<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/strict.dtd"> <html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=ProgId content=Word.Document> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <meta name=Originator content="Microsoft Word 9"> <link rel=File-List href="cid:filelist.xml@01C7922F.5A97E250"> <link rel=Edit-Time-Data href="cid:editdata.mso@01C7922F.5A97E250">  <style>  </style>  </head>  <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=blue style='tab-interval:36.0pt'>  <div style='position:relative' id=ygrp-mlmsg> <div style='float:left;z-index:1' id=ygrp-msg> <div class=Section1> <div id=ygrp-text> On Behalf Of lake@sagaris.cl <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> Ref: Debate on Transantiago, Wikipedia entries, others.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> In reference to Carlos Pardo’s note, on crush-load factors and his pregnant (congratulations Carlos!!!) wife’s almost fainting when she got on a bus this morning:<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> The whole issue of crush-load factors and the significant difference between what is acceptable in North American (3-4) versus other (6 people per m2) systems brings out a crucial factor in BRT implementation: the issue of social equality. In Santiago, Transantiago was PLANNED this way, and the Metro’s level, which until last year was quite reasonable and comfortable, earning it a well-deserved reputation for top quality, was also boosted to untenable levels. <o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> In fact, as analysts have warned for the past three years, the bus system was tossed in at the bottom of the urban transport pile, after billions were spent on concessioned highways and investments in the Metro, which only served 4% of daily trips (bus trips account for 26% and bike trips 2%). In fact, the government has not even invested in the necessary infrastructure, charging everything – including new car lanes!! – to bus users. <o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> Exclusion of women’s needs from planning is also apparent, in Carlos’ example and the many incidents of sexual harassment that have resulted from these conditions, primarily on trains, in Santiago. Many women no longer feel the Metro is a safe transportation alternative, and therefore find their options for access to work, education and vital urban goods and services much limited by this new system.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> The failure to integrate bike facilities into Transantiago, which could have helped to offset the in many cases unacceptably long distances to be travelled on foot to access the system, was yet another missed opportunity in planning this new system.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> After visiting Bogot� in 2001 and getting a firsthand look at Transmilenio and then observing Transantiago as closely as possible in the interim, Transantiago’s errors are largely the result of PLANNING and should have come as no surprise to those making decisions. The system was planned and developed by non-users, making the lack of participation from individual citizens’ and community groups an appalling oversight. <o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> With the government spending more than US$2000 per pax for urban highways, versus just US$15 per Transantiago passenger (the majority of Chileans!), this is not simply a technical glitch, but rather reflects a planning approach that is strongly biased in favour of a small powerful elite, mainly male and mainly car users, in an environment lacking the participatory mechanisms that could help offset this.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> The overwhelming drive to inaugurate new public works that has marked presidencial campaigns in recent years was also a contributing factor, with many (not just Transantiago) being officially opened before they were fully operacional, a factor that has meant that several have actually been closed down again or are functioning poorly. This probable explains why in the case of Transantiago the new system wasn’t gradually phased in, as would have been recommendable given the depth of the cultural, physical and other changes required.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> Transport and urban planners should therefore be aware, when looking at Transantiago, of the political and social factors that can weigh more heavily than technical conditions or expertise, on how systems are planned. Chile’s authorities have tried to sell Transantiago as both better and cheaper than systems implemented elsewhere. Events in the past three months, since implementation began, reveal this is patently false. Perhaps Shakespeare could have produced a powerful tragedy – or at least a biting comedy – from such hubris.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> In Santiago, meanwhile, Transantiago has become a powerful force in favour of more car and bike, including motor bike, use – completely the opposite of what the world needs from BRT today.<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> All best<o></o><o:p></o:p> Lake<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> Lake Sagaris<o></o><o:p></o:p> Living City (Ciudad Viva)<o></o><o:p></o:p> Santiago, Chile<o></o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> <o> </o><o:p></o:p> </div> __._,_.___ <o:p></o:p>  <div id=ygrp-actbar> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/message/2291;_ylc=X3oDMTM0YXZjbHZ2BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BG1zZ0lkAzIyOTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDdnRwYwRzdGltZQMxMTc4NjkzODM0BHRwY0lkAzIyOTE-">Messages in this topic </a>(1) <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJwZW1lMGtxBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BG1zZ0lkAzIyOTEEc2VjA2Z0cgRzbGsDcnBseQRzdGltZQMxMTc4NjkzODM0?act=reply&messageNum=2291">Reply (via web post) </a>| <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/post;_ylc=X3oDMTJlcHNsc2ZjBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA250cGMEc3RpbWUDMTE3ODY5MzgzNA--">Start a new topic </a><o:p></o:p> </div>  <div id=ygrp-vitnav> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/messages;_ylc=X3oDMTJlaTd1MTJuBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA21zZ3MEc3RpbWUDMTE3ODY5MzgzNA--">Messages</a> | <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/links;_ylc=X3oDMTJmNHA5ajMwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2xpbmtzBHN0aW1lAzExNzg2OTM4MzQ-">Links</a> | <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/database;_ylc=X3oDMTJjZ3BtOWVsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2RiBHN0aW1lAzExNzg2OTM4MzQ-">Database</a> | <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/polls;_ylc=X3oDMTJmbDMyZzc4BF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA3BvbGxzBHN0aW1lAzExNzg2OTM4MzQ-">Polls</a> | <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NewMobilityCafe/calendar;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYnJqbm8xBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2NhbARzdGltZQMxMTc4NjkzODM0">Calendar</a> <o:p></o:p> </div>  <div id=ygrp-grft> Check in here via the homepage at <a href="http://www.newmobility.org">http://www.newmobility.org</a>   To post message to group: NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com Please think twice before posting to the group as a whole (It might be that your note is best sent to one person?) <![if !supportLineBreakNewLine]> <![endif]><o:p></o:p> </div>  <div id=ygrp-ft> <a href="http://groups.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTJkYmdubTZsBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzEwODg3ODkEZ3Jwc3BJZAMxNzA3MjA1OTU0BHNlYwNmdHIEc2xrA2dmcARzdGltZQMxMTc4NjkzODM0"><img border=0 width=106 height=15 id="_x0000_i1025" src="http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/yg/img/logo/ma_grp_160.gif" alt="Yahoo! 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