<html xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 10"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C6691B.2DE5DBB0"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"/> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:.5in'> <div class=Section1> Dear Sujit,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I would support your point strongly, and add that the solution to the particular point made in the video is<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> a. Discipline is needed.  This can only come about when there is enforcement of traffic rules. E.g. in Delhi there is a minimum 50/ rupee fine if one goes over the double white line at each intersection, but one is srequired to wait behind the lines till the signal changes.  Think how much easier it would be to negotiate T junctions when this is enforced. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Enforcement does not need to be 100% 24x7.  Even if it is done at only 5% of the intersections for 14 hours a day, that would be enough to instill the habit of following the rules.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Until the traffic police philosophy comes around to the above conclusion, there is no hope for <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region>, and more and more money will be wasted on capital for overpasses, on repaving of sidewalks, removal of trees, creation of concrete road dividers where a small raised line would have been adequate, etc.  We must fight the practice of ”solving” everything by throwing money at it. <st1:country-region><st1:place>India</st1:place></st1:country-region> and <st1:place>Asia</st1:place> in general can easily afford more traffic police. It would be a Good Thing. But the police payroll, housing etc are starved of funds.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sincerely,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div style='border:none;border-bottom:solid windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .75pt;padding:0in 0in 1.0pt 0in'> J G Krishnayya<o:p></o:p> </div> There is also <o:p></o:p> <ol style='mso-margin-top-alt:0in' start=2 type=a> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'>Some intelligent road-furniture planning – use of roundabouts, police-man’s platforms, use of unmanned sequential timers (less expensive than traffic signals, which are costly)<o:p></o:p></li> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'>Redesign of Busses.  Anyone with eyes to see can recognize that our busses are about 1 foot too wide for comfortable maneuverability. For exclusive use on the larger roads, articulated busses would make sense. But at present with chaotic traffic, articulated busses would simply add to the confusion and traffic jams.<o:p></o:p></li> <li class=MsoNormal style='color:navy;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in'>Reducing technology. At major crossings, it is entirely possible for 1 trained policeman (backed up by law enforcement, and possibly 4 assistants who align the traffic) could handle most intersections that are presently run with traffic lights.  I do not know if many other Sustran readers will recall that in the 40s and 50s, Flora Fountain, in Mumbai was manned by ONE constable – but he was impressive; he changed signals by raising his feet when turning, and stamping, much like the Indian and Pakistani soldiers at the Wagah border when bringing down the flags in the evening!  He was a joy to watch, and had no trouble keeping everyone in line, and even in those days, there was quite a lot of traffic going 5x2 ways. There was only a small circle around the Flora statue, and there was a through road from Churchgate to the Town Hall (not a parking lot in the way as at present). All the roads were two-way. Obviously if one tried something like this today, one would need to select the men carefully for personality, and give them 1 hour on, two hours off shifts, so that each intersection would require three of four men to be assigned every day.  I think if there were a ranked set of intersections in each town and city, one could very easily use the duty there as an incentive for traffic policemen to improve their style and performance. Right now they are very largely collection agents for the “officers” who run around on motorcycles fining people on the spot.<o:p></o:p></li> </ol> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Prof J G Krishnayya<o:p></o:p> Director, Systems Research Institute,<o:p></o:p> 17-A Gultekdi, PUNE 411037, India<o:p></o:p> www.sripune.org                 Tel +91-20-2426-0323<o:p></o:p> jkrishnayya@yahoo.com       Res 020-2636-3930<o:p></o:p> sri@giaspn01.vsnl.net.in       Fax +91-20-2444-7902<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> -----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 Sujit Patwardhan Sent: Tuesday, April 25, 2006 11:36 AM To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport Subject: [sustran] Re: Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 32, Issue 32 <o:p> </o:p> Dear Sudhir, It would have helped if you had elaborated at least to some extent. As an advocacy group (NGO) working on the issue of Urban Traffic and Transportation in Pune since 1998, we too realised quite early that the mainstream thinking, vision and perspective of the decision makers was hopelessly outdated. By presenting data, analysis and through exposure to new and alternative perspectives we have been able to make the authorities "see" this to some extent, but old deeply held beliefs (like superstition) is difficult to dispel through rational arguments alone. So the city administration has embarked on a few good concepts like designing BRT corridors on two or three roads on an "experimental basis", is laying out city-wide bicycle tracks and ensuring adequate footpaths for pedestrians but hasn't given up on the old failed concepts like the flyovers and wider and wider roads!! If this is what you imply by saying:<o:p></o:p> <div style='margin-left:30.0pt'> whatever analysis we are doing in India with respect to Traffic is not at all sufficient. We desperately require fresh ideas and research.