[sustran] 1) Motorised 2 wheelers 2)Hong Kong

[Eric Bruun]

This comment addresses a couple of the latest postings on this
subject. I do not have the emissions data handy for the type
of motorcycles used in the Phillipines, but they are most likely
2 stroke engines of obsolete design, thus they have two strokes
(pardon the pun) against them. They probably are very serious
polluters, especially of unburned and partially burnt fuel, relative
to their size and weight. If I recall where I have seen estimates of
emissions for such vehicles, I will post it. It can probably be
estimated by looking at data for 1970s or early 1980s designs
of low powered two stroke engines sold in Europe and North 
America.

Four stroke motorcycles, or even carefully designed two stroke
motorcycles, could drastically improve the pollution level, but
like I mentioned before, these cost more and thus the difficulty.
Also, regardless of design, the continual intermittent use of these
vehicles all day creates extra pollution, as engines burn very
uncleanly when the engine is not at operating speed.  This is a
major flaw with any kind of personal motorized transportation.

Eric



On Wed, 15 Apr 1998, Dr.Rajeev Saraf wrote:

> 
> I am this "low-compression" and "high compression" terminology for the 
> first time. Generally, we talk about 2-stroke and 4-stroke engines for 
> motorised two wheelers (MTWs). Cars have 4-stroke engines.
> In 4-stroke engines, Hydrocarbon emissions are much lower than 2-stroke 
> engines due to beter burning of the fuel. In 2-stroke engines, a large
> amount of unburnt fuel is emitted into the air. 
> For the same reason, two-stroke engine have a lower CO/CO2 emissions than 
> 4-storke engines. Since the burning is better in 4-stoke engine, there 
> is higher emission of carbon oxides which is a byproduct of burning.
> 
> It should also be noted that 4-storke engines provide better mileage.
> 
> ___________________________________________________________________________
> Dr Rajeev Saraf                 |
> Urban and Transport Planner     |
> SENIOR PROJECT SCIENTIST        |      PHONE : 91-11-6858703
> APPLIED SYSTEM RESEARCH PROGRAM |      EMAIL : sarafrk at cbme.iitd.ernet.in
> IIT DELHI 110016                |      FAX   : 91-11-6862037
> INDIA                           |
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 
> On 13 Apr 1998, Roberto Verzola wrote:
> 
> >  >numerous other cities with high motor bike traffic, I need no
> >  >convincing that two-cycle motor bikes are not a means of
> >  >transportation to be encouraged.
> > 
> > Will somebody please clarify if it is true that two-cycle motor bikes
> > are of the low-compression type? Barry Commoner in The Closing Circle
> > made a distinction between low-compression engines and
> > high-compression engines (as found in cars), and says that the
> > pollution is much worse for high-compression engines (SOx, NOx, lead,
> > etc.) than for low-compression engines (water vapor, CO2, unburnt
> > fuel, etc.).
> > 
> > Obviously, walking and biking are even less pollutive than 2-cycle
> > motors, but are we or are we not justified in lumping together 2-cycle
> > and 4/6-cycle engines?
> > 
> > Obet Verzola
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> >  >
> >  >We need to create conditions and infrastructure that promotes
> >  >walking, bicycling, and muscle powered movement of goods, but
> >  >also channels the inevitable desire for more speed, power and
> >  >range to clean, quiet, affordable vehicles.  A vision of how I
> >  >think this might be achieved can be found at
> >  >http://www.biketrack.com/visions.htm
> >  >
> >  >We have been testing  and developing the surface to be used in
> >  >the EcoTrack transportation system since 1993.  We now have many
> >  >installations of the surface on steps, wheelchair access ramps,
> >  >gangways, bicycle/pedestrian bridges, etc. around the U.S.  A
