<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=iso-8859-2"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue> <div class=Section1> For anyone who happens to be next to their computer today at noon, Paris and Ljubiana time, you may want to thinking about tuning in to an interview led by Matej Praprotnik of Radio Slovenia, discussing how if at all the New Mobility Agenda might be of use in Slovenia and its cities at a time of fast growth and a decided penchant for cars.   Here are the five questions that he asks and to which I try to respond:   1.       It is interesting to see a change in perception of the car. Once it was a family dream now it is a personal need, a status symbol. Perhaps carsharing is a solution for that problem, but the idea is still rare among Slovenes.   2.       I'd say that none of Slovene cities has been familiar with the New Mobility Agenda. Local elections are ahead; perhaps this is an ideal time to talk about long-term traffic solutions. Which world cities are already successful in implementing new mobility agenda?   3.       In our radio programme we suggested carpooling as one of possible measures to avoid traffic jams, actually we suggested a ban on one-person cars during peak hours. Could that work or is it a stupid suggestion?   4.       In general people we interviewed agreed there are too many "driver only" cars, however, they were reluctant to think of any restrictions. They also disagreed with a peak hour restriction based on plate numbers such as in Sao Paulo, Brazil. “Such restrictive policy has no place in democracy”, they say. You surely disagree with that?   5.       Most common strategy to cut down heavy traffic is by building new roads. We are used to hear we need new roads. If there's an alternative to a car, is there an alternative to building new roads.   You can pick up the program via <a href="http://www.rtvslo.si/val202">http://www.rtvslo.si/val202</a> (Radio Slovenia 2 - home page) – and there you will see on the upper left menu an icon representing a loud speaker with the caption POSLUŠAJ . Easy enough.   The interview is, I am told, in Slovenian but with an easy to follow English track in the background.   We need to be lending a hand in these glorious, under attack cities of the former Bloc countries. If we don’t who will, eh?   Eric Britton   </div> </body> </html>