From navdeep.asija at gmail.com Thu Dec 1 11:48:26 2011 From: navdeep.asija at gmail.com (Asija, Navdeep) Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 08:18:26 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Fazilka eco-cab clinches National Urban Mobility Award-2011 In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Praful Chander Nagpal Fazilka, November 30 The eco-cabs of Fazilka have become a national benchmark for the best transportation project for the country in the area of non-motorised transportation (NMT). A leading NGO of the border town, the Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF), has been declared as winner of the country's most prestigious National Urban Mobility Award-2011 by the Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India, today evening. The award was selected amongst the best and unique practices being followed across the country. The award would be given by the Union Minister of the Urban Development Kamal Nath on December 6 at the concluding day ceremony of the fourth Urban Mobility India Conference-2011 in New Delhi. Notably, the best non-motor transport practice award is given annually to a city that uses non-motor transport innovations to increase mobility for all residents while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions by increasing accessibility, safety and comfort. The award would jointly be received by the GWAF general secretary Navdeep Asija, patron Dr Bhupinder Singh on behalf of the GWAF, Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg and Anil Sethi, president, Municipal Council, Fazilka. "The first credit goes to traction men at Fazilka, who made it possible and this recognition of our small city community effort would surely set trends of many other cities in the area of urban transport and environment protection," said Navdeep Asija, founder, ecocabs and secretary (admin) GWAF. Eco-cabs are basically dial-a-cycle-rickshaw similar to dial-a-cab started in the year 2008 at Fazilka with an idea to strengthen existing unorganised network of cycle rickshaw and its promotion as a post-modern technology for a short distance travelling. The concept was launched for the first time in the World at Fazilka, an Indian border town and district headquarters of Punjab near the India-Pakistan Border by the GWAF. Later, in the year 2010, principal secretary (Tourism) Geetika Kalha decided to launch the same scheme in the holy city of Amritsar around the Golden Temple area. At present, the scheme is successfully initiated in 22 cities of Punjab. Now, at Fazilka, city is being served via nine eco-cab call centers from where the user can dial for rickshaw at doorstep. Each traction man carries mobile phone for direct calling facility and Its android application is also available in the market. The eco-cab dial-a-rickshaw project is with light weight rickshaw equipped with luggage space, FM radio and drinking water facility. Fazilka eco-cabs got a big boost when on April 28, last year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo-moto in one of the news item and ordered the Government of Punjab, Haryana states and UT Chandigarh to implement it in various cities of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh. Notably, the prizes are given under nine different categories and Fazilka eco-cabs have been adjourned as the best innovative practice using cycle rickshaw under non-motor transport category, this year. Municipal Council (Fazilka) has constructed new eco-cabs stands for the rickshaw pullers."Our traction men are real green warrior and project eco-cab is nothing but a support to these eco-warriors, who pedal everyday for the sustainability of the planet," said Dr Bhupinder, Patron, founding member (GWAF) and retired professor from the IIT Roorkee. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20111201/bathinda.htm#2 From patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com Fri Dec 2 00:43:33 2011 From: patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2011 21:13:33 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Are Freeways (Flyovers) Doomed? Message-ID: 1 December 2011 Several cities are tearing down highways and creating bold new public spaces. Are we headed for a car-free future? This is happening in many cities worldwide - but in India our leaders continue to indulge in an orgy of flyover building at the slightest pretext. * For most residents of these communities, tearing down the freeways that crashed through their neighborhoods half a century ago would rectify a long-standing injustice. Removing urban freeways could open up whole new business districts, provide space for parks where they?re needed most, free up land for affordable housing, and create vast new waterfront tourist meccas.* *Read the whole article HERE >>>>* http://www.salon.com/2011/12/01/are_freeways_doomed/singleton/ -- Sujit -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- *?..each million we invest into urban motorways is an investment to destroy the city?* Mayor Hans Joachim Vogel Munich 1970 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Parisar: www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From peebeebarter at gmail.com Fri Dec 2 09:21:41 2011 From: peebeebarter at gmail.com (Paul Barter) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:21:41 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? Message-ID: What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since the 1950s. Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This triggered some debate. See http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it just create new corruption opportunities?* Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted this. How is it going? Paul Barter Singapore From edelman at greenidea.eu Fri Dec 2 09:45:52 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Fri, 02 Dec 2011 01:45:52 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4ED81FC0.2030007@greenidea.eu> Briefly (and simplistically): I prefer corruption to pollution. - T On 12/02/2011 01:21 AM, Paul Barter wrote: > What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? > > The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be > required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an > off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since > the 1950s. > > Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about > it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee > (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to > India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. > > This triggered some debate. See > http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor > more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is > also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. > > *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it > just create new corruption opportunities?* > > Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted > this. How is it going? > > Paul Barter > Singapore > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory / SLOWFactory Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu Skype: toddedelman https://www.facebook.com/Iamtoddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman http://de.linkedin.com/in/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany From paulbarter at nus.edu.sg Fri Dec 2 12:21:45 2011 From: paulbarter at nus.edu.sg (Paul Barter) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 11:21:45 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <6F850E42E4589F45AE2799F34B645C3601EA0A1E0A@MBX06.stf.nus.edu.sg> The link in my earlier message came out wrongly for some people. Apologies. Here is the correct link: http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.html -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+sppbpa=nus.edu.sg@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+sppbpa=nus.edu.sg@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Paul Barter Sent: Friday, 2 December 2011 8:22 AM To: sustran-discuss Subject: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since the 1950s. Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This triggered some debate. See http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it just create new corruption opportunities?* Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted this. How is it going? Paul Barter Singapore -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From jfdoulet at yahoo.com Fri Dec 2 17:46:04 2011 From: jfdoulet at yahoo.com (jfdoulet at yahoo.com) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:46:04 +0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <1102367880-1322815551-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1005051174-@b12.c3.bise7.blackberry> Hello Paul, I know that Beijing adopted this policy in the late 90s with no real success as people succeeded in giving a proof anyway. Generally speaking, I found out that measures to limit car ownership or car use in emerging Asian cities have little success since car owners have the financial means to look for alternative solutions (and often cheap labor). In Hanoi, you have a chauffeur and then you don't worry about parking fees or any other form of parking-related regulations (Hanoi plans to rely on parking regulations to improve its urban transport) ; in Jakarta, you can pay people (the "jockeys") to come into your car and them comply to the high occupancy vehicle policy (this is why Jakarta is now thinking about electroning road pricing) ; etc. So, without law enforcement, those solutions may have little impact (like anywhere else in the World...). Jean-Francois Doulet, Associate Professor Paris Institute of Urban Planning (University of Paris East Creteil) +33615253328 -----Original Message----- From: Paul Barter Sender: sustran-discuss-bounces+jfdoulet=yahoo.com@list.jca.apc.org Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:21:41 To: sustran-discuss Subject: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since the 1950s. Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. This triggered some debate. See http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it just create new corruption opportunities?* Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted this. How is it going? Paul Barter Singapore -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From datar.ashok at gmail.com Fri Dec 2 20:22:12 2011 From: datar.ashok at gmail.com (ashok datar) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 16:52:12 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? In-Reply-To: <1102367880-1322815551-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1005051174-@b12.c3.bise7.blackberry> References: <1102367880-1322815551-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1005051174-@b12.c3.bise7.blackberry> Message-ID: Hello all, there are always methods and ways by which people can cheat or beat the laws and rules but that does not mean we cannot and should not have rules for regulating parking. We can use better regulation and technology . we must adopt parking regulations whereby there are sufficiently high and variable tariff ( based on area, time, day and size of the car) and use discipline, marking , use of technology to enhance the deterrence value. If we can ensure that more than 90% compliance , we should nt worry for 10% evasion, this should apply to day time hourly parking and night time monthly parking both these require simple and easily enforceable technologies and regulations just out of fear, we should not chicken out this is one of the fairest method of charging private cars for their private use of public road space ashok datar On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 2:16 PM, wrote: > Hello Paul, > > I know that Beijing adopted this policy in the late 90s with no real > success as people succeeded in giving a proof anyway. > > Generally speaking, I found out that measures to limit car ownership or > car use in emerging Asian cities have little success since car owners have > the financial means to look for alternative solutions (and often cheap > labor). In Hanoi, you have a chauffeur and then you don't worry about > parking fees or any other form of parking-related regulations (Hanoi plans > to rely on parking regulations to improve its urban transport) ; in > Jakarta, you can pay people (the "jockeys") to come into your car and them > comply to the high occupancy vehicle policy (this is why Jakarta is now > thinking about electroning road pricing) ; etc. > > So, without law enforcement, those solutions may have little impact (like > anywhere else in the World...). > > Jean-Francois Doulet, Associate Professor > Paris Institute of Urban Planning > (University of Paris East Creteil) > +33615253328 > -----Original Message----- > From: Paul Barter > Sender: sustran-discuss-bounces+jfdoulet=yahoo.com@list.jca.apc.org > Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 08:21:41 > To: sustran-discuss > Subject: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? > > What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? > > The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be > required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an > off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since > the 1950s. > > Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about > it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee > (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to > India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. > > This triggered some debate. See > > http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor > more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is > also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. > > *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it > just create new corruption opportunities?* > > Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted > this. How is it going? > > Paul Barter > Singapore > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* From patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com Fri Dec 2 21:00:32 2011 From: patwardhan.sujit at gmail.com (Sujit Patwardhan) Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2011 17:30:32 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Fwd: Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Sorry. My reply went only to Paul and not to the SUSTRAN list. Resending.... -- Sujit ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Sujit Patwardhan Date: Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 5:28 PM Subject: Re: [sustran] Proof-of-parking laws: what do you think? To: Paul Barter It will be more "lip service" than a deterrent because the policy does not see parking as a "potential TDM weapon" ( we cannot afford to turn a whole city into an ugly parking lot) but as a "limiting factor" (there isn't enough parking available [unfortunately] so let's allow those who can afford to own a parking space get the permit to own a car). With the level of law enforcement we will see many circumventing the "proof-of-parking" condition and let's face it - the problem is not of owning one paking space. Everyone knows that an auto vehicle needs at least 3 parking spaces (actually more like 4 pr 5 parking spaces) so proof of parking hardly makes any difference on the potential pressure put on parking demand. So what one needs is not proof of parking but an application of parking as TDM to discourge car (personal auto vehicle) use all ove the city. - Sujit is it a problem of just *one *parking space? Even if someon does have a genuaine parking space On Fri, Dec 2, 2011 at 5:51 AM, Paul Barter wrote: > What do sustran-discussers think of 'Proof-of-Parking' laws? > > The idea is that before being allowed to register a car you would be > required to prove to local authorities that you have access to an > off-street parking space near your home. Japan has had this policy since > the 1950s. > > Two small Indian states have now adopted this or others are thinking about > it (including Karnataka and Maharashtra). Last month, a national committee > (the Sundar Committee) included the possibility in draft revisions to > India's Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. > > This triggered some debate. See > > http://www.reinventingparking.org/2011/10/india-debates-proof-of-parking-laws.htmlfor > more information on this news and the early reactions to it. There is > also more detail on proof-of-parking laws in case you want more insight. > > *What do you think? Is such a policy desirable? Is it feasible? Would it > just create new corruption opportunities?