<o:p></o:p> </div> we agree with you. The video forwarded by Paul shows what the sharply growing number of auto vehicles on the roads is doing to vehicle mobility. Traffic planners with conventional thinking hats will say "See the mess? We need a flyover to relieve the road congestion", when actually the solution would be to get an efficient and reliable public transport in place,  that can effectively shift people from personal vehicles to public transport. A flyover will only fuel further demand for personal vehicle use and abstruct the movement of public transport buses. -- Sujit Sujit Patwardhan Parisar/PTTF Pune <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> <div> On 4/25/06, sudhir gota <<a href="mailto:sudhirgota@hotmail.com">sudhirgota@hotmail.com </a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p> Dear Sir, Traffic in India (Paul Barter) The video is only the eyeopener, you should just spend some time in India. This video highlights the fact that whatever analysis we are doing in India with respect to Traffic is not at all sufficient. We desperately require fresh ideas and research. Regards Sudhir >From: <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-request@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss-request@list.jca.apc.org</a> >Reply-To: <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a> >To: <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a> >Subject: Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 32, Issue 32 >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 22:46:10 +0900 (JST) > >Send Sustran-discuss mailing list submissions to >       <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a> > >To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit >       <a href="http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss">http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss</a> >or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to >       <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-request@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss-request@list.jca.apc.org </a> > >You can reach the person managing the list at >       <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-owner@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss-owner@list.jca.apc.org</a> > >When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than >"Re: Contents of Sustran-discuss digest..." > > >######################################################################## >Sustran-discuss Mailing List Digest > >About this mailing list see: >     <a href="http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss">http://list.jca.apc.org/manage/listinfo/sustran-discuss</a> >######################################################################## > > > >Today's Topics: > >    1. FW: Traffic in India (Paul Barter) >    2. Re: FW: Traffic in India (Alan Howes) >    3. Re: New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal >       forDiscussion (Walter Hook) >    4. Re: New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal >       forDiscussion (Walter Hook) > > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- > >Message: 1 >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 15:14:18 +0800 >From: "Paul Barter" <<a href="mailto:paulbarter@nus.edu.sg">paulbarter@nus.edu.sg</a>> >Subject: [sustran] FW: Traffic in India >To: "Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport" >       <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a>> >Message-ID: >       <<a href="mailto:AB7199D76A15F747A60F2A61D2A0078C1F6CDB@MBX01.stf.nus.edu.sg"> AB7199D76A15F747A60F2A61D2A0078C1F6CDB@MBX01.stf.nus.edu.sg</a>> >Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="us-ascii" > >A wonderful video clip of an Indian intersection working in ways most >traffic engineers would never imagine in their wildest dreams. If you >have never seen traffic in South Asia then this might come as something >of a shock. > > > > > <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM</a> > > > >Paul > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 2 >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:16:08 +0100 >From: "Alan Howes" < <a href="mailto:Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk">Alan.Howes@cbuchanan.co.uk</a>> >Subject: [sustran] Re: FW: Traffic in India >To: "Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport" >       <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org"> sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a>> >Message-ID: >       <<a href="mailto:324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001020A90C3@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk">324DCD7680954F468CF306EE5404F001020A90C3@mail01.cbuchanan.co.uk </a>> >Content-Type: text/plain;      charset="us-ascii" > >Though I have to say that after my two weeks in Mumbai recently it came >as no surprise.  Our driver thought nothing of driving the wrong way >down a contra-flow bus lane (not many of those in Mumbai), veering off >onto the pavement if he happened to meet a bus.  