[sustran] Re: Transport governance is also one such area which is notwell-researched.

[Lee Schipper]

Let me take a different tack, Eric. When I spoke at the meeting in Delhi
in March 2006 with Minister Reddy, many others (Dinesh Mohan, for
example) were there on the podium, and most large Indian cities were
represented by a Commissioner, a transport head, and the local experts
(like Prof Swamy of Ahmedebad).

Missing was most of the vehicle industry, the road mafia, the real
estate development mafia, the people controlling land use locally (many
Indian cities have setback rules that push big companies into their own
enclaves or campuses far from the city center, causing unbelievable
traffic snarls).

Look at the progress in fuel economy standards for light duty in India
as several siloed government groups fought over them.  And isn't this
the way it functions in almnost every developed AND developing country? 

In the end there is probably a bit of each of these in EVERY country,
not just India. And for those concerned about climate, those national
authorities who attend the COP are not well connected at all to either
the advocates (or stoppers) of sustainable transport.

So we're in a bit of a crunch, aren't we, with individual motorization
on two or four wheels racing ahead of everthing else. 


Lee Schipper, Ph.D.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: sustran-discuss-bounces+schipper=wri.org at list.jca.apc.org
[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+schipper=wri.org at list.jca.apc.org] On
Behalf Of Eric Britton
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 8:07 AM
To: Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org; NewMobilityCafe at yahoogroups.com;
WorldTransport at yahoogroups.com; Cities-for-Mobility at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [sustran] Transport governance is also one such area which is
notwell-researched.

Original subject here: JAIPAL REDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

 

This discussion is all pretty depressing. But might we make something of
it?
What about this as a group thinking exercise?  By the numbers:

 

1.     Let's for the moment pretend that the only world there is is the
Global South. (We can leave the stupidity, incompetence and meanness of
mind of the ROW aside for the moment.)

 

2.     And let's pretend that some huge proportion of the time that
their
transport policies and practices are truly misguided  and as close as
one might imagine to unsustainable, unfair - and we are speaking here of
the reality of these policies, not their rhetoric. 

 

3.     And since we are at it, let's also suppose that there are
policies
and approaches which are known, proven, affordable (i.e., the 2010
sustainable transport reality) that they could be putting into service.
But they are not doing it.



4.     Now my question to the group. Are those responsible for taking
the
decisions not taking advantage of all that we have learned over these
last two decades and could be doing in the interest of sustainability,
justice and efficiency, because they are . . . 

 

1.     ___________:  Ignorant (They simply do not know)

2.     ___________:  Stupid (But even if they did, they are not smart
enough
to figure it out)

3.     ___________:  Incompetent (Not up to the challenges)

4.     ___________:  Weak (They know what they should be doing but do
not
have the courage to take on the powerful interests that find the current
arrangements pretty much to their taste)

5.     ___________:  On the take (I.e., are profiting from following the
path present policies and investments, so why change?)

6.     ___________:  Hypocritical (Are culturally shaped so that they
feel
no discomfort by saying one thing while doing quite another)

7.     ___________:  Elitist (Find it perfectly natural that the lower
classes should have lower lives)

8.     ___________:  Perverted (Possibly even take pleasure in the
suffering
of others.)

9.     ___________:  Other (please explain)



5.     Check one or more and comment as you please.

 

Now my personal guess is that there is a fair amount of 1, 2, and 3
flying around. That there are healthy doses of 5, 6, and 7. And I would
hope that there is little of 8. 

 

Is this a fair picture? And if so, once we have it in our sights can it
help us figure out what to do next?

 

I look forward with interest to comments and clues.