* > > Does anyone know more details about those Indian states that have adopted > this. How is it going? > > Paul Barter > Singapore > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- *?..each million we invest into urban motorways is an investment to destroy the city?* Mayor Hans Joachim Vogel Munich 1970 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Parisar: www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- -------------------------------------------------------------------- *?..each million we invest into urban motorways is an investment to destroy the city?* Mayor Hans Joachim Vogel Munich 1970 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Sujit Patwardhan patwardhan.sujit@gmail.com sujit@parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Yamuna, ICS Colony, Ganeshkhind Road, Pune 411 007, India Tel: +91 20 25537955 Cell: +91 98220 26627 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Parisar: www.parisar.org ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From sutp at sutp.org Mon Dec 5 03:05:13 2011 From: sutp at sutp.org (SUTP Team) Date: Sun, 4 Dec 2011 23:35:13 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Changing Course in Urban Transport - An Illustrated Guide has been launched today! Message-ID: Cities in Asia should transform their transport systems to provide growing urban populations with greater mobility while ensuring a healthy and attractive urban environment, says a new book published jointly by the Asian Development Bank and Deutsche Gesellschaft f?r Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). Authors are Robin Hickman, Paul Fremer, Manfred Breithaupt and Sharad Saxena. The illustrated book, Changing Course in Urban Transport- An Illustrated Guide, highlights the transport challenges in Asian cities, including the growing trend towards motorized transport ? a major factor behind the rise in global greenhouse gas emissions. The publication showcases low-carbon transport from around the world, which, if replicated on a large scale, could make Asian cities greener and more livable. The book highlights the importance of urban planning, traffic demand management, public transit, non-motorized transport, streetscape design, road planning, low-emission vehicles, and freight planning to promote sustainable transport in mushrooming cities. The book has been launched today, at the 6th Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum, being held in Delhi. The publication stresses ADB?s and GIZ`s commitment to cities in providing accessible, safe, environment-friendly and affordable transport systems. The 205 page document contains more than 250 high quality images on urban transportation. With pictures as the evidence the document shows best practices of cities that have "changed their course" in addressing urban transport problems. Globally, GIZ supports sustainable urban mobility projects, e.g. in Indonesia, PR China, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Ukraine, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda (primarily on behalf of German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety). More information: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2825 ------------- Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) E sutp@sutp.org I http://www.sutp.org From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Dec 5 18:07:42 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2011 10:07:42 +0100 Subject: [sustran] More on "I prefer corruption to pollution" Message-ID: <00f301ccb32d$5a78fb00$0f6af100$@britton@ecoplan.org> New post on World Streets ?I prefer corruption to pollution? *revisited The full message from Todd Edelman -- as part of a discussion on the Sustran/Global South forum of attempts to limit parking in cities through regulation, which sometimes achieve at least some of their objectives, and at other times risk to open up opportunities for favoritism and corruption --reads: "Briefly (and simplistically): I prefer corruption to pollution." Now I find this a terrific provocative thought and while I leave you to sort that one out for yourself, here's a bit of context on this important, powerful, unambiguous, but nonetheless largely ignored policy issue behind his contentious phrase. Read more of this post URL: http://wp.me/psKUY-246 From yanivbin at gmail.com Tue Dec 6 17:00:34 2011 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Tue, 6 Dec 2011 13:30:34 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Passive Safety in The Automotive Sector of India Message-ID: http://www.washingtonbanglaradio.com/content/123799511-passive-safety-automotive-sector-india Passive Safety in The Automotive Sector of India News - Automotive New Delhi, Dec 5, 2011 (Washington Bangla Radio / PIB India) In the automotive sector parlance, passive safety features refer to systems designed to minimise injury to the occupants in the event of a crash as against active safety systems that help drivers avoid accidents. It is important to equip a vehicle with both active and passive safety features. The Automotive Industry in India has been one of the key drivers of economic growth, with a CAGR of over 15% during the last 7 years. In 2010-11, the total turnover of the Industry stood at USD 73 Billion (Rs. 3,27,300 cr.) and its contribution to the Manufacturing GDP and the excise duty was 22% and 21% respectively. Today, India is the largest manufacturer of tractors, second largest manufacturer of two wheelers, 5th largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles and is an emerging global automotive hub. The Indian automotive sector is now widely recognized for its enormous potential to be a growth engine and propel the country on a high growth path. While the growth story, both in retrospect and prospect, sounds impressive and exciting, it also poses several areas of concern and challenges. Increasing urbanization and motorization, rapid development of road infrastructure, introduction of faster vehicles and the changing driving pattern have brought to the fore the problem of increasing number of injuries and mortalities resulting from road traffic accidents. As per an estimate, about 125,000 people die and 450,000 get injured in India every year due to Road Traffic accidents. Road Traffic Accident which used to be the tenth among the top ten causes of mortality in the country two decades back, is projected to occupy the fifth position in the list of major killers in the year 2020. Some of the factors that increase the risk of road crashes in India are unsafe traffic environment, poor road infrastructure, increasing number of motorized vehicles, lack of safety engineering measures and unsafe driving behaviour. Improving prevention and mitigation of road traffic incidents in a low-income country like India will help to better use its scarce resources. Road Safety is a multi-sectoral and multi-dimensional issue encompassing the development and managementof road infrastructure, design of safer vehicles, legislation and law enforcement, mobility planning, urban land use planning etc. In other words, its ambit spans engineering aspects of both roads and vehicles on one hand and the provision of post crash healthcare on the other. World over, Nations have initiated various measures towards their commitment to check fatalities due to road accidents by way of improvement of roads, vehicle design, strengthening of active and passive safety systems and campaigns regarding safe driving. Under the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRiP), three crash labs are being set up where vehicles will be tested for their crash worthiness. With the commissioning of these crash labs by 2012, India will be equipped to design, develop and certify vehicles which conform to newly evolving safety standards. Notification for new crash regulations are under formulation. Crash test ratings will also generate awareness among the buyers to make informed decision on buying a vehicle keeping in view the safety features of the vehicle. It is now required to incorporate latest technologies and safety regulations to ensure reduction of road traffic injuries through passive safety measures in particular. The emphasis is to make Indian roads much safer. - PIB Features, with inputs from M/o Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises From sguttikunda at gmail.com Fri Dec 9 13:40:13 2011 From: sguttikunda at gmail.com (Sarath Guttikunda) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 10:10:13 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> Message-ID: Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public transport". How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing congestion and related air pollution. *********************************** http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gridlock?newsfeed=true *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked streets of India 's notoriously chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, Singapore and a handful of other cities. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas during the day. "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries will be made to pay a higher fee. A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and several Scandinavian cities in recent years. Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi has attempted to introduce such a scheme. Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, at least twice as many as five years ago. Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented in areas around the historical old centre. But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely ignored. Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a massive response. Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who has worked in Delhi, said. -- *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, USA) *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* From cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org Fri Dec 9 14:09:02 2011 From: cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org (Cornie Huizenga) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 13:09:02 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear All, It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian speeches and presentations made reference to this. I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing in public transport and promoting NMT. Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does not undermine economic growth. A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. Cornie On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda wrote: > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people > to use public transport". > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing > congestion and related air pollution. > > *********************************** > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gridlock?newsfeed=true > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > streets of India 's notoriously > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > during the day. > > "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > in areas around the historical old centre. > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > ignored. > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > massive response. > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who > has worked in Delhi, said. > > -- > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > USA) > *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net From gsbravi026 at yahoo.co.in Fri Dec 9 16:23:33 2011 From: gsbravi026 at yahoo.co.in (ravi gadepalli) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 12:53:33 +0530 (IST) Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <1323415413.72977.YahooMailNeo@web137317.mail.in.yahoo.com> While the point that private modes should pay the appropriate price of the resources used is well appreciated, congestion pricing may not be the way forward in India. There are two reasons why congestion pricing can be impractical: 1) Most of the Indian cities have multiple business districts and informal markets. Therefore if congestion pricing is introduced in one area, the activity shifts to the other commercial areas and the attractiveness of the previously busy area goes down. 2) The road networks in most of the cities are not hierarchically developed. Its common in many places to find an access road connected to an arterial road and so on. This means that if congestion pricing is included on some major roads leading to a cordoned area, people might find interior roads in the same area and find alternatives to get away from congestion pricing.? I think the logical steps towards proper pricing of private modes is to improve our parking policies first and then move towards congestion pricing. Regards, Ravi Gadepalli, iTrans Pvt. Ltd., TBIU, IIT Delhi, New Delhi. www.itrans.co.in ________________________________ From: Cornie Huizenga To: Sarath Guttikunda Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia ; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Sent: Friday, 9 December 2011 10:39 AM Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian Dear All, It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian speeches and presentations made reference to this. I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing in public transport and promoting NMT. Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 years have had a vehicle quota system.? The economic success of these two cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does not undermine economic growth. A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. Cornie On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda wrote: > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people > to use public transport". > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing > congestion and related air pollution. > > *********************************** > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gridlock?newsfeed=true > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > streets of India 's notoriously > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > during the day. > > "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > in areas around the historical old centre. > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > ignored. > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > massive response. > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who > has worked in Delhi, said. > > -- > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > USA) > *Tel +91-9891315946? |? http://www.urbanemissions.info* > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From litman at vtpi.org Sat Dec 10 03:11:12 2011 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Fri, 9 Dec 2011 10:11:12 -0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> Message-ID: <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this proposal. Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, many types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays the fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG emission reductions. Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you would like me to email you the slide show. ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? lower-value trips, and generates revenue. ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing countries. ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide greater total benefits. Sincerely, Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) litman@vtpi.org facebook.com/todd.litman Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Cornie Huizenga Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM To: Sarath Guttikunda Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian Dear All, It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian speeches and presentations made reference to this. I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing in public transport and promoting NMT. Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does not undermine economic growth. A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. Cornie On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda wrote: > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion [and] encourage people > to use public transport". > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing > congestion and related air pollution. > > *********************************** > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri dlock?newsfeed=true > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > streets of India 's notoriously > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > during the day. > > "This will help reduce congestion [and] encourage people to use public > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > in areas around the historical old centre. > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > ignored. > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > massive response. > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes we don't need any > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who > has worked in Delhi, said. > > -- > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > USA) > *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From c_bradshaw at rogers.com Sun Dec 11 09:55:30 2011 From: c_bradshaw at rogers.com (Chris Bradshaw) Date: Sat, 10 Dec 2011 19:55:30 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Passive Safety in The Automotive Sector of India References: Message-ID: <7B3329DC85724B44B45983C9E9E451DA@acer6e40e97492> ". . . passive safety features refer to systems > designed to minimise injury to the occupants in the event of a crash . . . > " This is an inadequate and unsustainable definition of passive safety, as it doesn't include any protection of those who are not occupants of the vehicles: pedestrians, cyclists, and bystanders. Europe now recognizes this by requiring new models to have measures that reduce the seriousness of injuries to the unprotected human body. If you don't widen the definition, the measures only encourage faster driving, with the net safety change for the occupants being nil, and for other road users being a significant decline. It is inappropriate that governments get involved ensuring that new safety measures only protect those in a private vehicle, rather than all users of the public space that the vehicle is driving through. Here is a study reported some years ago that reflects on this truth: Ottawa Citizen December 12, 1994, p. A1: If Drivers Feel Safe, Caution's Not Their Bag A Virginia study has found drivers whose cars are equipped with air bags take more risks because of the added protection. In fatal crashes involving an air-bag-equipped car and one with no air bag, the driver of the air bag-equipped car was responsible 73 percent of the time (compiled by Iain Hunter). From krc12353 at gmail.com Sun Dec 11 15:20:38 2011 From: krc12353 at gmail.com (Karthik Rao-Cavale) Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:20:38 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Passive Safety in The Automotive Sector of India In-Reply-To: <7B3329DC85724B44B45983C9E9E451DA@acer6e40e97492> References: <7B3329DC85724B44B45983C9E9E451DA@acer6e40e97492> Message-ID: Chris, You make an important point. The focus on preventive safety at the vehicle level might induce drivers to be less careful, increase crashes, and give cyclists and pedestrians more to worry about. Even if this doesn't disincentivize cycling/walking itself, it might still create demand for safety equipment that might not have been necessary previously. Comparative analysis of various traffic safety measures at the population level (evaluated based on number of traffic-related fatalities and injuries) is probably the way to go. Helmet laws may be compared to better road infrastructure (better signals, signs) and policing using social cost-benefit analyses, for instance. On Sat, Dec 10, 2011 at 7:55 PM, Chris Bradshaw wrote: > ". . . passive safety features refer to systems > > designed to minimise injury to the occupants in the event of a crash . . > . > > " > > This is an inadequate and unsustainable definition of passive safety, as it > doesn't include any protection of those who are not occupants of the > vehicles: pedestrians, cyclists, and bystanders. > > Europe now recognizes this by requiring new models to have measures that > reduce the seriousness of injuries to the unprotected human body. > > If you don't widen the definition, the measures only encourage faster > driving, with the net safety change for the occupants being nil, and for > other road users being a significant decline. It is inappropriate that > governments get involved ensuring that new safety measures only protect > those in a private vehicle, rather than all users of the public space that > the vehicle is driving through. > > Here is a study reported some years ago that reflects on this truth: > Ottawa Citizen December 12, 1994, p. A1: If Drivers Feel Safe, Caution's > Not > Their Bag > > A Virginia study has found drivers whose cars are equipped with air bags > take more risks because of the added protection. In fatal crashes involving > an air-bag-equipped car and one with no air bag, the driver of the air > bag-equipped car was responsible 73 percent of the time (compiled by Iain > Hunter). > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Dec 12 05:21:08 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 21:21:08 +0100 Subject: [sustran] On Passive Safety in The Automotive Sector of India In-Reply-To: References: <7B3329DC85724B44B45983C9E9E451DA@acer6e40e97492> Message-ID: <015c01ccb842$6d8cad30$48a60790$@britton@ecoplan.org> Dear not-so passive friends. Is there any way that one of some combination of you might wish to work with the materials and views you have already assembled on this important topic in our exchanges here, and turn it into a good crisp piece for simultaneous publication in World Streets, India Streets and Safe Streets? While these phrases -- passive vs. active safety -- are trotted out often, I am not sure that the basic underlying issues are all that well understood. So your contribution here would be very timely. Eric Britton _______________ EcoPlan International Association loi de 1901 Eric Britton, Managing Director Un projet de l'Association Ecoplan International (Loi de 1901) 8/10, rue Jospeh Bara ? Paris 75006 France +331 7550 3788 ? association@ecoplan.org ? Skype newmobility Sustainable Development, Business & Society | World Streets | New Mobility Partnerships Siret 304555295 00019 Arr?t? du ministre de l?int?rieur. 19 ao?t 1975 ? Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement From datar.ashok at gmail.com Mon Dec 12 12:48:31 2011 From: datar.ashok at gmail.com (ashok datar) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 09:18:31 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> Message-ID: I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur presentation. I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to be efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally used for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is the best form of congestion charging but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars on road ashok datar On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman wrote: > Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: > Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference > (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this > proposal. > > > > Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases > it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a > small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing > system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on > collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, > many > types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, > and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays > the > fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of > affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other > pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, > distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more > economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG > emission > reductions. > > > > Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you > would > like me to email you the slide show. > > > > ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, > urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. > > > > ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more > efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? > lower-value trips, and generates revenue. > > > > ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing > countries. > > > > ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve > other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at > reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel > taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide > greater total benefits. > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > Todd Litman > > Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) > > litman@vtpi.org > > facebook.com/todd.litman > > Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 > > 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA > > ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org > [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On > Behalf > Of Cornie Huizenga > Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM > To: Sarath Guttikunda > Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The > Guardian > > > > Dear All, > > > > It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting > > on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian > > speeches and presentations made reference to this. > > > > I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a > > growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, > > to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport > > systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing > > in public transport and promoting NMT. > > > > Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management > > measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. > > Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in > > China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 > > years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two > > cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does > > not undermine economic growth. > > > > A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to > > administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also > > generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards > > improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are > > more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each > > year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. > > > > The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free > > commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same > > manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where > > public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the > > proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. > > > > Cornie > > > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda > wrote: > > > > > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage > people > > > to use public transport". > > > > > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > > > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi > is > > > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > > > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > > > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current > public > > > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in > reducing > > > congestion and related air pollution. > > > > > > *********************************** > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri > dlock?newsfeed=true > > > > > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > > > > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > > > streets of India 's notoriously > > > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in > London, > > > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > > > > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > > > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a > 150-rupee > > > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > > > during the day. > > > > > > "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public > > > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. > Lorries > > > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > > > > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > > > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > > > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > > > > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > > > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > > > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of > Delhi > > > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > > > > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > > > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > > > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > > > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > > > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's > roads, > > > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > > > > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > > > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > > > > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > > > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > > > in areas around the historical old