20 March 2006 Alan, Wherever cars dominate transport and city planning, pedestrians, cyclists and public transport are seen as obstructions in smooth flow of traffic (read auto vehicles). The voice of the majority (pedestrians, cyclists and public transport commuters) is not heard. But anyone who cares to dig a little deeper can see how unjust is this perspective. Auto vehicles not only favour the (powerful) minority but make other modes "invisible". Pune which was known as a cycle city still has about 800,000 bicycles though not everyone is brave enough to bike these days. Only those without choice of other modes brave the dangerous traffic and peddle the distance on their bikes. There's an interesting study done by a group working for the cycle rickshaw users of Delhi that shows the importance of this mode in the city's economy and the very adverse nature of rules/laws limiting the movement of cycle rickshaws in the city. If you're interested please send an Email to Mr Rajiv Ravi Email:< <a href="mailto:rajendra_ravi@idsindia.net">rajendra_ravi@idsindia.net</a>>. As for the role of buses in Mumbai here are some interesting facts presented by Transport Planner Dr P G Patankar who held important positions in the Indian Railways, BEST, Delhi Transport corporation, Director of CIRT (Central Institute of Road Transport) and after retirement as a consultant at Tata Consultancy Services. In Mumbai:- Buses carry: over 51% of road commuters Intermediate Transport (Auto rickshaws and taxis): 32% Cars: 17% But Buses have to crawl on only 4% of the road space in the city Intermediate Transport gets: 12% of the road space, while Cars hog: 84% of the road space And yet there's ongoing clamouring for more and more roads AND flyovers that mainly benefit the personal auto vehicles. The Trips by Mode in Pune is even more revealing. Walking: 37% Bicycle: 18% Bus: 22% Two Wheelers: 16% Three Wheelers: 5% Cars: 1% Rail: 1% (source: Pune Municipal Corporation 2004) This may have changed in the last few years as there's a steep acceleration in the growth of auto vehicles and a natural decline in the use of Public Transport Buses (the only Public Transport in the city) Over 400 new vehicles are added to the city EACH day. The annual figures of auto vehicles added to the city for the last four years is: 2001-2002: 80,000 2002-2003: 90,000 2003-2004: 120,000 2004-2005: 160,000 (figures, rounded off, from the Regional Tranport Offfice, Pune) Calculations on the basis of parking space requirements according to Pune Municipal Corporation's norms show that to park all the vehicles added to Pune's vehicle population in the year  2004-2005 alone we will need a parking lot of over 200 acres !!!!! The largest open space in the city (or what's left of it is the Pune University Campus which is 450 acres. The situation is so grave that Pune is now one of the most polluted cities in Asia (6th most polluted city in Asia in terms of SPM2, according to a World Bank report published from Manila in 2003 December). And still the major projects in progress in the city are the IRDP roads (Integrated Road Development Project) and the Flyovers. The overloaded and aging fleet of the PMT buses (Total buses about 1,000 out of which over 350 are more than 10 years old and the whole fleet is in extremely poor condition, with high breakdown rates during journeys) is not on high priority list of the local body nor the State Government. Your observation "It does seem that there is scope for a lot more education of the "opinion formers" in India on this issue", is certainly not an exaggeration!!! -- Sujit Sujit Patwardhan Parisar PTTF(Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) Pune <div>On 3/20/06, Lee Schipper <<a href="mailto:SCHIPPER@wri.org">SCHIPPER@wri.org</a>> wrote:<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">in a few weeks our city reports from the PSUTA referred to in that Indian newspaper article, and our summary report, will appear on the cai-Asia web site. There are good data on modal splits, distances/trip,etc.. >>> <a href="mailto:Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk </a> 3/20/2006 9:44:49 AM >>> It does seem that there is scope for a lot more education of the "opinion formers" in India on this issue.  That was obvious even from my brief 2-week sojourn in Mumbai recently - I can't say too much about my current project without clearance from the lead consultant, but I am hoping the issue will be addressed as one of the outcomes of our study. One of my main impressions in Mumbai is that buses are seen as part of the transport problem, not as part of the solution - how else do you explain all the taxes bus operators (i.e. passengers) have to pay, compared with the "developed world" where there are all sorts of tax breaks, and specific payments for social obligations like seniors' discounts. Re. Pune - do have any modal share info, Sujit?  