's difficult to say, but in principle I'm against intervention and enforcement. The Western rules of the road (contrived distinctions between major and minor roads, and main road priority irrespective who was there first, then lights causing aggression and needless delay) have helped kill more people than have died in two world wars. Instead I prefer to trust good design and human nature (Hans Monderman and shared space). What if you let all road-users use all available road space, but encourage private or commercial drivers to give way when they saw a bus approaching? To help warn of their approach, buses could use dipped headlights. Martin ----- Original Message ----- From: Sujit Patwardhan To: sri@pn1.vsnl.net.in ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 5:44 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes .... alternatively,why not run on the other side of the road-divider? 20 March 2007 Dear JG, I thought you had seen the BRT being implemented (even if shoddily) in Pune. The dedicated bus lanes are in the central as you describe: Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Do take a look. The design is good and will eventually start working but it seems such a waste to execute it so badly as Pune Municipal Corporation is doing. Already people traveling in these BRT buses are experiencing something unique - seeing the buses move faster than other auto vehicles on the road, and that's how it should be. Regards, -- Sujit On 3/17/07, Prof J G Krishnayya wrote: Just an idea. Please shoot it down (with reasons) if it is impractical for India . Traffic in India drives on the left side of a road. In the case of a divided highway, one proposal is to run the BRTS in a separate lane (taking the place of the "Fast Lane", i.e. to the right hand edge of the left half of the road. This means that entry and exit from the busses would have to be to and from fresh islands in the road (since doors are on the left side of the bus) or else fresh doors would have to be cut into the bus, so that passengers can board and get off onto a central island.. Actually, for reasons of flexibility, and if these are "Long" busses, with centre doors, it seems to me to make sense to strengthen the body and cut doors out on the right side of the bus. Then a single stop or station would exist at each location for both directions. An alternative, which I have not seen mentioned yet, is to run the BRTS busses on the WRONG SIDE OF THE ROAD. That is, busses going north would run in the grade-separated, "Fast lane" of the southbound side of the road. And busses going South would run in the fast lane of the northbound side of the divided highway. Then one would use the normal doors (on the left side of the bus), thus eliminating any need to strengthen the chassis. Pune experience within days of the start of BRTS makes it clear that with our population density, and general attitude towards discipline in general, Grade-Separation between the normal roadway (of at least 8 inches) and the BRTS lanes, is essential to avoid many, many fatal accidents. If the BRTS lane is grade-separated, there should be no problem about the BRTS busses running in the opposite direction to the regular stream of traffic. Contra-ideas, anyone? J G Krishnayya ============== Prof J G Krishnayya Director , Systems Research Institute, 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India www.sripune.org Tel +91-20-2426-0323 jkrishnayya@yahoo.com Res 020-2636-3930 sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in Fax +91-20-2444-7902 -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+sri=pn1.vsnl.net.in@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Alan Howes Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 6:00 PM To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Great minds ... I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post rather more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much clout the CWG has - OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the CWG report - but does that guarantee action (not just commissioning consultants, but committing to implementation). And on a matter of detail, Bina says - "we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February 2007" and then "The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, 2007, to all the departments ..." So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't see them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess at least nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of action - what price bus lanes by the end of this year? Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG formed? Sorry to ask so many questions! Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ ________________________________ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Brendan Finn Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; edelman@greenidea.info Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes Dear Alan, I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : 1) It is simple and unambiguous 2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential yield situation arises, no need for control systems. 3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the stopping area should have priority. With best wishes, Brendan. _____________________________________________________________________________________ >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : +353.87.2530286 ----- Original Message ----- From: Alan Howes To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite directions? Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO that would be an unnecessary expense. Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org ] On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into a joke! Alan Howes wrote: > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety systems, etc. Am I missing something? - T -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network ............................................................................................................................................................................................ DISCLAIMER This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan sujit@vsnl.com sujitjp@gmail.com "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 India Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) www.pttf.net ------------------------------------------------------ ________________________________ -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT We would ask that you consider the environment and potential waste before you print this email - a screen view may suffice. Colin Buchanan and Partners Limited. Registered in London No. 1292315. Registered Office Newcombe House, 45 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3PB. DISCLAIMER This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070323/0e0ac1fd/attachment.html From Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk Fri Mar 23 18:03:20 2007 From: Alan.Howes at cbuchanan.co.uk (Alan Howes) Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 09:03:20 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Not much of a change ... Message-ID: <324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001038988EB@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk> Just to say that (with some regrets) I leave Buchanans today, and will be joining Atkins - still in Edinburgh - on April 2nd. So Sujit and any others - use my private address alan@ourpeagreenboat.co.uk for the time being. (Not 100% sure of my Atkins address yet - with 18,000 staff they might just have another Alan Howes!) Regards, Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh EH3 6AA Scotland email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) (0)7952 464335 (mobile) fax: (0)131 220 0232 www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ THINK BEFORE YOU PRINT We would ask that you consider the environment and potential waste before you print this email - a screen view may suffice. Colin Buchanan and Partners Limited. Registered in London No. 1292315. Registered Office Newcombe House, 45 Notting Hill Gate, London W11 3PB. DISCLAIMER This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this email in error please contact the sender by replying to this email. Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do not constitute or record professional advice relating to the business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of business. We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070323/91103ecb/attachment.html From arulgreen at yahoo.com Fri Mar 23 16:23:55 2007 From: arulgreen at yahoo.com (arul rathinam) Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2007 00:23:55 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] The Hindu - PMK MLAs cycle to the Assembly Message-ID: <625094.22727.qm@web51112.mail.re2.yahoo.com> PMK MLAs cycle to the Assembly http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032310100400.htm Special Correspondent - The Hindu To highlight the importance of healthy living and create awareness on high levels of pollution in Chennai PEDAL POWER: PMK president G.K. Mani and party MLAs on their way to the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday. ? Photo: V. Ganesan CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi MLAs will come to the Assembly on bicycle, from the MLA hostel, for the entire budget session. Arriving a little ahead of the start of the session on Thursday morning, PMK president and party's leader in the House, G.K. Mani, said the objective was to drive home the importance of healthy living and create awareness on the high levels of pollution in Chennai. "Token gesture" Mr. Mani said his party leadership had taken up several environmental issues in the past and looked at this "token gesture" as yet another means of increasing awareness on both these issues. To stay fit More people were turning obese and cycling was one way to stay fit. It would also decrease the number of vehicles on road and pollution. The PMK leader, who led his MLAs from the hostel, said the members would cycle each morning, regardless of the soaring mercury levels. http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/23/stories/2007032310100400.htm All these MLAs are part of Pasumai Thaayagam (Green Motherland) with kind regards. R.ARUL, Secretary, PASUMAI THAAYAGAM (Green Mother Land), No. 9,(old No: 5), Lyn wood Lane, Mahalingapuram, CHENNAI -600 034, Tamil Nadu, INDIA. Email: pasumaimail@yahoo.co.in Fax: +91-44-28172120 ____________________________________________________________________________________ It's here! Your new message! Get new email alerts with the free Yahoo! Toolbar. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/toolbar/features/mail/ From edelman at greenidea.info Sat Mar 24 22:27:31 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 14:27:31 +0100 Subject: [sustran] USA goes to the moon again Message-ID: <46052743.9010301@greenidea.info> -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From carlos.pardo at sutp.org Sun Mar 25 07:54:17 2007 From: carlos.pardo at sutp.org (Carlos F. Pardo SUTP) Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 17:54:17 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Sustainable Urban Transport Photo pool in Flickr Message-ID: <4605AC19.2070100@sutp.org> Hi, I just saw that there are no public groups of sustainable urban transport in Flickr, so I went ahead and created one under http://www.flickr.com/groups/sustran/ (I hope it's ok to use the sustran name). Feel free to post your own pictures. Mine are posted as "some rights reserved", so you can use them freely as long as you cite me as the author (and don't sell them!!). I hope this is useful to everybody, and that you can upload some photos there. Flickr is a pretty well organized tool for photos, as long as they're well tagged and described. If you surf around you'll find pretty nice photos on transport too. Best regards, -- Carlos F. Pardo Coordinador de Proyecto- Project Coordinator GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC) Cl 93A # 14-17 of 708 Bogot? D.C., Colombia Tel/fax: +57 (1) 236 2309 Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662 carlos.pardo@sutp.org www.sutp.org From carlos.pardo at sutp.org Sun Mar 25 08:41:04 2007 From: carlos.pardo at sutp.org (Carlos F. Pardo SUTP) Date: Sat, 24 Mar 2007 18:41:04 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Addition: Sustainable Urban Transport Photo pool in Flickr In-Reply-To: <4605AC19.2070100@sutp.org> References: <4605AC19.2070100@sutp.org> Message-ID: <4605B710.1070608@sutp.org> I have to add another thing to this: though Flickr didn't have any photo pools on sustainable transport, www.sutp.org DOES have a photo gallery (though we're still uploading more pictures). It is more based on the GTZ Photo CD (which currently has 11,000+ pictures). Best regards, Carlos F. Pardo Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: > Hi, > > I just saw that there are no public groups of sustainable urban > transport in Flickr, so I went ahead and created one under > http://www.flickr.com/groups/sustran/ (I hope it's ok to use the sustran > name). Feel free to post your own pictures. Mine are posted as "some > rights reserved", so you can use them freely as long as you cite me as > the author (and don't sell them!!). > > I hope this is useful to everybody, and that you can upload some photos > there. Flickr is a pretty well organized tool for photos, as long as > they're well tagged and described. If you surf around you'll find pretty > nice photos on transport too. > > Best regards, > > From binac at rediffmail.com Sun Mar 25 14:41:09 2007 From: binac at rediffmail.com (Bina C. Balakrishnan) Date: 25 Mar 2007 05:41:09 -0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: BRTS etc. in Mumbai Message-ID: <20070325054109.2880.qmail@webmail18.rediffmail.com> Alan, Brendan,and the rest, I apologise for the delay in responding to the mails on the BRTS, but we've been having long weekends with hard work in between to make up, so... priorities being what they are... Do visit the MTSU web-site: www.visionmumbai.org, and you should get a lot of answers to most of the questions you have, Alan. I am also going to put up a small presentation that I made a few weeks ago at the Pan IIT meeting in Mumbai on what we are doing on the transportation side, so that you all get an idea of?how we are approaching things. The basic principle is "Resource Optimisation" - of the existing road transportation resources. I had not put it out on this forum earlier, because I thought it was a bit premature, but here goes, anyway...! Brendan, I appreciate your good wishes, and hope we continue to have the benefit of your opinion on our approaches. I shall let you know when the ppt is up - it will be a link thru the Vision Mumbai site. Best, Bina On Fri, 16 Mar 2007 Alan Howes wrote : >Great minds ... > >I've just been reading the organisational bits of Bina's post >rather more carefully. I still don't have a feel for how much >clout the CWG has - OK the Gov of Maharashtra has accepted the >CWG report - but does that guarantee action (not just >commissioning consultants, but committing to implementation). >And on a matter of detail, Bina says - >"we at the MTSU have already submitted our report to the >Government of Maharashtra- as long back as the 6th of February >2007" >and then >"The CWG Report was formally presented on the 6th of February, >2007, to all the departments ..." > >So I assume the consultants have not yet been appointed. I can't >see them taking less than six months to report, and I would guess >at least nine months for implementation, even at Western rates of >action - what price bus lanes by the end of this year? > >Is the MTSU report the same as the CWG report? When was the CWG >formed? Sorry to ask so many questions! > >Regards, Alan > > >-- >Alan Howes >Associate Transport Planner >Colin Buchanan >4 St Colme Street >Edinburgh EH3 6AA >Scotland >email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk > >tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) >fax: (0)131 220 0232 >www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > > >________________________________ > > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] >On Behalf Of Brendan Finn >Sent: 16 March 2007 11:32 >To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; >edelman@greenidea.info >Subject: [sustran] Re: BRT - switchover lanes > > >Dear Alan, > >I think that's an excellent rule on three grounds : > >1) It is simple and unambiguous > >2) The participants always know which situation they are in, and >whether they should yield. It is highly visible when a potential >yield situation arises, no need for control systems. > >3) The priority is to clear the bus stopping place to make room >for incoming buses, so it is right that buses