I did not think much of >it either! > >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> >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=<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 Paul Barter >Sent: 24 April 2006 08:14 >To: Asia and the Pacific sustainable transport >Subject: [sustran] FW: Traffic in India > >A wonderful video clip of an Indian intersection working in ways most >traffic engineers would never imagine in their wildest dreams. If you >have never seen traffic in South Asia then this might come as something >of a shock. > > > > > <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM</a> > > > >Paul > > >================================================================ >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. > >........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ >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. > > > > >------------------------------ > >Message: 3 >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:44:09 -0400 >From: "Walter Hook" <<a href="mailto:whook@itdp.org">whook@itdp.org </a>> >Subject: [sustran] Re: New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A >       Proposal        forDiscussion >To: <<a href="mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org">eric.britton@ecoplan.org</a>>, "'Asia and the Pacific sustainable >       transport'"     <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a>>, >       <<a href="mailto:NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com">NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com </a>>,      "'Sustran Resource Centre'" >       <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss@jca.apc.org</a>> >Cc: <a href="mailto:CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com">CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com </a> >Message-ID: <012e01c667a5$2a6eb140$c301a8c0@DFJLYL81> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >Eric, > > > >Paul white and i had a related idea over lunch the other day, and we were >wondering if this has ever been tried. > > > >What if all the property owners and permanent tenants living along a block >of urban street were given the choice by the municipality of whether they >wanted the space in front of their house dedicated to car parking or >sidewalk?  How many residents would vote for car parking?   It might be >done >something like this.  The department of transport could determine the >needed >road capacity, but the parking units would be a function of ultra local >democracy.  What if as a result, each permanent resident or registered >voter, or even just each property tax payer, on a city block got to >determine the democratic use of the public space in front of their >property. >Since it is currently most of the time dedicated to parking, at least in >the >US, even if only 10% voted to get rid of the parking, that would be 10% of >the parking units we could reclaim.  On my block i would guess that maybe >50% would opt for a wider sidewalk. Then a block association could be free >to contract an architect to redesign the street with that same number of >units of parking. > > > >I am wondering if there are any successful examples of this sort of ultra >local democracy? > > > >Walter > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=<a href="mailto:itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org">itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org</a> >[mailto:<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org </a>] On Behalf >Of Eric Britton >Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 12:34 PM >To: <a href="mailto:NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com">NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com</a>; Sustran Resource Centre >Cc: <a href="mailto:CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com">CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com</a> >Subject: [sustran] New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal >forDiscussion > > > >New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal for Discussion > > > >When it comes to creating more viable and fairer transport systems, and >behind that our real objective: more agreeable and more sustainable cities, >we have one recurrent problem that we can perhaps deal with if we put our >heads together. > > > >As is well known, whenever any given 'soft transport', "public space" or >some type of "not quite so many cars" initiative is proposed in any given >place, the first and most striking thing that happens is the howls of >protest that immediately emerge from  all those who claim that their >democratic entitlements are being threatened by, as they often like to put >it, some small group of arrogant bike-happy  technocrats and their fellow >eco-travelers. And since the media always likes a good cat fight, these >righteous citizens often dominate the news. For the rest, for you and me >and >others like us, hey! we're the Silent Minority.  The absolutely >disenfranchised. > > > >Well, it does not always have to be like that and here is one proposal >concerning which I would like to invite discussions and refinement - all as >a prelude to giving this idea a couple of trial runs in one or more >pioneering cities. > > > >The idea is to carry out an annual open citizen survey of attitudes and >preferences concerning transport policy and practice (and the investments >that go with it) in your city.  