I don't have the exact figures I would like for Mumbai, but there is no doubt that considering the proportion of road passenger trips that are carried by bus (approx two-thirds the total, if the figures we got are right), buses get a very small share of the road space. Alan -- Alan Howes Associate Transport Planner Colin Buchanan 4 St Colme Street Edinburgh      EH3 6AA Scotland email:  <a href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a> <mailto: <a href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a>> tel:      (0)131 226 4693 (switchboard)            (0)7952 464335  (mobile) fax:     (0)131 220 0232 www: http:/www.cbuchanan.co.uk/ _______________________________ This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. 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We cannot accept liability for any loss or damage caused by software viruses. _______________________________ ________________________________ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=<a href="mailto:cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org">cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc">sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc</a>. org] On Behalf Of Sujit Patwardhan Sent: 20 March 2006 14:13 To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport Subject: [sustran] Re: Experts for more roads in city (SeeLeeSchippercommentson this) 20 March 2006 I was present at the meeting and after the presentation by CIRT (Central Institute of Road Transport) expressed clearly and perhaps loudly the fear that several "observations" from CIRT's presentation would be misinterpreted by our friends from the media who as a group are still more familiar with outdated traffic solutions such as building more roads and flyovers. The observations I cited were:- -- the city has very little land area devoted to transport (which can mean space for public transport bus depots, bus workshops, space to enable bus lanes etc BUT the media reporters may wrongly conclude that CIRT is recommending more, more and more roads!!!!). THE ACTUAL FIGURE FOR ROAD AREA IN THE PRESENT PUNE CITY IS AROUND 10% AND WE INSIST THIS IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR AN EFFECTIVE BUS BASED PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM SUPPLEMENTED BY CYCLING AND WALKING FACILITIES. NEWLY ADDED AREA FOR THE CITY CAN HAVE MORE SPACE FOR ROADS PROVIDED THERE IS A BUILT-IN PROVISION TO ENSURE THAT ADDED SURFACE IS NOT USURPED BY PERSONAL AUTOS BUT MADE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT. -- there is extreme and growing pressure on parking (this can be seen to be a good thing as it can ultimately and effectively do more than half hearted vehicle restrain measures imposed by spineless administrators or politicians 's not wanting to displease the growing population using personal vehicles due to worsening (through neglect) public transport performance OR it can lead to policies that make available more space for parking usually by grabbing the meagre open spaces, lung areas, river-beds, canals, and hills which ideally should be kept safe from the hungry gaze of the auto vehicles and used for walking or cycling.) -- vehicle ownership per household (many see growing auto vehicle ownership as a sign of advancement.... India is becoming rich and prosperous, so that's a good thing. BUT if we only look at Singapore and European cities like Zurich, Copenhagen, Amsterdam etc it becomes clear that less auto vehicles on roads and more space for walking, cycling, car-free zones makes for a far more vibrant and liveable city, offering more scope for parks, gardens, tourist sites, and safe spaces for children and the elderly). We don't have to go through the cycle of .... --growing auto domination - reduction in liveability, mobility and healthy environment - reducing auto domination through expensive measures instead we can leapfrog and try to make our cities more liveable BEFORE they are run over by more and more roads and autos) There were more points but this will get too long. Unfortunately it happened as I had feared. Lee was misquoted by one of the papers and even if they print his clarification it will not fully undo the damage. This is why sometimes measured and cautious presentations by "experts" and "academicians" need to be combined with "loud" and even disruptive interventions from NGOs and activists. But of course this is easier said than done. -- Sujit Sujit Patwardhan Parisar/ PTTF Pune On 3/20/06, Lee Schipper <<a href="mailto:SCHIPPER@wri.org">SCHIPPER@wri.org </a>> wrote:         I have a slide submitted with the Xian report I will try to dig out.         basically the numbers are 15-20%. I think the 20-22 includes lots of         parking etc..         >>> <a href="mailto:Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a> 3/20/2006 5:58:16 AM >>>         Lee's comments where?         4% of urban area devoted to transport does indeed seem low, but 20-22%         sounds excessive.  