Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia (SUMA) News Digest Vol. 6 Issue 3 - 23 March 2009 SUMA News Digest is a free weekly e-mail publication that features news, information, and events related to sustainable urban transportation in Asia. *** VISIT THE SUMA PAGES: <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/suma" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/suma</a> *** SUMA PARTNERS ON THE MOVE! Fourth Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum of the Asian EST Initiative- co-organized by UNCRD UNCRD with Ministry of Land, Transport, and Maritime Affairs (MLTM)-Republic of Korea organized the fourth EST forum in in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The participants adopted a statement for the promotion of environmentally sustainable transport in Asia – referred as Seoul Statement Read more: <a href="http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/4th-regional-est-forum/index_seoul_statement.htm" target="_blank">http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/4th-regional-est-forum/index_seoul_statement.htm</a> The presentations can be accessed at <a href="http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/4th-regional-est-forum/index_presentation.htm" target="_blank">http://www.uncrd.or.jp/env/4th-regional-est-forum/index_presentation.htm</a> Cycle-inclusive planning in Indian cities - Interface for Cycling Expertise For the first time in India, a manual on designing infrastructure suitable for bicycles in India is being readied, which would help planners and policymakers achieve bicycle-friendly cities and policies. Read more @ <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Now-a-manual-on-designing-infrastructure-for-cycles/articleshow/4239780.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pune/Now-a-manual-on-designing-infrastructure-for-cycles/articleshow/4239780.cms</a> CAI Asia participated in the Low Carbon Cities Symposium at on 16-18 February 2009 in Nagoya. The presentations can be accessed at <a href="http://www.gcp-urcm.org/A20090216/HomePage" target="_blank">http://www.gcp-urcm.org/A20090216/HomePage</a> and <a href="http://www.gcp-urcm.org/A20090217/HomePage" target="_blank">http://www.gcp-urcm.org/A20090217/HomePage</a> NEWSREPORTS HEADLINES Thailand: Bangkok Footpaths <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73271.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73271.html</a> Singapore: Too many taxi drivers <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73272.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73272.html</a> Vietnam: 16.4 million Euro for bus project in central highland city <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73275.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73275.html</a> India: State may tax cars to buy buses <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73269.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73269.html</a> China: Public transportation meeting opens in Taipei <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73276.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73276.html</a> China – Hong Kong: Tax break set for electric vehicles <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73248.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73248.html</a> Global: International Agencies Launch 50% Global Fuel Economy Plan at Geneva Motor <a href="http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/02/28/452132.html" target="_blank">http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2009/02/28/452132.html</a> Asia: ADB funds study to develop clean, inclusive transport system for Asian cities <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73251.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73251.html</a> * * * * INTERESTING FINDS/SEMINARS Climate change mitigation and co-benefits of feasible transport demand policies in Beijing Urban car transportation is a cause of climate change but is also associated with additional burdens such as traffic congestion and air pollution. Studies of external costs and potential impacts of travel demand management help to define policy instruments that mitigate the damaging impact of transportation. In this interesting research, the authors have analyzed different externalities of car transportation in Beijing and showed that the social costs induced by motorized transportation are equivalent to about 7.5–15.0% of Beijing’s GDP. Read more at <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73247.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73247.html</a> Efficiency in Sustainable Mobility Thematic Research Summary This paper deals with the minimisation of the resource costs of a given transport system and the maximisation of its performance. Costs considered include those borne by the transport users and those by the transport operators. The relief of congestion and reliability is a significant element in the consideration of efficiency. Read more : <a href="http://www.transport-research.info/Upload/Documents/200902/20090224_132039_90921_TRS_Efficiency.pdf" target="_blank">http://www.transport-research.info/Upload/Documents/200902/20090224_132039_90921_TRS_Efficiency.pdf</a> Rulemaking to Consider the Proposed Regulation to Implement the Low Carbon Fuel Standard In this rulemaking, the Air Resources Board (ARB/ Board) staff is proposing to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) by lowering the carbon content of transportation fuels used in California. The regulation is referred to as the California Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The LCFS will reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector in California by about 16 million metric tons (MMT) in 2020. These reductions account for almost 10 percent of the total GHG emission reductions needed to achieve the State’s mandate of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. Read more @ <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73268.