 

 

Eric Britton | WorldStreets.org | NewMobility.org  |
www.facebook.WorldStreets.org

8, rue Joseph Bara.  75006 Paris France  |  +331 7550 3788  |  Skype:
newmobility  

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: sustran-discuss-bounces+eric.britton=ecoplan.org at list.jca.apc.org
[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+eric.britton=ecoplan.org at list.jca.apc.or
g]
On Behalf Of Rutul Joshi
Sent: Tuesday, 15 June, 2010 16:23
To: joshua odeleye; Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org
Subject: [sustran] Re: JAIPAL REDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

 

Dear Joshua,

 

You are right. Whatever I said might be biased toward the Indian
situation but the same concerns are seen everywhere in the Global South.
Of course, we have great opportunities to learn from the Industrialised
countries which have already walked on the paths of high motorisation.
We can surely learn what not to do. But this would fulfil only a part of
what we need to know.

 

A little is known about number of transport issues in the Global south,
especially the equity issues, how people survive in cities, how do the
innovate - whether legal or not. Transport governance is also one such
area which is not well-researched. For example, does anyone know how
many authorities/agencies are responsible for some component of
transport in Delhi alone? No wonder the city is in a mess! In short, a
lot more is required to be known about our cities and we do not have
enough time to explore. The climate clock is ticking. 

 

 

cheers,

Rutul

 

 

Phd Researcher,

Centre for Transport and Society,

University of the West of England,

Bristol. 

 

 

 

 

 

________________________________

From: joshua odeleye <joshuaodeleye at yahoo.com>

To: Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org

Sent: Tue, 15 June, 2010 12:45:32 PM

Subject: [sustran] Re: JAIPALREDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

 

Rutul has indeed presented the true state of urban transport planning in
most countries in the Southern Hemisphere.The Indian picture painted by
him/her, is a parallel practical situation of urban transport planning,
institutional and policy issues in most countries in West Africa
sub-region.This situation could be reverse, if authorities  would be
sincerely committed to bridging the existing knowledge gaps in transport
sub-sectors in most countries of the South.

Joshua Odeleye,Ph.D

School of Transport

Lagos State University

P.M.B 0001 Festac,Ojo

Lagos,Nigeria   

 

 

--- On Tue, 6/15/10, Rutul Joshi <joshirutul at yahoo.co.in> wrote:

 

 

From: Rutul Joshi <joshirutul at yahoo.co.in>

Subject: [sustran] Re: JAIPALREDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

To: Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org

Date: Tuesday, June 15, 2010, 6:21 AM

 

 

Hi Kanthi and others,

 

Patience is a good word to calm people down. Probably, that is why in
Indian traditions, someone invented the concept of 're-incarnation'. One
can 'have patience' till you are born again! 

 

In India, we build metros but we forget all about integrated ticketing
or physical integration with the buses/cycles or even walking. We build
expensive paid parking lots and right outside, one can park on-street
for free. We have cumbersome and expensive public transport (operations,
ticketing, info) when it is much cheaper, easier and socially 'superior'
to go by cars and motorbikes. We build big bus based projects and forget
all about pedestrians and cyclists or the other buses which are running
the city. We have expensive public infrastructure projects with
something as basic as 'walkable' footpaths being absent. We build
expensive flyovers for cheap cars, while rest of city struggles with
basic water supply network. If we have nice newly-pedestrianised areas
in the city, people wants to start charging it and of course, you can
park a car for free outside. 

 

We create new transport authorities/companies to 'hide' the old ones or
the bad ones. We have different agencies for planning the landuse,
planing the transport, regulating vehicles, regulating building/roads,
running the buses and deciding 'what-to-do' and they dont 'talk' to each
other. We have sensible and sincere govt officials who unfortunatley are
'not allowed' to take decisions. We have lots of money and the right
policy now but a little capacity at the local level to spend it in the
right direction. 

 

Sorry if it sounds pessimistic but sometimes all optimism fade away...
unless one believes in re-incarnation!

 

Mr. Reddy heads the most difficult ministry. I sympathise with him! 

 

regards,

Rutul

 

Phd Researcher,

Centre for Transport and Society,

University of the West of England,

Bristol. 