leaving the >stopping area should have priority. > >With best wishes, > > >Brendan. >_____________________________________________________________________________________ > >From Brendan Finn, ETTS Ltd. e-mail : etts@indigo.ie tel : >+353.87.2530286 > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Alan Howes > To: edelman@greenidea.info ; Global 'South' Sustainable >Transport > Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:52 AM > Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into >a joke! > > I thought someone might think that! I take it what concerns you >is the (two per stop) conflicts between buses moving in opposite >directions? > > Remember that the buses will be moving slowly as they are about >to stop or are just leaving the stop. I don't know offhand what >the maximum bus flows are likely to be, but I would not have >thought that even in Mumbai there would be more than 120 buses >per hour - correct me someone if I'm wrong (I could do a check, >but it would take some time). At that level I see no problem with >a simple "give way" arrangement (e.g. incoming buses always give >way to leaving buses) - you could have traffic signals, but IMO >that would be an unnecessary expense. > > Regards, Alan > > > -- > Alan Howes > Associate Transport Planner > Colin Buchanan > 4 St Colme Street > Edinburgh EH3 6AA > Scotland > email: alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk > tel: (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard) > (0)7952 464335 (mobile) > fax: (0)131 220 0232 > www: http://www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: >sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org >[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org] >On Behalf Of Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory > Sent: 16 March 2007 10:44 > To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > Subject: [sustran] Re: (NEWS) Mumbai's BRTS project turns into >a joke! > > Alan Howes wrote: > > [...] The problem, however, with with-flow bus lanes placed >immediately to the left of the median is that, assuming bus stops >are on the median, the bus doors are on the wrong side (an >expensive problem to fix). MMRDA explained to me an ingenious >proposal for overcoming this - at the stops the buses would swap >sides, crossing the median through a gap immediately before and >after the stop. This sounds perfectly feasible to me - the only >potential problem I foresee is that the necessary gaps will be >used (illegally) by other traffic, or even pedestrians (who get a >pretty raw deal in terms of getting across the road). > > > That seems really dangerous unless there are electronic safety >systems, etc. Am I missing something? > > - T > > -- > > -------------------------------------------- > > Todd Edelman > Director > Green Idea Factory > > Korunn? 72 > CZ-10100 Praha 10 > Czech Republic > > ++420 605 915 970 > ++420 222 517 832 > Skype: toddedelman > > edelman@greenidea.eu > http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain > > Green Idea Factory, > a member of World Carfree Network > > > > >........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ >DISCLAIMER > >This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and >intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which >they are addressed. Unless you are the named addressee, or >authorised to receive it for the addressee, you may not copy or >use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you have received this >email in error please contact the sender by replying to this >email. > >Any views expressed by an individual within this email which do >not constitute or record professional advice relating to the >business of Colin Buchanan, do not necessarily reflect the views >of the company. Any professional advice or opinion contained >within this email is subject to our terms and conditions of >business. > >We have taken precautions to minimise the risk of transmitting >software viruses. We do not accept liability for any loss or >damage caused by software viruses. > > >-------------------------------------------------------- >IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via >YAHOOGROUPS. > >Please go to >http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join >the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The >yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot >post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site >makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing >arrangement. > >================================================================ >SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of >people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus >on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From edelman at greenidea.info Mon Mar 26 04:03:27 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:03:27 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Biofooling-Mythanol / Five years to save the orang utan Message-ID: <4606C77F.801@greenidea.info> Biofuel demand makes food expensive excerpt: "2007 should be a wonderful year," he says with an optimism uncharacteristic of the often hard-pressed farming community. "At the coffee-shop people were talking about doctors quitting and taking up farming." *** Five years to save the orang utan Excerpt: Workers don't usually have guns: the orang utans that get shot are the lucky ones. We've seen them beaten to death with wood sticks or iron bars, doused in petrol and set on fire, trussed up in nets or tied up with wire which cuts through their flesh. Often a mother is killed and eaten while its baby is sold on or kept