centre. > > > > > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > > > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > > > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > > > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > > > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > > > > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > > > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > > > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > > > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > > > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > > > > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing > or > > > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and > laws > > > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > > > ignored. > > > > > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small > bribe > > > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page > asking > > > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > > > massive response. > > > > > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > > > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > > > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > > > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > > > > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > > > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any > > > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > > > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > > > > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > > > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said > no > > > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > > > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now > I > > > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > > > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > > > > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > > > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > > > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel > in > > > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, > who > > > has worked in Delhi, said. > > > > > > -- > > > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > > > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > > > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > > > USA) > > > *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > > > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > > > ================================================================ > > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > > > (the 'Global South'). > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Cornie Huizenga > > Joint Convener > > Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > > Mobile: +86 13901949332 > > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > > www.slocat.net > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* From litman at vtpi.org Mon Dec 12 12:57:44 2011 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:57:44 -0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> Message-ID: <054201ccb882$3fc20180$bf460480$@org> It is now posted on our website: ?Congestion Pricing In Asia: Options and Impacts? ( http://www.vtpi.org/files/Delhi_EST_Congestion_Charging_Dec2011.pdf ). Also see: Todd Litman (2003), London Congestion Pricing: Implications for Other Cities, Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org ); at www.vtpi.org/london.pdf. Todd Litman (2006), Parking Taxes: Evaluating Options and Impacts, VTPI (www.vtpi.org ); at www.vtpi.org/parking_tax.pdf. Todd Litman (2009), ?Congestion Costs,? Transportation Cost and Benefit Analysis; Techniques, Estimates and Implications, Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org/tca). Todd Litman (2009), Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified? Evaluating Mobility Management Policy Objectives Such As Targets To Reduce VMT And Increase Use Of Alternative Modes, VTPI (www.vtpi.org); at www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf. Todd Litman (2010), Changing Vehicle Travel Price Sensitivities: The Rebounding Rebound Effect, VTPI (www.vtpi.org ); at www.vtpi.org/VMT_Elasticities.pdf. Todd Litman (2011), Pricing For Traffic Safety: How Efficient Transport Pricing Can Reduce Roadway Crash Risk, Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org ); at www.vtpi.org/price_safe.pdf. Todd Litman (2011), Smart Congestion Relief: Comprehensive Analysis Of Traffic Congestion Costs and Congestion Reduction Benefits, Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org ); at www.vtpi.org/cong_relief.pdf. Please let me know if you have questions or comments. Sincerely, Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org ) litman@vtpi.org facebook.com/todd.litman Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? From: ashok datar [mailto:datar.ashok@gmail.com] Sent: December-11-11 7:49 PM To: Todd Alexander Litman Cc: Cornie Huizenga; Sarath Guttikunda; Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: Re: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur presentation. I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to be efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally used for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is the best form of congestion charging but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars on road ashok datar On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman wrote: Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this proposal. Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, many types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays the fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG emission reductions. Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you would like me to email you the slide show. ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? lower-value trips, and generates revenue. ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing countries. ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide greater total benefits. Sincerely, Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) litman@vtpi.org facebook.com/todd.litman Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman =vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Cornie Huizenga Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM To: Sarath Guttikunda Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian Dear All, It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian speeches and presentations made reference to this. I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing in public transport and promoting NMT. Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does not undermine economic growth. A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. Cornie On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda wrote: > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion [and] encourage people > to use public transport". > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi is > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current public > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in reducing > congestion and related air pollution. > > *********************************** > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri dlock?newsfeed=true > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > streets of India 's notoriously > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in London, > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a 150-rupee > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > during the day. > > "This will help reduce congestion [and] encourage people to use public > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. Lorries > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of Delhi > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's roads, > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > in areas around the historical old centre. > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing or > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and laws > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > ignored. > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small bribe > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page asking > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > massive response. > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes we don't need any > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said no > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now I > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel in > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, who > has worked in Delhi, said. > > -- > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > USA) > *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand. From yanivbin at gmail.com Mon Dec 12 17:19:20 2011 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 13:49:20 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Coimbatore's quest for traffic improvement, road connectivity Message-ID: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/article2708644.ece Coimbatore's quest for traffic improvement, road connectivity Karthik Madhavan Share ? print ? T+ T+ ? T- [image: Over-stressed: Inability to introduce additional mass public transport system leaves the city dependent mostly on buses. File photo: K. Ananthan] The Hindu Over-stressed: Inability to introduce additional mass public transport system leaves the city dependent mostly on buses. File photo: K. Ananthan Of the major projects the Coimbatore Corporation readied for submission for fund under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, the transport project is one. Under the head ?Traffic and transportation ? inclusive of roads, bus rapid transit system and flyovers', the Corporation sought Rs. 637 crore after preparing a detailed project report (DPR). The DPR says the objective is to identify transportation deficiencies and come up with a comprehensive mobility plan for the city of Coimbatore. This was in November 2007. The Corporation set up four committees - the first for identification of problems in traffic network and bottlenecks for their intermodal integration and road connectivity aspects; the second for short-term measures for traffic improvements; the third for medium- and long- term measures for traffic improvements; and, the fourth for traffic management measures. The report the committees submitted identified the following as the city's problems: phenomenal growth in vehicles, lack of segregation of traffic, inadequate road network, congestion at railway crossings, lack of adequate link roads, absence of organised parking facilities, lack of sufficient signalised junctions, medians, pedestrian walkways and lack of an efficient transit system. As part of the long-term improvements, a mass transit system was listed as priority one. The report said Coimbatore would do well to have a bus rapid transit system (BRTS) because it suited the ?Passenger Per Hour Per Direction' estimate, which was 6,000. Under Phase I of the BRTS project, the committees suggested taking up works on the Avanashi Road ? Dr. Nanjappa Road ? Mettupalayam Road stretch and under Phase II, the Trichy Road, Sathy Road, Thadagam Road and Sanganur Canal. The Corporation took up the committees' report and said that it would be able to implement the project with 50 per cent financial assistance from the Central Government and 20 per cent contribution from the State. It promised to chip in with the remaining 30 per cent. *JNNURM projects* This report, according to sources, is with the State Government and has not been forwarded to the Central Government because the Corporation has not been able to complete the JNNURM projects at hand such as the solid waste management, underground drainage, storm water drain, etc. They also say that even if the report is forwarded to the Central Government, it may not fund the project because the Corporation has not taken necessary administrative reforms and acted on its promises, like for instance, collecting user charges. This is only one half of the story, though. Even without the BRTS, the Corporation could have taken several measures to ease traffic congestion in the city, sources say. The civic body failed to implement even short-term improvement measures such as bringing in bicycle lanes, providing pedestrian facilities, regulating street hawking, identifying hawking zones and improving junctions. The Corporation, they say, has not been successful in bringing in many link roads, constructing flyovers, road overbridges, pedestrian underpasses, etc., as suggested in the committees' report. If the Corporation wants to ease traffic congestion and introduce mass transport in the city, it must start from scratch because the report prepared in 2007 will not reflect 2011's reality, they say and want the Corporation to seriously consider BRTS. Keywords: Coimbatore traffic issues , Coimbatore roads From datar.ashok at gmail.com Mon Dec 12 17:59:49 2011 From: datar.ashok at gmail.com (ashok datar) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:29:49 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> Message-ID: Thanks for a very clear ppt fo Todd and your valuable suggestion and emphasis on vehicle registration system . In fact, proper registration system ( covering all the old vehicles with the names of owners and regular drivers and the actual address and email id, tel no where sms can be sent ) must be installed asap all over india and for which we must collect fees to cover the entire cost from motorists. We should also examine the possibility and desirability of installing a RFID in each vehicle so that it can be read. and a prepaid card with a debit limit of Rs. 5000 for direct debiting of congestion charge as well as fines for traffic offences electronically this will be clean , efficient and would have a great deterrent value which is needed in India ashok datar On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 12:36 PM, Michael Replogle < michael.replogle@itdp.org> wrote: > I just returned from Delhi. Effective implementation of a congestion > charge as proposed in there will likely require augmenting the current > motor vehicle registration system - in which a vehicle is registered once > when new and then transferred between owners without routine updating or > annual fees. Shifting towards an annual or biannual motor vehicle > registration renewal tag system could greatly facilitate the administration > of automated license tag recognition systems for cordon charge payments and > enforcement of penalties. Without such a system, enforcement would need to > be on an irregular spot basis, with related high costs and a propensity for > payoffs to waive tickets. If motor vehicle owners were required to get > their vehicle inspected for safety and emissions annually or biannually as > a condition for re-registration, this would also help discourage high > polluting unsafe vehicles from Delhi. This could be phased into a Vehicle > Quota System that would garner much greater benefits of traffic management, > with auctions to be held for the right to register a motor vehicle in the > city. > > Michael Replogle > Global Policy Director & Founder > Institute for Transportation & Development Policy > 1210 18th Street NW, Suite 300 > Washington, DC 20036 USA > > Tel: 202-552-3212 (Office) > 301-529-0351 (Mobile) > www.itdp.org | www.ourcitiesourselves.org > > Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide > > > > > > On Dec 11, 2011, at 10:48 PM, ashok datar wrote: > > I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur presentation. > I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to be > efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally used > for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc > I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is the > best form of congestion charging > but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai > which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars on > road > ashok datar > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman >wrote: > > Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: > > Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference > > (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this > > proposal. > > > > > Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases > > it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a > > small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing > > system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on > > collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, > > many > > types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, > > and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays > > the > > fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of > > affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other > > pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, > > distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more > > economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG > > emission > > reductions. > > > > > Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you > > would > > like me to email you the slide show. > > > > > ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, > > urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. > > > > > ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more > > efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? > > lower-value trips, and generates revenue. > > > > > ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing > > countries. > > > > > ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve > > other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at > > reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel > > taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide > > greater total benefits. > > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > > Todd Litman > > > Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) > > > litman@vtpi.org > > > facebook.com/todd.litman > > > Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 > > > 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA > > > ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org > > [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On > > Behalf > > Of Cornie Huizenga > > Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM > > To: Sarath Guttikunda > > Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > > Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The > > Guardian > > > > > Dear All, > > > > > It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting > > > on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian > > > speeches and presentations made reference to this. > > > > > I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a > > > growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, > > > to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport > > > systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing > > > in public transport and promoting NMT. > > > > > Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management > > > measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. > > > Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in > > > China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 > > > years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two > > > cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does > > > not undermine economic growth. > > > > > A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to > > > administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also > > > generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards > > > improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are > > > more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each > > > year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. > > > > > The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free > > > commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same > > > manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where > > > public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the > > > proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. > > > > > Cornie > > > > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda > > wrote: > > > > > Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage > > people > > > to use public transport". > > > > > How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > > > Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi > > is > > > not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > > > metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > > > congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current > > public > > > transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in > > reducing > > > congestion and related air pollution. > > > > > *********************************** > > > > > > > > > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri > > dlock?newsfeed=true > > > > > *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > > > > > No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > > > streets of India 's notoriously > > > chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in > > London, > > > Singapore and a handful of other cities. > > > > > The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > > > civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a > > 150-rupee > > > (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > > > during the day. > > > > > "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public > > > transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. > > Lorries > > > will be made to pay a higher fee. > > > > > A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > > > systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > > > several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > > > > > Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > > > charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > > > reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of > > Delhi > > > has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > > > > > Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > > > Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > > > barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > > > economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > > > expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's > > roads, > > > at least twice as many as five years ago. > > > > > Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > > > respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > > > > > Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > > > considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > > > in areas around the historical old centre. > > > > > But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > > > reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > > > worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > > > Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > > > necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > > > > > The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > > > traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > > > violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > > > necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > > > Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > > > > > Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing > > or > > > law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and > > laws > > > that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > > > ignored. > > > > > Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small > > bribe > > > to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page > > asking > > > irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > > > massive response. > > > > > Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > > > technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > > > obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > > > "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > > > > > Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > > > enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any > > > more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > > > designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > > > > > Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > > > traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said > > no > > > amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > > > year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now > > I > > > am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > > > back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > > > > > Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > > > that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > > > difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel > > in > > > the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, > > who > > > has worked in Delhi, said. > > > > > -- > > > *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > > > Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > > > Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > > > USA) > > > *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > > > *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > > ================================================================ > > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > > > (the 'Global South'). > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > Cornie Huizenga > > > Joint Convener > > > Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > > > Mobile: +86 13901949332 > > > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > > > www.slocat.net > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > > ================================================================ > > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > > (the 'Global South'). > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > > (the 'Global South'). > > > > > > -- > Ashok R.Datar > Mumbai Environmental Social Network > 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 > 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org > > * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* From michael.replogle at itdp.org Mon Dec 12 16:06:51 2011 From: michael.replogle at itdp.org (Michael Replogle) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 02:06:51 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> Message-ID: <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> I just returned from Delhi. Effective implementation of a congestion charge as proposed in there will likely require augmenting the current motor vehicle registration system - in which a vehicle is registered once when new and then transferred between owners without routine updating or annual fees. Shifting towards an annual or biannual motor vehicle registration renewal tag system could greatly facilitate the administration of automated license tag recognition systems for cordon charge payments and enforcement of penalties. Without such a system, enforcement would need to be on an irregular spot basis, with related high costs and a propensity for payoffs to waive tickets. If motor vehicle owners were required to get their vehicle inspected for safety and emissions annually or biannually as a condition for re-registration, this would also help discourage high polluting unsafe vehicles from Delhi. This could be phased into a Vehicle Quota System that would garner much greater benefits of traffic management, with auctions to be held for the right to register a motor vehicle in the city. Michael Replogle Global Policy Director & Founder Institute for Transportation & Development Policy 1210 18th Street NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20036 USA Tel: 202-552-3212 (Office) 301-529-0351 (Mobile) www.itdp.org | www.ourcitiesourselves.org Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide On Dec 11, 2011, at 10:48 PM, ashok datar wrote: I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur presentation. I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to be efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally used for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is the best form of congestion charging but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars on road ashok datar On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman wrote: > Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: > Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference > (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this > proposal. > > > > Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases > it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a > small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing > system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on > collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, > many > types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, > and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays > the > fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of > affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other > pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, > distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more > economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG > emission > reductions. > > > > Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you > would > like me to email you the slide show. > > > > ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, > urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. > > > > ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more > efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? > lower-value trips, and generates revenue. > > > > ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing > countries. > > > > ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve > other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at > reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel > taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide > greater total benefits. > > > > > > > > Sincerely, > > Todd Litman > > Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) > > litman@vtpi.org > > facebook.com/todd.litman > > Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 > > 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA > > ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org > [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On > Behalf > Of Cornie Huizenga > Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM > To: Sarath Guttikunda > Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The > Guardian > > > > Dear All, > > > > It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting > > on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian > > speeches and presentations made reference to this. > > > > I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a > > growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, > > to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport > > systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing > > in public transport and promoting NMT. > > > > Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management > > measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. > > Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in > > China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 > > years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two > > cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does > > not undermine economic growth. > > > > A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to > > administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also > > generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards > > improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are > > more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each > > year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. > > > > The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free > > commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same > > manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where > > public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the > > proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. > > > > Cornie > > > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda > wrote: > > > >> Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage > people > >> to use public transport". > >> > >> How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? > >> Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi > is > >> not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or > >> metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, > >> congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current > public > >> transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in > reducing > >> congestion and related air pollution. > >> > >> *********************************** > >> > >> > >> > > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri > dlock?newsfeed=true > >> > >> *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > >> > >> No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > >> streets of India 's notoriously > >> chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in > London, > >> Singapore and a handful of other cities. > >> > >> The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing > >> civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a > 150-rupee > >> (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > >> during the day. > >> > >> "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public > >> transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. > Lorries > >> will be made to pay a higher fee. > >> > >> A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various > >> systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > >> several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > >> > >> Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > >> charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > >> reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of > Delhi > >> has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > >> > >> Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > >> Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has > >> barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid > >> economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > >> expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's > roads, > >> at least twice as many as five years ago. > >> > >> Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > >> respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > >> > >> Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are > >> considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented > >> in areas around the historical old centre. > >> > >> But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > >> reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem > >> worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > >> Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > >> necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > >> > >> The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > >> traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > >> violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was > >> necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > >> Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > >> > >> Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing > or > >> law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and > laws > >> that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely > >> ignored. > >> > >> Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small > bribe > >> to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page > asking > >> irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a > >> massive response. > >> > >> Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > >> technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > >> obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > >> "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > >> > >> Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > >> enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any > >> more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas > >> designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > >> > >> Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > >> traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said > no > >> amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a > >> year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now > I > >> am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > >> back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > >> > >> Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said > >> that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > >> difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel > in > >> the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, > who > >> has worked in Delhi, said. > >> > >> -- > >> *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > >> Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > >> Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, > >> USA) > >> *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > >> *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > >> -------------------------------------------------------- > >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > >> > >> ================================================================ > >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > >> (the 'Global South'). > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Cornie Huizenga > > Joint Convener > > Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > > Mobile: +86 13901949332 > > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > > www.slocat.net > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Dec 12 22:33:45 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 14:33:45 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> Message-ID: <015101ccb8d2$ae1d4ae0$0a57e0a0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Sorry but I simply do not understand this. Congestion charge schemes in my book have about as much place in cities in the Global South as PRT, monorails or Formula One races.. Yes of course, we need to create circumstances where there are a lot fewer cars and conditions for more effective non-car transport. But congestion charging reminds me of the phrase "Ambition Iago, ambition". If we find in each city its own best combination of withdrawing road space from private car use, while at the same time putting parking supply and pricing in its rightful place (a lot easier to get the job done with a car that is not moving) then we already thereby achieve not only 100% of the objectives that CC might hope for, but a lot of other important improvements as swell. Can we not put this bad idea behind us? (Or alternatively you may wish to explain to me why I am so horribly wrong) Eric Britton PS. Get on board the 2012 Safe Streets Challenge at http://safestreetstrategies.wordpress.com/. _______________ EcoPlan International Association loi de 1901 Eric Britton, Managing Director Un projet de l'Association Ecoplan International (Loi de 1901) 8/10, rue Jospeh Bara ? Paris 75006 France +331 7550 3788 ? association@ecoplan.org ? Skype newmobility Sustainable Development, Business & Society | World Streets | New Mobility Partnerships Siret 304555295 00019 Arr?t? du ministre de l?int?rieur. 19 ao?t 1975 ? Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Dec 13 00:59:57 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:59:57 +0100 Subject: [sustran] What is wrong with congestion charging? In-Reply-To: <2077961934-1323697857-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1125255599-@b2.c31.bise6.blackberry> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> <4ee602ce.0a88ec0a.4970.6ea9SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> <2077961934-1323697857-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1125255599-@b2.c31.bise6.blackberry> Message-ID: <01e401ccb8e7$1e4c8830$5ae59890$@britton@ecoplan.org> Salve Walterus, Thanks for asking. My view in a few short lines: It's like that silly word "smart" that crops up all over the place. Every time I hear that knee-jerk, self-aggrandizing word I have to wonder who is selling what to whom. As I said in Barcelona last week, I may not be all that clear when someone talks to me about a "smart city", but I sure as hell know that a stupid city is. I look at what we have achieved with variants on this concept in London, Stockholm, Singapore, Milan, and of course Singapore -- not altogether without accomplishments, but . . . -- and I just don't see it as the best way to go for the cities of the (fast) developing world. It strikes me as a great idea, but an extremely challenging one. Beyond that there is simply not enough experience with making it work in the kinds of circumstances that characterize the cities of the Global South. Of course China could do it and is and will. Good on them. I hope it works, no I pray it works, but let's see how their best efforts pan out before talking about this approach in cash-strapped economies. It would be a great thing indeed if China were to emerge as a living laboratory and proving ground of sustainable transport concepts that can then be studied and adapted for application in a variety of other circumstances. Instead of a kind of haunting graveyard of the very worst from 20th century America. For the rest, let me propose this. If you are cooking a congestion charging proposal for a given developing city, let me see your objectives, budget, competences and level of beyond-rhetorical political support, and I am sure that with a few weeks in that place and with a little help from my friends we can come up with a stronger and more affordable proposal to deal with the problems that the CC project targets. All that said, show me your CC proposal and give me a few days in that place to talk with a couple of dozen well placed people there and I am sure that we can come up with an alternative project that will do more, better and cheaper. Eric PS. Bill Vickery was my professor of theory and advisor at Columbia. I was very fortunate to have talked with him about all that was behind the concept of charging for road space. He often made the point that the simplest way that would do the job was the best (no exceptions, ever) . And he very often proposed that full cost pricing of parking was the simplest way. PPS. Keep your eye on London. -----Original Message----- From: Walter Hook [mailto:walter.hook@itdp.org] Sent: Monday, 12 December, 2011 14:51 To: eric britton; sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org; 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport'; 'ashok datar' Cc: 'Michael Replogle'; 'Clean Air Initiative -- Asia' Subject: Re: [sustran] Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian Eric, sorry, I do not speak latin. What is wrong with congestion charging? Sent via BlackBerry ________________________________________ World Streets Eric Britton, Editor / Managing Director World Streets / New Mobility Partnerships / Sustainability Seminar Series 8, rue Jospeh Bara 75006 Paris France Tel. +331 7550 3788 | editor@newmobility.org | Skype: newmobility P Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement From fekbritton at gmail.com Tue Dec 13 05:40:09 2011 From: fekbritton at gmail.com (Eric Britton) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 21:40:09 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> Message-ID: Dear Michael, This whole desperate business of profusions of car registrations,inspections and controls - and honest brokers - brings back shades of the professed excellent intentions and ambitions on all sides that were the state of play when we first met at the OECD conference on "sustainable transport" back in was it 1994? How is it that this human race of ours learns so slowly (if at all.) Eric Britton EcoPlan International (1901) 8, rue Joseph Bara 75006 Paris France Skype: newmobility T. +331 7550 3788 Http://www.WorldStreets.org (kindly forgive typing gaffs. Tiny keyboard.) Dec 12, 2011, at 8:06, Michael Replogle wrote: > I just returned from Delhi. Effective implementation of a congestion charge as proposed in there will likely require augmenting the current motor vehicle registration system - in which a vehicle is registered once when new and then transferred between owners without routine updating or annual fees. Shifting towards an annual or biannual motor vehicle registration renewal tag system could greatly facilitate the administration of automated license tag recognition systems for cordon charge payments and enforcement of penalties. Without such a system, enforcement would need to be on an irregular spot basis, with related high costs and a propensity for payoffs to waive tickets. If motor vehicle owners were required to get their vehicle inspected for safety and emissions annually or biannually as a condition for re-registration, this would also help discourage high polluting unsafe vehicles from Delhi. This could be phased into a Vehicle Quota System that would garner much greater benefits of traffic management, with auctions to be held for the right to register a motor vehicle in the city. > > Michael Replogle > Global Policy Director & Founder > Institute for Transportation & Development Policy > 1210 18th Street NW, Suite 300 > Washington, DC 20036 USA > > Tel: 202-552-3212 (Office) > 301-529-0351 (Mobile) > www.itdp.org | www.ourcitiesourselves.org > > Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide > > > > > > On Dec 11, 2011, at 10:48 PM, ashok datar wrote: > > I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur presentation. > I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to be > efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally used > for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc > I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is the > best form of congestion charging > but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai > which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars on > road > ashok datar > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman wrote: > >> Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: >> Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference >> (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned this >> proposal. >> >> >> >> Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most cases >> it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a >> small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing >> system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on >> collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, >> many >> types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual passes, >> and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays >> the >> fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% of >> affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other >> pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, >> distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more >> economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG >> emission >> reductions. >> >> >> >> Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you >> would >> like me to email you the slide show. >> >> >> >> ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative modes, >> urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. >> >> >> >> ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more >> efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? >> lower-value trips, and generates revenue. >> >> >> >> ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing >> countries. >> >> >> >> ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve >> other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at >> reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher fuel >> taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide >> greater total benefits. >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> Sincerely, >> >> Todd Litman >> >> Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) >> >> litman@vtpi.org >> >> facebook.com/todd.litman >> >> Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 >> >> 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA >> >> ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? >> >> >> >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org >> [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On >> Behalf >> Of Cornie Huizenga >> Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM >> To: Sarath Guttikunda >> Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport >> Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The >> Guardian >> >> >> >> Dear All, >> >> >> >> It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI meeting >> >> on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian >> >> speeches and presentations made reference to this. >> >> >> >> I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a >> >> growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not impossible, >> >> to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport >> >> systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by investing >> >> in public transport and promoting NMT. >> >> >> >> Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand management >> >> measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. >> >> Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities in >> >> China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than 10 >> >> years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these two >> >> cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does >> >> not undermine economic growth. >> >> >> >> A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to >> >> administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can also >> >> generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution towards >> >> improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which are >> >> more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned each >> >> year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. >> >> >> >> The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free >> >> commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the same >> >> manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where >> >> public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the >> >> proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. >> >> >> >> Cornie >> >> >> >> On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda >> wrote: >> >> >> >>> Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage >> people >> >>> to use public transport". >> >>> >> >>> How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in place? >> >>> Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi >> is >> >>> not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus or >> >>> metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes aside, >> >>> congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current >> public >> >>> transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in >> reducing >> >>> congestion and related air pollution. >> >>> >> >>> *********************************** >> >>> >> >>> >> >>> >> >> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri >> dlock?newsfeed=true >> >>> >> >>> *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* >> >>> >> >>> No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked >> >>> streets of India 's notoriously >> >>> chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in >> London, >> >>> Singapore and a handful of other cities. >> >>> >> >>> The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with providing >> >>> civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a >> 150-rupee >> >>> (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas >> >>> during the day. >> >>> >> >>> "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use public >> >>> transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. >> Lorries >> >>> will be made to pay a higher fee. >> >>> >> >>> A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and various >> >>> systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and >> >>> several Scandinavian cities in recent years. >> >>> >> >>> Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion >> >>> charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are >> >>> reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of >> Delhi >> >>> has attempted to introduce such a scheme. >> >>> >> >>> Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. >> >>> Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses has >> >>> barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of rapid >> >>> economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the >> >>> expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's >> roads, >> >>> at least twice as many as five years ago. >> >>> >> >>> Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, >> >>> respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. >> >>> >> >>> Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, are >> >>> considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be implemented >> >>> in areas around the historical old centre. >> >>> >> >>> But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to >> >>> reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the problem >> >>> worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy >> >>> Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the >> >>> necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." >> >>> >> >>> The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge >> >>> traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn >> >>> violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city was >> >>> necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. >> >>> Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. >> >>> >> >>> Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper licensing >> or >> >>> law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and >> laws >> >>> that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are routinely >> >>> ignored. >> >>> >> >>> Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small >> bribe >> >>> to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page >> asking >> >>> irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met with a >> >>> massive response. >> >>> >> >>> Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if >> >>> technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical >> >>> obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious >> >>> "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. >> >>> >> >>> Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less >> >>> enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need any >> >>> more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the areas >> >>> designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. >> >>> >> >>> Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in >> >>> traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, said >> no >> >>> amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought a >> >>> year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. Now >> I >> >>> am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go >> >>> back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. >> >>> >> >>> Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, said >> >>> that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely >> >>> difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on fuel >> in >> >>> the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, >> who >> >>> has worked in Delhi, said. >> >>> >> >>> -- >> >>> *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* >> >>> Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) >> >>> Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute (Reno, >> >>> USA) >> >>> *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* >> >>> *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* >> >>> -------------------------------------------------------- >> >>> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit >> >>> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss >> >>> >> >>> ================================================================ >> >>> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >> >>> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >> >>> (the 'Global South'). >> >>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> >> Cornie Huizenga >> >> Joint Convener >> >> Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport >> >> Mobile: +86 13901949332 >> >> cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org >> >> www.slocat.net >> >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit >> >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss >> >> >> >> ================================================================ >> >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >> (the 'Global South'). >> >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss >> >> ================================================================ >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >> (the 'Global South'). >> > > > > -- > Ashok R.Datar > Mumbai Environmental Social Network > 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 > 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org > > * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From walter.hook at itdp.org Tue Dec 13 01:22:47 2011 From: walter.hook at itdp.org (Walter Hook) Date: Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:22:47 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: What is wrong with congestion charging? In-Reply-To: <4ee62511.10bb650a.4784.7181SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> <4ee602ce.0a88ec0a.4970.6ea9SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> <2077961934-1323697857-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-1125255599-@b2.c31.bise6.blackberry> <4ee62511.10bb650a.4784.7181SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Eric thanks for the clarification. ITDP is much more focused on parking these days, but parking reform and congestion charging are not mutually exclusive. not sure why you see this as an either/or thing, cities need revenue and a congestion charge is not a bad place to get it, all the problems with CC notwithstanding. I dont see a lot of positive political utility in your poking holes in positive efforts to implement congestion charging. why not focus on getting your alternatives implemented in some places? best walter On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 10:59 AM, eric britton wrote: > Salve Walterus, Thanks for asking. **** > > ** ** > > My view in a few short lines: It's like that silly word "smart" that crops > up all over the place. Every time I hear that knee-jerk, self-aggrandizing > word I have to wonder who is selling what to whom. As I said in Barcelona > last week, I may not be all that clear when someone talks to me about a > "smart city", but I sure as hell know that a stupid city is.**** > > ** ** > > I look at what we have achieved with variants on this concept in London, > Stockholm , > Singapore, > Milan , and of course Singapore -- > not altogether without accomplishments, but . . . -- and I just don't see > it as the best way to go for the cities of the (fast) developing world. It > strikes me as a great idea, but an extremely challenging one. Beyond that > there is simply not enough experience with making it work in the kinds of > circumstances that characterize the cities of the Global South. **** > > ** ** > > Of course China could do it and is and will. Good on them. I hope it > works, no I pray it works, but let's see how their best efforts pan out > before talking about this approach in cash-strapped economies. It would be > a great thing indeed if China were to emerge as a living laboratory and > proving ground of sustainable transport concepts that can then be studied > and adapted for application in a variety of other circumstances. Instead > of a kind of haunting graveyard of the very worst from 20th century > America. **** > > ** ** > > For the rest, let me propose this. If you are cooking a congestion > charging proposal for a given developing city, let me see your objectives, > budget, competences and level of beyond-rhetorical political support, and I > am sure that with a few weeks in that place and with a little help from my > friends we can come up with a stronger and more affordable proposal to deal > with the problems that the CC project targets.**** > > ** ** > > All that said, show me your CC proposal and give me a few days in that > place to talk with a couple of dozen well placed people there and I am sure > that we can come up with an alternative project that will do more, better > and cheaper.