> >  >partial listing of these sites can be found at
> >  >http://www.biketrack.com/install.htm
> >  >
> >  >The next step toward the EcoTrack transportation system will be
> >  >the introduction of structural travel surface panels that may be
> >  >placed together to form high quality walking and bicycle riding
> >  >surfaces without the need for a wood or metal sub-surface and
> >  >eliminating the need to excavate and pave.  The first 2'x4'
> >  >panels will be available by the end of next month along with a
> >  >new, modular truss system for building economical bicycle and
> >  >pedestrian bridges.   Please watch www.biketrack.com for
> >  >developments.  We will be posting more details on the surfacing
> >  >panels and modular truss system during the month of May.
> >  >
> >  >Gerry Hawkes
> >  >Bike Track, Inc.
> >  >Woodstock, Vermont USA
> >  >
> >  >www.biketrack.com
> >  >
> >  >ghawkes at sover.net
> >  >
> >  >Tel. 802-457-3275
> >  >Fax.  802-457-3704
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >-----Original Message-----
> >  >From: Barbara Gruehl Kipke <hobbes at t-online.de>
> >  >To: Activists <sustran-discuss at jca.ax.apc.org>
> >  >Date: Saturday, April 11, 1998 3:51 AM
> >  >Subject: [sustran] 1) Motorised 2 wheelers 2)Hong Kong has all
> >  >the solutions?
> >  >
> >  >
> >  >>Dear Sustainable Transport Activists,
> >  >>
> >  >>Hi! I'm new to your discussion list! You're welcome to find out
> >  >more
> >  >>about me at my web site: http://www.mobility-consultant.com.
> >  >>
> >  >>Maybe you can help me with two issues that have cropped up:
> >  >>1) We are trying to convince German development aid agencies to
> >  >put more
> >  >>money into the sustainable transport modes (ie. walking,
> >  >cycling, animal
> >  >>drawn alternatives, hand carts etc.). One guy from GTZ (an
> >  >important
> >  >>development aid agency) has written a counter-argument saying
> >  >among
> >  >>other things that it is not a bright future/perspective if we
> >  >start with
> >  >>the bicycle and the next development step is the polluting
> >  >2-wheelers =E0
> >  >>la Hanoi, Vietnam or Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
> >  >>
> >  >>The Asian region seems to abound with this problem. You must
> >  >have come
> >  >>up with some alternative scenarios?! I thought Singapore might
> >  >have
> >  >>banned motorcycles/2-wheelers from their streets...is that the
> >  >case? It
> >  >>would seem a good combination of public transport together with
> >  >bike &
> >  >>ride =E0 la Japan could be the way forward. How did Japan tame the
> >  >>motorcycle development. Do you have other positive
> >  >>examples of how Asian cities have handled the 2-wheeled
> >  >motorized
> >  >>"pest"?
> >  >>
> >  >>For your information, I have already looked at Sustran-discuss
> >  >files
> >  >>134, 136, 138, 167 that discuss this subject. Are there
> >  >additional
> >  >>comments you can provide me with?
> >  >>
> >  >>2) The GTZ guy mentions Hong Kong as a city that has solved "the
> >  >>transport problem". Hong Kong can thus "show us the way forward"
> >  >>according to this guy.
> >  >>
> >  >>I was in Hong Kong many years ago, but I don't remember it being
> >  >>particularly great in terms of its transport solutions. I
> >  >haven't seen
> >  >>too much written on Hong Kong that would lead me to believe that
> >  >they
> >  >>are very innovative or effective.
> >  >>
> >  >>How do you see the transport situation in Hong Kong?
> >  >>
> >  >>Thanks in advance for feedback!
> >  >>
> >  >>Yours sincerely from the deep Black Forest in Germany
> >  >>(where the Black Forest Cake comes from...)
> >  >>--
> >  >>Barbara Gruehl Kipke (M.B.A.)
> >  >>Mobility Consultant
> >  >>
> >  >>Horber Gaessle 13    Tel./Fax: 0049 7451 6985
> >  >>72160 Horb           e-mail: barbara at mobility-consultant.com
> >  >>Germany              http://www.mobility-consultant.com
> >  >>
> >  >
> >  >
> > 
> > 
>