[sustran] Knowledge-based Transport Planning and More Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka City

[eric.britton]

"Dr. Mahabubul Bari" <mahabubul.bari at sky.com> wrote: 

Knowledge-based Transport Planning and More Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka City

 

Please find attached a document on "Knowledge-based Transport Planning and
More Rickshaw Bans in Dhaka City" which you may find relevant considering
further extension of fuel free transport ban on more roads of Dhaka City and
other contemporary transport investment initiatives.

 

The truism "history repeats itself" applies to those who ignore the lessons
of the past and insist on forging ahead, committing the same mistakes, and
experiencing the same results. It is hoped that city authorities will learn
form the mistakes of the Mirpur Road Demonstration project and try to assign
the due importance of fuel-free transport. Given the small modal share of
automobiles and the many problems they cause, there should be no provision
for creating more auto-only roads within urban areas, and all existing
auto-only roads should be converted into mixed-use roads by properly
integrating public transit, FFT and fuel-dependent transport (FDT). If the
Mirpur Road project is indeed a demonstration-in a sense an experiment-then
clearly the lessons should be carefully learned before proceeding with
transport planning. In this case, the lessons are startlingly clear, and
point in a very different direction from that of current transport planning
in Dhaka.

Again, while developing a mass transit system for a mega city like Dhaka,
efforts should be made to develop an affordable system for the majority
under a well-integrated multi-modal system. It would be rather unfortunate
to develop a mass transit system mainly as a profit making enterprise. 

Given the complexity of the transport planning process and the fact that
transport and urban planning have significant effects on the economic and
overall well-being of a city's residents, it is important to adopt a
knowledge-based and participatory approach involving all segments of the
stakeholders. Such a participatory planning process should take into account
not only technical issues about feasibility and efficiency, but also the
likely effects of policies on mobility, accessibility, and quality of life
for all those affected, with a particular focus on vulnerable groups, those
most likely to be left out of, and highly affected by, the existing planning
process.

It is important to have an open discussion to explore the scientific
validity of the further extensions of fuel-free transport bans and the
justification of the building of mass transit mainly as a profit-making
enterprise under the perspectives of sustainable transport development in
Dhaka City. We, the proponents of sustainable transport development, would
be very keen to discuss the issues at lengths at any place in Dhaka in
between December 29, 2007 to January 21, 2008. Active participation of DTCB,
DCC, police, high officials from the Ministry of Communications, academics
from universities, representatives from the development partners and members
of the STP advisory committee would be highly appreciated. 

 

Best regards,

 

Mahabubul Bari

Transport Specialist, UK