as a pet. In the local plantations where we're working, the managers have now agreed not to offer the bonus. But there's still a macho thing about bringing down an adult male.' -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From roelof.wittink at cycling.nl Mon Mar 26 16:07:06 2007 From: roelof.wittink at cycling.nl (Roelof Wittink) Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2007 09:07:06 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Betr.: Addition: Sustainable Urban Transport Photo pool in Flickr Message-ID: Hi Carlos Can you answer my mail regarding the work group for the review or do we have to skype and when is that possible? roelof Roelof Wittink, Director I-ce = Interface for Cycling Expertise Trans 3, 3512 JJ Utrecht, The Netherlands tel: +31 (0)30 2304521 fax: +31 (0)30 2312384 email (general): i-ce@cycling.nl email (personal): roelof.wittink@cycling.nl website: www.i-ce.info >>> carlos.pardo@sutp.org 25-3-2007 0:41 >>> I have to add another thing to this: though Flickr didn't have any photo pools on sustainable transport, www.sutp.org DOES have a photo gallery (though we're still uploading more pictures). It is more based on the GTZ Photo CD (which currently has 11,000+ pictures). Best regards, Carlos F. Pardo Carlos F. Pardo SUTP wrote: > Hi, > > I just saw that there are no public groups of sustainable urban > transport in Flickr, so I went ahead and created one under > http://www.flickr.com/groups/sustran/ (I hope it's ok to use the sustran > name). Feel free to post your own pictures. Mine are posted as "some > rights reserved", so you can use them freely as long as you cite me as > the author (and don't sell them!!). > > I hope this is useful to everybody, and that you can upload some photos > there. Flickr is a pretty well organized tool for photos, as long as > they're well tagged and described. If you surf around you'll find pretty > nice photos on transport too. > > Best regards, > > -------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTE to everyone who gets sustran-discuss messages via YAHOOGROUPS. Please go to http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss to join the real sustran-discuss and get full membership rights. The yahoogroups version is only a mirror and 'members' there cannot post to the real sustran-discuss (even if the yahoogroups site makes it seem like you can). Apologies for the confusing arrangement. ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From sksunny at gmail.com Tue Mar 27 15:20:09 2007 From: sksunny at gmail.com (Sunny) Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 13:20:09 +0700 Subject: [sustran] Full Version of International Fuel Prices - 2007 - [GTZ -SUTP] In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4608B799.8090401@gmail.com> /Full Version of International Fuel Prices - 2007/ GTZ released the full version of the publication titled ?International Fuel Prices ? 2007?. The document is based on the survey in Mid-November 2006 and contains information on the diesel and gasoline (petrol) prices from more than 170 countries. This full version publication focuses on the aspects of enhancing the energy efficiency authored by Dr Axel Friedrich and Falk Heinen (German Federal Environmental Agency) and the cost of promoting bio-fuels authored by Joerg Peters (RWI) and Dr. Sascha Thielmann (GTZ). The document is available for download from the Sustainable Urban Transport website (links below). People accessing from China may visit the second link below. All Users (Except from China): http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=339&lang=en Users from China: http://www.sutp.cn/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=244&lang=en / Note: Prior registration (free) is required to download the document. / Kind regards Sunny GTZ-SUTP -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070327/64072415/attachment.html From schipper at wri.org Tue Mar 27 20:02:51 2007 From: schipper at wri.org (Lee Schipper) Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 07:02:51 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: Full Version of International Fuel Prices - 2007 - [GTZ -SUTP] Message-ID: I suggested strongly to GTZ last year and repeated again in a meeting yesterday that this wor would be worth a great deal more if 1) prices were given in real local currency, base 2000 (a base for making conversion) and then shown in comparison in 2000 US Dollars using the year 2000 purchasing power parity coefficients published by the World Bank or OECD. Comparisons using market exchange rates or nominal values hide huge distortions that purchasing power parity aims to correct. The problem with the current formulation is that the amount of work required to deflate and re-convert is huge, since the values in US dollars are in current $, so each year has to be converted back to original currency and then convered to some common base. Lee Schipper Director of Research EMBARQ, the WRI Center for Sustainable Transport 10 G St. NE Washington DC, 20002 +1202 729 7735 FAX +1202 7297775 www.embarq.wri.org >>> sksunny@gmail.com 03/27/07 2:20 AM >>> /Full Version of International Fuel Prices - 2007/ GTZ released the full version of the publication titled ? International Fuel Prices ? 