The results should be made widely available >through old and new media, and brought to the fore of the attention of the >politicians, administrators and policy makers in your city. Here without >any >pretense of it being anything other than a grain of sand to get us going is >my draft proposal for content for quick mini-survey that can be >administered >by phone, email or on any street corner by volunteers: > > > >Note to the reader: In a first instance, before digging into the details, I >would like to ask the members of this fine group: (a) is this an idea that >is worth pursuing; (b) are there some (better)examples that we should be >looking at and learning from. Then once we have a feel for this as a useful >activity, we can then start to see how we might together fine tune a good >questionnaire and routine. > > > > > > > > > > > > >1, Draft Mini-survey (for comment and . . . ) > >All questions where appropriate to be answered simply by a 1 (yes), 0 >(don't >know), -or -1 (no), which will facilitate aggregation and overview. > > > >1.      Name > >2.      City of residence > >3.      M/F > >4.      Age: <15; 15-30; 30-65; >65 > >5.      Do you own/drive a car? > >6.      My city government has a coherent, announced transportation policy: > >7.      I believe that this is a wise and well executed policy. > >8.      We need to spend more money to build more roads and more parking as >a main transport priority. > >9.      We need to give much more attention and spend more money on "soft >transport" and related life quality initiatives (examples: better support >of >pedestrians and cyclists, traffic calming,  more public transport, new >forms >of shared transport, ITC substitutes for displacement.) > >10.  It is possible for people to live here well and easily without having >their own car. > >11.  If they want my vote -- all candidates for local public office should >take a firm stand on their transportation policies, and issue as part of >their platform a signed personal statement indicating their support of more >sustainable  transport  projects and programs. > > > >Your eventual brief comments or suggestions: ____________________________ > >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________ > > > > > > > > > > >2. How to execute - Thoughts on > > > >*         This maybe is pushing it for length. If it can't be administered >in three minutes, it probably will not do the job. Try it out on a couple >of >friends and let us know. > >*         There is plenty of evidence that people tend to create and >administrate questionnaires that one way or another tend to elicit their >favored response. We should meticulously  avoid doing this, and in our >selection of questions - and people to be queried. If it ain't neutral, it >is not worth a lot. So careful, eh? > >*         The simple mental model I have for this is an excel table with >names in columns, etc. All leading to easy sorting and sub-total > >*         To have a real impact, it will best be administered at some fixed >time. >As examples: on Earth Day, in cooperation with any local Car Free Days, >European Moblity Week, etc.) > >*         The procedures and information should be fully public so that >there can be no charges of rigging the returns.  (Expect in Belarusia and >Florida in which it is OK.) > >*         Also involve schools, various clubs and groups, senior citizens, >handicapped, pedestrian and cyclist naturally but also take it into >hospitals, prisons, old people's homes, jails, and the homeless. > >*         Local media partnerships, and even strong involvement by them, >will be most useful. > >*         I would propose that the on-street interviews be carried out on >one day - but that an entire week be given over to the entire procedures. > >*         The results should be publicly announced. > >*         And then all those in local government should be asked to comment >and give their appreciations of what this means. (Note: Our friends in >South >Africa with their first Car Free Days last year did a good job of this >which >we might usefully consult) > >*         We propose that this be an annual exercise. > >*         And that to the extent possible and sensible, we might want to >think about questions and formats that are sufficiently parallel to allow >us >to aggregate. > >*         BTW, is there or has there ever been anything like this in your >city? Neighborhood? That we can learn from? > > > > > > > > >3. Parallel in-death Survey > > > >It may be a good idea to have a more in depth survey for those people >disposed to spend more time with us on this. > > > >The trick will be to determine who, how, when,  - and how used? > > > >Here are a few first thoughts on this to get us going: > > > >*         Employment, social status > >*         Where live/where work > >*         If it were faster and cheaper to get to work or school by some >way >other than driving a car (in traffic) would you be willing to consider it? > >*         When was the last time you took a bus or rail transit? > >*         Used a bike to get to work or school? > >*        D you think that it might be a good idea for your city to publish >and maintain a "sustainable transportation webpage" that reports on key >indicators including traffic deaths and incidents (by gravity and type), >CO2 >or other clean air indicators, parametric indicators of infrastructure and >performance of NMT options, etc. > >*        Would you be willing to work, say, 20 hours over a period of one >or >two months.  