Has anyone got comparative figures for a raft of         other cities?         Alan         --         Alan Howes         Associate Transport Planner         Colin Buchanan         4 St Colme Street         Edinburgh      EH3 6AA         Scotland         email:   <a href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk"> alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a>> <mailto:<a href="mailto:alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">alan.howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a>>         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= <a href="mailto:cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org">cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org</a> <mailto:<a href="mailto:cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org">cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc.org</a>> [mailto:<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc"> sustran-discuss-bounces+alan.howes=cbuchanan.co.uk@list.jca.apc</a>.         org] On Behalf Of Eric Britton         Sent: 20 March 2006 10:44         To: <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org </a>         Subject: [sustran] Experts for more roads in city (See Lee Schipper         commentson this)         Experts for more roads in city         Express News Service <<a href="http://www.expressindia.com/about/feedback.html?mailto=vvdeshmukh@expre"> http://www.expressindia.com/about/feedback.html?mailto=vvdeshmukh@expre</a>         <a href="http://ssindia.com">ssindia.com</a>>         Pune, March 17: EMBARQ, a World Research Initiative Centre for         Transport         and Environment, stressed on the need for the city to increase the         percentage of land use for transport from 4 per cent to 20-22 per cent         to stem the traffic problems. Presenting the findings before Municipal         Commissioner Nitin Kareer on Friday before, EMBARQ's director of         research, Lee Schipper suggested that more roads are necessary for         tackling the traffic problems.         Funded by Swedish Institute of Development Authority, EMBARQ has been         studying traffic woes of Pune, Xian in China and Hanoi in Vietnam         under         the project Partnership for Sustainable Urban Transport in Asia         (PSUTA)         to suggest ways of coping up with increasing traffic.         Schipper said that compared to the other two cities, Pune's traffic         comprises two-wheelers, autorickshaws, buses all plying on narrow         roads         in downtown parts. ''Pune has less vehicle speed (12 km/hr) in         comparison wih the two cities and the traffic fatality is minimum         here.''         He said that Nalstop and Swargate chowks have higher traffic density         compared to Bhosari - an industrial area. EMBARQ study revealed that         around 60 percent, is directly exposed to air pollution.         Advocating Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) in the city, Schipper         blamed         the city planners for failing to undertake any impact study to         calculate         the improvements done after implementations of projects.         Experts from Central Institute of Road Transport (CIRT) underlined         fifty         indicators for ascertaining a sustainable transport system and         recommended monitoring the indicators by conducting frequent trend         analysis to ensure transport in the city.         [eb: We'd like to see (a) that list and (b) how Pune fared in it. Can         anyway get this to the group????]         Source: <a href="http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=174140"> http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=174140</a>         ================================================================         SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus is on urban transport policy in Asia. -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan <a href="mailto:sujit@vsnl.com">sujit@vsnl.com</a> <a href="mailto:sujitjp@gmail.com">sujitjp@gmail.com</a> "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar <a href="http://www.parisar.org">www.parisar.org</a> ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) ------------------------------------------------------ ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). Because of the history of the list, the main focus is on urban transport policy in Asia. </blockquote></div> -- ------------------------------------------------------ Sujit Patwardhan <a href="mailto:sujit@vsnl.com">sujit@vsnl.com</a> <a href="mailto:sujitjp@gmail.com"> sujitjp@gmail.com</a> "Yamuna", ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007 Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Proprietor: Mudra ------------------------------------------------------ Hon. Secretary: Parisar ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) ------------------------------------------------------