2007? . The document is based on the survey in Mid-November 2006 and contains information on the diesel and gasoline (petrol) prices from more than 170 countries. This full version publication focuses on the aspects of enhancing the energy efficiency authored by Dr Axel Friedrich and Falk Heinen (German Federal Environmental Agency) and the cost of promoting bio-fuels authored by Joerg Peters (RWI) and Dr. Sascha Thielmann (GTZ). The document is available for download from the Sustainable Urban Transport website (links below). People accessing from China may visit the second link below. All Users (Except from China): http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=339&lang=en Users from China: http://www.sutp.cn/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=244&lang=en / Note: Prior registration (free) is required to download the document. / Kind regards Sunny GTZ-SUTP From edelman at greenidea.info Tue Mar 27 22:52:51 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 15:52:51 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Chile transport chaos / Burma's new capital Message-ID: <460921B3.4080007@greenidea.info> *Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has sacked four ministers, as polls suggest falling support for her government. * The last few months have seen protests in the capital, Santiago, over the introduction of a new transport system. In a national TV address, Ms Bachelet said her government owed an apology to Santiago's residents, especially the poor, for the chaos they have faced. *** In pictures: Burma's new capital - The secretive Burmese regime has given the outside world a glimpse of its new capital city, Naypyidaw, for the first time. Military parades were held to mark Armed Forces Day. -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network From opensource.development at gmail.com Wed Mar 28 09:22:44 2007 From: opensource.development at gmail.com (Real Dev) Date: Tue, 27 Mar 2007 20:22:44 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Open Source Technology for Delivering Sustainable Development Message-ID: <6e318b230703271722t8dda73eid607bd1239f814d2@mail.gmail.com> Kenton Harmer and Max Bakker of the Presidio School of Management in San Francisco would like to invite members of the SUSTRAN community to join our list of 'authors' that will have access to an online platform exploring - How can Open Source Technology facilitate sustainable development in lesser developed countries? Open source technology is allowing the formation of highly-functional and diverse networks across sectoral and geographic boundaries. The potential of these networks is to create solutions and innovation from a broad aggregate of expertise that has not before been available. We would like to invite you to add your knowledge to a dialogue which will combine the perspectives of both technology and development experts. The commitment required of you is to engage as fully as you are able to in adding ideas, direction and resources to the dialogue particularily from the perspective of sustainable transport in the southern hemisphere. To access the dialogue platform go to http://opensourcedevelopment.stikipad.com/Home/. You can use the add comments button to respond to the ideas presented or send an email to opensource.development@gmail.com to be given Author status which allows you a higher degree of editing and access control. In May, a report will be issued mapping the learnings of how open source technology can further develop as an important component of providing sustainable aid. This report will be widely available in order to both sustain and broaden the dialogue and encourage innovation in the area. We encourage you to make your voice heard quickly and frequently. The potential of this community to be a part of important solutions for vulnerable populations is very real and we look forward to benefiting from your contribution. Thank you, -Kenton Harmer & Max Bakker -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070327/612af425/attachment.html From sksunny at gmail.com Wed Mar 28 13:56:50 2007 From: sksunny at gmail.com (Sunny) Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:56:50 +0700 Subject: [sustran] [GTZ-SUTP] Carfree Development Module (3e) now in Chinese In-Reply-To: <6e318b230703271722t8dda73eid607bd1239f814d2@mail.gmail.com> References: <6e318b230703271722t8dda73eid607bd1239f814d2@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <4609F592.4060206@gmail.com> The Carfree Development module (3e) by Lloyd Wright has been translated to Chinese language by CATS/Custrec for GTZ SUTP and is now available for download from www.sutp.org (www.sutp.cn for Chinese users) - documents section. Registration is needed to download this document, as with more than 350 documents available from www.sutp.org and www.sutp.cn . The module is part of the Sourcebook on Sustainable Transport for Policy-makers, and this Chinese translation now completes 23 modules translated from the complete Sourcebook. The full Sourcebook has currently 24 modules and is also available in English (24 modules), Spanish (23 modules) and other modules in different world languages. Kind regards /Sunny GTZ-SUTP/ -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20070328/2d32bf56/attachment.html From edelman at greenidea.info Fri Mar 30 21:11:06 2007 From: edelman at greenidea.info (Todd Edelman, Green Idea Factory) Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 14:11:06 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Wi-fi buses drive rural web use Message-ID: <460CFE5A.4080205@greenidea.info> *Buses equipped with wi-fi are being used to deliver web content to remote rural villages in the developing world. Full story: * -- -------------------------------------------- Todd Edelman Director Green Idea Factory Korunn? 72 CZ-10100 Praha 10 Czech Republic ++420 605 915 970 ++420 222 517 832 Skype: toddedelman edelman@greenidea.eu http://www.worldcarfree.net/onthetrain Green Idea Factory, a member of World Carfree Network