as a volunteer to support better researched specific projects >in your neighborhood. > >*        Etc. > >*        Etc > >* > > > >-------------- next part -------------- >An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >URL: ><a href="http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20060424/7b57686f/attachment.html">http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20060424/7b57686f/attachment.html</a> > >------------------------------ > >Message: 4 >Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:44:09 -0400 >From: "Walter Hook" <<a href="mailto:whook@itdp.org">whook@itdp.org</a>> >Subject: [sustran] Re: New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A >       Proposal        forDiscussion >To: <<a href="mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org">eric.britton@ecoplan.org</a>>, "'Asia and the Pacific sustainable >       transport'"     <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org"> sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org</a>>, >       <<a href="mailto:NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com">NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com</a>>,      "'Sustran Resource Centre'" >       <<a href="mailto:sustran-discuss@jca.apc.org"> sustran-discuss@jca.apc.org</a>> >Cc: <a href="mailto:CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com">CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com</a> >Message-ID: <012e01c667a5$2a6eb140$c301a8c0@DFJLYL81> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > >Eric, > > > >Paul white and i had a related idea over lunch the other day, and we were >wondering if this has ever been tried. > > > >What if all the property owners and permanent tenants living along a block >of urban street were given the choice by the municipality of whether they >wanted the space in front of their house dedicated to car parking or >sidewalk?  How many residents would vote for car parking?   It might be >done >something like this.  The department of transport could determine the >needed >road capacity, but the parking units would be a function of ultra local >democracy.  What if as a result, each permanent resident or registered >voter, or even just each property tax payer, on a city block got to >determine the democratic use of the public space in front of their >property. >Since it is currently most of the time dedicated to parking, at least in >the >US, even if only 10% voted to get rid of the parking, that would be 10% of >the parking units we could reclaim.  On my block i would guess that maybe >50% would opt for a wider sidewalk. Then a block association could be free >to contract an architect to redesign the street with that same number of >units of parking. > > > >I am wondering if there are any successful examples of this sort of ultra >local democracy? > > > >Walter > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=<a href="mailto:itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org">itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org</a> >[mailto: <a href="mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org">sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org</a>] On Behalf >Of Eric Britton >Sent: Sunday, April 23, 2006 12:34 PM >To: <a href="mailto:NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com">NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com</a>; Sustran Resource Centre >Cc: <a href="mailto:CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com">CarFreeCafe@yahoogroups.com</a> >Subject: [sustran] New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal >forDiscussion > > > >New Mobility Citizen Poll for Your City- A Proposal for Discussion > > > >When it comes to creating more viable and fairer transport systems, and >behind that our real objective: more agreeable and more sustainable cities, >we have one recurrent problem that we can perhaps deal with if we put our >heads together. > > > >As is well known, whenever any given 'soft transport', "public space" or >some type of "not quite so many cars" initiative is proposed in any given >place, the first and most striking thing that happens is the howls of >protest that immediately emerge from  all those who claim that their >democratic entitlements are being threatened by, as they often like to put >it, some small group of arrogant bike-happy  technocrats and their fellow >eco-travelers. And since the media always likes a good cat fight, these >righteous citizens often dominate the news. For the rest, for you and me >and >others like us, hey! we're the Silent Minority.  The absolutely >disenfranchised. > > > >Well, it does not always have to be like that and here is one proposal >concerning which I would like to invite discussions and refinement - all as >a prelude to giving this idea a couple of trial runs in one or more >pioneering cities. > > > >The idea is to carry out an annual open citizen survey of attitudes and >preferences concerning transport policy and practice (and the investments >that go with it) in your city.  The results should be made widely available >through old and new media, and brought to the fore of the attention of the >politicians, administrators and policy makers in your city. Here without >any >pretense of it being anything other than a grain of sand to get us going is >my draft proposal for content for quick mini-survey that can be >administered >by phone, email or on any street corner by volunteers: > > > >Note to the reader: In a first instance, before digging into the details, I >would like to ask the members of this fine group: (a) is this an idea that >is worth pursuing; (b) are there some (better)examples that we should be >looking at and learning from. Then once we have a feel for this as a useful >activity, we can then start to see how we might together fine tune a good >questionnaire and routine. > > > > > > > > > > > > >1, Draft Mini-survey (for comment and . . . ) > >All questions where appropriate to be answered simply by a 1 (yes), 0 >(don't >know), -or -1 (no), which will facilitate aggregation and overview. > > > >1.      Name > >2.      City of residence > >3.      