 

________________________________

From: KanthiKannan <kanthikannan at gmail.com>

To: Eric Britton <eric.britton at ecoplan.org>;
Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org

Cc: CAF2 <citizens-action-forum at googlegroups.com>; HasireUsiru
<hasiruusiru at yahoogroups.com>

Sent: Mon, 14 June, 2010 6:05:33 AM

Subject: [sustran] Re: JAIPALREDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC
TRANSPORT

 

 

Mr. JaipalReddy needs to make such announcements and hence he makes
them.

That's all. We should not read much into these kinds of statements. In

Hyderabad on an average weekly twice, we have people in authority
discussing

with activists like us and stating that what we are telling them makes a
lot

of sense but when asked about follow up / implementation the answer is
"Have

Patience"

 

Regards

 

KanthiKannan

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

From: sustran-discuss-bounces+kanthikannan=gmail.com at list.jca.apc.org

[mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+kanthikannan=gmail.com at list.jca.apc.org]
On

Behalf Of Eric Britton

Sent: 13 June 2010 23:39

To: Sustran-discuss at list.jca.apc.org

Cc: 'CAF2'; 'HasireUsiru'

Subject: [sustran] JAIPALREDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSPORT

 

If I may, and without intending any disrespect at all, I have read this

announcement several times and at the end of it do not feel particularly

optimistic about the changes it seems to promise.

 

But to be frank I simply do not know enough to take this statement to
take

it apart item by item. That said, I would be an interested reader for
anyone

with more direct knowledge and a balanced perspective to do just that
for

the group.

 

It is my position that these statements need to be read very very
carefully.

 

Thank you. 

 

Eric Britton 

 

 

 

Ministry of Urban Development    

JAIPALREDDY URGES STATES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANSPORT 

CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT MINISTRY HELD 

 

  _____  

 

    17:2 IST      The Union Minister of Urban Development, ShriJaipal

Reddy has said that his Ministry has advised the States to make adequate

provision for dedicated path for the pedestrians and cycle-users
wherever

roads are being built or widened. 

 

Addressing the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his
Ministry

here today, ShriReddy also informed that the Centre is giving funds to
the

States under Jawaharlal Nehru NationalUrban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) for
the

constrution of footpaths and dedicated cycle lanes. He said that two
pilot

research projects for the scientific management of cycle rickshaws have
been

sanctioned for Delhi and Chandigarh. 

 

He said that the States are also being advised to promote public
transport

by integrating all the modes of transport. The Centre has sanctioned Bus

Rapid Transport System (BRTS) for nine cities namely, Ahemdabad, Rajkot,

Surat, Indore, Bhopal, Pune- PimpriChinchwad, Vijaywada, Vishakhapatnam
and

Jaipur at a cost of Rs. 4770 crore besides providing finance for 15,620
low

floor buses for the 61 cities across the country to improve the urban

transport , the minister informed. 

 

ShriReddy said that the States have also been advised to amend by-laws
to

make mandatory parking space for all commercial and residential
properties

and to set up dedicated transport authority to manage the traffic and
also

to introduce "traffic Information Magament Control Centres (TIMCC) using

ITS. He said that under the JNNURM, his Ministry provides funds for

multi-level parking complexes and assistance for setting up ITS. 

 

Participating in the discussion, Members emphasised the need of
inclusion of

small cities also under JNNURM schemes as development of smaller towns
would

help decongest the big cities in the long run. Some Members also raised
the

issue of proper compensation to the families of workers who lost their
lives

while working at the Metro Projects. 

 

The Members of Parliament who attended the Meeting were : S/Shri

C.M.Chang,Ramesh kumar, P. Kumar, RatanSingh, Sanjay Dina Patil, Prahlad
V.

Joshi, Shivakumar C. Udasi, HukumdeoNarayanYadav, B.K. Hariprasad,

PenumalliMadhu and SurendraMotilal Patel, VilasMuttemwar and J.P.

Agarwal.

 

 

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