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73268.html</a> Economic valuation of transport related health effects Review of methods and development of practical approaches, with a special focus on children The main objective of this project was to develop practical approaches to the economic valuation of transport-related health effects, including a focus on children. The development of the approaches was based on two reviews of relevant literature: one of recent epidemiological literature to identify the health endpoints related to road transport for which sufficient evidence exists for including them in economic valuation and another of literature on economic approaches to valuation of health costs due to road transport to derive guidance on the best way forward. A practical approach for road noise, transport-related air pollution and road crashes is presented; key issues regarding insufficient physical activity related to hindering effects of transport on commuter cycling and walking are discussed. The report also presents example calculations for the selected health endpoints which are based on the developed practical approaches for noise, air pollution and road crashes. Read more @ <a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73277.html" target="_blank">http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-73277.html</a> 2009 FTA Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision Making This report describes the physical, operational, cost, performance and potential benefits of BRT's constituent elements both individually and combined as integrated systems. Its intended audience includes urban transportation professionals and officials involved in developing and evaluating high performance transit systems, of which BRT is one alternative. This report is the updated version of 2004 report. Read more @ <a href="http://www.nbrti.org/CBRT.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbrti.org/CBRT.html</a> CALL FOR RESEARCH PAPERS We in CAI-Asia are looking for good analytical/research papers on Sustainable Transport and Air Pollution. If you would like your paper to be linked/ published in the CAI website, please let us know… * * * * MARK YOUR CALENDARS Transport Asia 2009 Exhibition, Karachi, Pakistan, 28-30 March 2009 <a href="http://www.transportasia.com.pk/" target="_blank">http://www.transportasia.com.pk/</a> The 4th International Conference on Future Urban Transport, Goteburg, Sweden, 19-21April 2009 <a href="http://www.fut.se/" target="_blank">http://www.fut.se/</a> Urban Transportation 2009, Abu Dhabi, UAE, 26-29 April 2009 <a href="http://www.iqpc.com/ShowEvent.aspx?id=166586" target="_blank">http://www.iqpc.com/ShowEvent.aspx?id=166586</a> Sustainable Development 2009, Cyprus, 13 - 15 May 2009 <a href="http://www.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/sustainable-development-2009.html" target="_blank">http://www.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/sustainable-development-2009.html</a> Transport for a Global Economy -Challenges & Opportunities in the Downturn -Leipzig Congress Centre 26-29 May 2009 <a href="http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/2009/Forum2009.html" target="_blank">http://www.internationaltransportforum.org/2009/Forum2009.html</a> eceee 2009 Summer Study, Côte d'Azur, France, 1-6 June 2009 <a href="http://www.eceee.org/summer_study/" target="_blank">http://www.eceee.org/summer_study/</a> Urban Transport 2009, Bologna, Italy, 22-24 June 2009 <a href="http://www2.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/urban-transport-2009.html" target="_blank">http://www2.wessex.ac.uk/09-conferences/urban-transport-2009.html</a> * * * CONTRIBUTE * * * To contribute articles, news items, or event announcements for the next issue, send an email with the complete details and URL source to <a href="mailto:suma-news-owner@googlegroups.com" target="_blank">suma-news-owner@googlegroups.com</a> with subject "FOR SUMA NEWS". Past issues from March and April 2008 are found at <a href="http://groups.google.com/group/suma-news" target="_blank">http://groups.google.com/group/suma-news</a> * * * ABOUT SUMA * * * The Sustainable Urban Mobility in Asia (SUMA) program is supported by the Asian Development Bank through a grant from Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. SUMA is implemented by the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities Center (<a href="http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia" target="_blank">www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia</a>), in partnership with EMBARQ - the World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport (<a href="http://embarq.wri.org" target="_blank">http://embarq.wri.org</a>), GTZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project ( <a href="http://www.sutp.org" target="_blank">www.sutp.org</a>), Interface for Cycling Expertise (<a href="http://www.cycling.nl" target="_blank">www.cycling.nl</a>), Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (<a href="http://www.itdp.org" target="_blank">www.itdp.org</a>), and United Nations Center for Regional Development (<a href="http://www.uncrd.or.jp/est" target="_blank">www.uncrd.or.jp/est</a>)