M/F > >4.      Age: <15; 15-30; 30-65; >65 > >5.      Do you own/drive a car? > >6.      My city government has a coherent, announced transportation policy: > >7.      I believe that this is a wise and well executed policy. > >8.      We need to spend more money to build more roads and more parking as >a main transport priority. > >9.      We need to give much more attention and spend more money on "soft >transport" and related life quality initiatives (examples: better support >of >pedestrians and cyclists, traffic calming,  more public transport, new >forms >of shared transport, ITC substitutes for displacement.) > >10.  It is possible for people to live here well and easily without having >their own car. > >11.  If they want my vote -- all candidates for local public office should >take a firm stand on their transportation policies, and issue as part of >their platform a signed personal statement indicating their support of more >sustainable  transport  projects and programs. > > > >Your eventual brief comments or suggestions: ____________________________ > >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________________________________ >____________________________________________________ > > > > > > > > > > >2. How to execute - Thoughts on > > > >*         This maybe is pushing it for length. If it can't be administered >in three minutes, it probably will not do the job. Try it out on a couple >of >friends and let us know. > >*         There is plenty of evidence that people tend to create and >administrate questionnaires that one way or another tend to elicit their >favored response. We should meticulously  avoid doing this, and in our >selection of questions - and people to be queried. If it ain't neutral, it >is not worth a lot. So careful, eh? > >*         The simple mental model I have for this is an excel table with >names in columns, etc. All leading to easy sorting and sub-total > >*         To have a real impact, it will best be administered at some fixed >time. >As examples: on Earth Day, in cooperation with any local Car Free Days, >European Moblity Week, etc.) > >*         The procedures and information should be fully public so that >there can be no charges of rigging the returns.  (Expect in Belarusia and >Florida in which it is OK.) > >*         Also involve schools, various clubs and groups, senior citizens, >handicapped, pedestrian and cyclist naturally but also take it into >hospitals, prisons, old people's homes, jails, and the homeless. > >*         Local media partnerships, and even strong involvement by them, >will be most useful. > >*         I would propose that the on-street interviews be carried out on >one day - but that an entire week be given over to the entire procedures. > >*         The results should be publicly announced. > >*         And then all those in local government should be asked to comment >and give their appreciations of what this means. (Note: Our friends in >South >Africa with their first Car Free Days last year did a good job of this >which >we might usefully consult) > >*         We propose that this be an annual exercise. > >*         And that to the extent possible and sensible, we might want to >think about questions and formats that are sufficiently parallel to allow >us >to aggregate. > >*         BTW, is there or has there ever been anything like this in your >city? Neighborhood? That we can learn from? > > > > > > > > >3. Parallel in-death Survey > > > >It may be a good idea to have a more in depth survey for those people >disposed to spend more time with us on this. > > > >The trick will be to determine who, how, when,  - and how used? > > > >Here are a few first thoughts on this to get us going: > > > >*         Employment, social status > >*         Where live/where work > >*         If it were faster and cheaper to get to work or school by some >way >other than driving a car (in traffic) would you be willing to consider it? > >*         When was the last time you took a bus or rail transit? > >*         Used a bike to get to work or school? > >*        D you think that it might be a good idea for your city to publish >and maintain a "sustainable transportation webpage" that reports on key >indicators including traffic deaths and incidents (by gravity and type), >CO2 >or other clean air indicators, parametric indicators of infrastructure and >performance of NMT options, etc. > >*        Would you be willing to work, say, 20 hours over a period of one >or >two months.  as a volunteer to support better researched specific projects >in your neighborhood. > >*        Etc. > >*        Etc > >* > > > >-------------- next part -------------- >An HTML attachment was scrubbed... >URL: ><a href="http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20060424/7b57686f/attachment-0001.html">http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20060424/7b57686f/attachment-0001.html</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. > >End of Sustran-discuss Digest, Vol 32, Issue 32 >*********************************************** ================================================================ 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. <o:p></o:p> </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 India Tel: 25537955 ----------------------------------------------------- Hon. Secretary: Parisar <a href="http://www.parisar.org">www.parisar.org</a> ------------------------------------------------------ Founder Member: PTTF (Pune Traffic & Transportation Forum) <a href="http://www.pttf.net">www.pttf.net</a> ------------------------------------------------------ <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>