**** > > ** ** > > Eric**** > > ** ** > > PS. Bill Vickery was my professor of theory and advisor at Columbia. I was > very fortunate to have talked with him about all that was behind the > concept of charging for road space. He often made the point that the > simplest way that would do the job was the best (no exceptions, ever) . And > he very often proposed that full cost pricing of parking was the simplest > way. **** > > ** ** > > PPS. Keep your eye on London. **** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > -----Original Message-----**** > > From: Walter Hook [mailto:walter.hook@itdp.org] **** > > Sent: Monday, 12 December, 2011 14:51**** > > To: eric britton; sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org; > 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport'; 'ashok datar'**** > > Cc: 'Michael Replogle'; 'Clean Air Initiative -- Asia'**** > > Subject: Re: [sustran] Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | > The Guardian**** > > ** ** > > Eric, sorry, I do not speak latin. What is wrong with congestion > charging? **** > > Sent via BlackBerry**** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > ** ** > > *________________________________________*** > > World Streets**** > > ** ** > > Eric Britton, Editor / Managing Director**** > > World Streets / New Mobility > Partnerships / Sustainability Seminar Series > **** > > 8, rue Jospeh Bara 75006 Paris France**** > > Tel. +331 7550 3788 | editor@newmobility.org | Skype: newmobility > **** > > ** ** > > P *Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement* > > ** ** > From datar.ashok at gmail.com Tue Dec 13 12:53:04 2011 From: datar.ashok at gmail.com (ashok datar) Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:23:04 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | The Guardian In-Reply-To: References: <004c01ccb623$8104ae60$830e0b20$@gmail.com> <02bd01ccb69d$ef3f8560$cdbe9020$@org> <053ABACF-FA11-4AF5-B0D9-62A9FB6DF545@itdp.org> Message-ID: Dear Eric and others *Congestion charge in Delhi and in Mumbai and other metros in India * the first step for congestion charging has to prevention of parking on all major areteries , where it can be permitted in day ( and night) must be closer to what will be fair market price at which demand and supply will broadly match with some idle capacity, with variable rates depending upon the area, time of the day and week and size of the car In emerging countries like India, this will also provide a lot of city and enviro friendly employment for manning such parking lots and for a separate force for checking the compliance. we should use technology for collection of fines , capturing the offenders thru photography. we can use smart cards, parking meters and make parking a reliable . predictable and fully priced facility. it needs to be be loudly sold to motorists who think it is their birthright to get free and ample parking space anywhere first of all there should be widespread discussion about congestion charging we should perfect the number plate and dbases in a year and then we can consider how we can take second steps But parking rationality cant be delayed ashok datar On Tue, Dec 13, 2011 at 2:10 AM, Eric Britton wrote: > Dear Michael, > > This whole desperate business of profusions of car > registrations,inspections and controls - and honest brokers - brings back > shades of the professed excellent intentions and ambitions on all sides > that were the state of play when we first met at the OECD conference on > "sustainable transport" back in was it 1994? How is it that this human race > of ours learns so slowly (if at all.) > > Eric Britton > EcoPlan International (1901) > 8, rue Joseph Bara > 75006 Paris France > Skype: newmobility T. +331 7550 3788 > Http://www.WorldStreets.org > (kindly forgive typing gaffs. Tiny keyboard.) > > Dec 12, 2011, at 8:06, Michael Replogle > wrote: > > > I just returned from Delhi. Effective implementation of a congestion > charge as proposed in there will likely require augmenting the current > motor vehicle registration system - in which a vehicle is registered once > when new and then transferred between owners without routine updating or > annual fees. Shifting towards an annual or biannual motor vehicle > registration renewal tag system could greatly facilitate the administration > of automated license tag recognition systems for cordon charge payments and > enforcement of penalties. Without such a system, enforcement would need to > be on an irregular spot basis, with related high costs and a propensity for > payoffs to waive tickets. If motor vehicle owners were required to get > their vehicle inspected for safety and emissions annually or biannually as > a condition for re-registration, this would also help discourage high > polluting unsafe vehicles from Delhi. This could be phased into a Vehicle > Quota System that would garner much greater benefits of traffic management, > with auctions to be held for the right to register a motor vehicle in the > city. > > > > Michael Replogle > > Global Policy Director & Founder > > Institute for Transportation & Development Policy > > 1210 18th Street NW, Suite 300 > > Washington, DC 20036 USA > > > > Tel: 202-552-3212 (Office) > > 301-529-0351 (Mobile) > > www.itdp.org | www.ourcitiesourselves.org > > > > Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide > > > > > > > > > > > > On Dec 11, 2011, at 10:48 PM, ashok datar wrote: > > > > I did not attend Delhi conference and am very keen to see ur > presentation. > > I believe that congestion pricing is a must in Indian cities. we need to > be > > efficient , cost effective and ensure the funds collected are totally > used > > for developing better alternatives such as bike paths, BRTS, etc > > I feel that proper regulation and market driven prices for parking is > the > > best form of congestion charging > > but am keen to use ur ideas for Mumbai > > which has perhaps one of the lowest amt of road space for the no of cars > on > > road > > ashok datar > > > > On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Todd Alexander Litman >wrote: > > > >> Yes, this is interesting. I gave a presentation, ?Congestion Charging: > >> Options and Impacts" at the Urban Mobility India Conference > >> (http://iutindia.org/urban2011 ) in Delhi last week. Nobody mentioned > this > >> proposal. > >> > >> > >> > >> Although I think that congestion pricing could be beneficial, in most > cases > >> it is costly and politically difficult to implement, and only affects a > >> small portion of total travel. For example, London?s congestion pricing > >> system has a 30-40% overhead cost (30-40% of revenues are spent on > >> collecting the fee), it only affects about 5% of total regional travel, > >> many > >> types of vehicles are exempted or given large discounts for annual > passes, > >> and it does not discourage driving within the area (once a motorist pays > >> the > >> fee they may as well drive). As a result, although it reduces about 20% > of > >> affected travel, it reduces less than 1% of total regional travel. Other > >> pricing reforms, such as increased parking prices and fuel taxes, > >> distance-based insurance, and cheaper transit fares, are probably more > >> economically efficient and beneficial overall, particularly for GHG > >> emission > >> reductions. > >> > >> > >> > >> Here are the main conclusions from my presentation. Let me know if you > >> would > >> like me to email you the slide show. > >> > >> > >> > >> ? Without efficient pricing and improvements to alternative > modes, > >> urban traffic congestion is virtually unavoidable. > >> > >> > >> > >> ? Motorists either spend time or money. Spending money is more > >> efficient overall because it allows higher value trips to ?outbid? > >> lower-value trips, and generates revenue. > >> > >> > >> > >> ? Urban traffic congestion is increasingly severe in developing > >> countries. > >> > >> > >> > >> ? More efficient pricing can reduce congestion and help achieve > >> other planning objectives. Although road tolls are most effective at > >> reducing congestion, other pricing strategies (parking pricing, higher > fuel > >> taxes, and distance-based fees) may be easier to implement and provide > >> greater total benefits. > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> Sincerely, > >> > >> Todd Litman > >> > >> Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) > >> > >> litman@vtpi.org > >> > >> facebook.com/todd.litman > >> > >> Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 > >> > >> 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA > >> > >> ?Efficiency - Equity - Clarity? > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -----Original Message----- > >> From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org > >> [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On > >> Behalf > >> Of Cornie Huizenga > >> Sent: December-08-11 9:09 PM > >> To: Sarath Guttikunda > >> Cc: Clean Air Initiative -- Asia; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport > >> Subject: [sustran] Re: Delhi plans congestion charge to ease gridlock | > The > >> Guardian > >> > >> > >> > >> Dear All, > >> > >> > >> > >> It is interesting to read this. I just am back from the annual UMI > meeting > >> > >> on urban transport in Delhi. As far as I know none of the keynote Indian > >> > >> speeches and presentations made reference to this. > >> > >> > >> > >> I think that the article is significant in the sense that it points at a > >> > >> growing awareness in Asian cities that it will be hard, if not > impossible, > >> > >> to revert the current pattern of growing un-sustainability of transport > >> > >> systems, associated with rapidly growing vehicle fleets merely by > investing > >> > >> in public transport and promoting NMT. > >> > >> > >> > >> Increasingly, cities seem to be willing to put in place demand > management > >> > >> measures to restrain the growth in number of vehicles and their use. > >> > >> Evidence of this is for example the decision of Beijng and other cities > in > >> > >> China to follow the example of Singapore and Shanghai who for more than > 10 > >> > >> years have had a vehicle quota system. The economic success of these > two > >> > >> cities clearly demonstrates that restraining the number of vehicles does > >> > >> not undermine economic growth. > >> > >> > >> > >> A quota system can be implemented more easily and it is cheaper to > >> > >> administer. If it is operated on the basis of an auction system it can > also > >> > >> generate substantial funding which should be a major contribution > towards > >> > >> improving public transport and NMT, except in the case of metro's which > are > >> > >> more expensive. In Shanghai, about 100,000 car licenses are auctioned > each > >> > >> year resulting in about $ 600 million in income. > >> > >> > >> > >> The basic underlying premise is of course that road space is not a free > >> > >> commodity and that access to its use by cars can be regulated in the > same > >> > >> manner as other parts of the city such as land for construction where > >> > >> public lands are sold/leased or taxed for private development and the > >> > >> proceeds are used for developing schools, hospitals etc. > >> > >> > >> > >> Cornie > >> > >> > >> > >> On Fri, Dec 9, 2011 at 12:40 PM, Sarath Guttikunda > >> wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >>> Article quotes, "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage > >> people > >> > >>> to use public transport". > >> > >>> > >> > >>> How much of this is possible with the limited public transport in > place? > >> > >>> Compare with the public transport system in Singapore and London, Delhi > >> is > >> > >>> not close to the required capacity to warrant a shift from cars to bus > or > >> > >>> metro, by introducing a congestion fees. Toll roads and fuel taxes > aside, > >> > >>> congestion fees system requires an enormous scale-up in the current > >> public > >> > >>> transport system to make it work and see some tangible results in > >> reducing > >> > >>> congestion and related air pollution. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> *********************************** > >> > >>> > >> > >>> > >> > >>> > >> > >> > http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/delhi-congestion-charge-ease-gri > >> dlock?newsfeed=true > >> > >>> > >> > >>> *Delhi Plans Congestion Charge to Ease Gridlock* > >> > >>> > >> > >>> No one could fault the plan for lack of ambition: to tame the choked > >> > >>> streets of India 's notoriously > >> > >>> chaotic capital by imposing a congestion charge modelled on that in > >> London, > >> > >>> Singapore and a handful of other cities. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> The Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the authority charged with > providing > >> > >>> civic services to the city, hopes to introduce a system to levy a > >> 150-rupee > >> > >>> (?2) fee on cars, motorbikes and even rickshaws entering central areas > >> > >>> during the day. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> "This will help reduce congestion ? [and] encourage people to use > public > >> > >>> transport," the head of the authority, KS Mehra, told local press. > >> Lorries > >> > >>> will be made to pay a higher fee. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> A congestion charge has existed in Singapore since the 1970s and > various > >> > >>> systems have been successfully introduced in London, Rome, Milan and > >> > >>> several Scandinavian cities in recent years. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Authorities in Beijing recently said they were considering congestion > >> > >>> charging, and other Chinese cities such as Shanghai and Nangjing are > >> > >>> reported to be interested. But no city of the size and complexity of > >> Delhi > >> > >>> has attempted to introduce such a scheme. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Few doubt the necessity of radical measures in India's capital. > >> > >>> Construction of a metro system and measures to boost the use of buses > has > >> > >>> barely slowed the increase in traffic in recent years. A decade of > rapid > >> > >>> economic growth and a broad distaste for public transport among the > >> > >>> expanding middle class means there are now 6.8m vehicles on Delhi's > >> roads, > >> > >>> at least twice as many as five years ago. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Gridlock is common and, during winter, heavy smog leads to accidents, > >> > >>> respiratory diseases and mass flight cancellations. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Other Indian cities such as Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, > are > >> > >>> considering similar measures. The Delhi scheme would first be > implemented > >> > >>> in areas around the historical old centre. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> But experts are sceptical. "If you look at what is already in place to > >> > >>> reduce congestion, such as toll gates around Delhi, they make the > problem > >> > >>> worse, not better," said Rumi Aijaz, of the city's Centre for Policy > >> > >>> Research thinktank. "Even if the proposal is accepted politically, the > >> > >>> necessary infrastructure simply isn't there." > >> > >>> > >> > >>> The tolls on key roads linking Delhi with satellite cities cause huge > >> > >>> traffic jams. Occasionally they are the focus of protests that can turn > >> > >>> violent. Aijaz said a broader strategy to tackle traffic in the city > was > >> > >>> necessary. "There has to be a range of measures to manage the issue. > >> > >>> Nothing done in isolation will work," he said. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Experts point out that one serious problem is a lack of proper > licensing > >> or > >> > >>> law enforcement in Delhi. Driving permits can be bought illegally and > >> laws > >> > >>> that should ensure safe driving and a smoother traffic flow are > routinely > >> > >>> ignored. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Fines for traffic violations can usually be avoided by paying a small > >> bribe > >> > >>> to police officers. There are few cameras, although a Facebook page > >> asking > >> > >>> irate commuters to post their own photographs of offenders has met > with a > >> > >>> massive response. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Senior police officers said charging would be a positive step ? if > >> > >>> technology to avoid queuing was introduced. But even if the practical > >> > >>> obstacles can be overcome, the support of the infamously fractious > >> > >>> "delhiwalla" ? inhabitants of the city ? will be hard to win. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Some shopkeepers welcomed the move, but their customers were less > >> > >>> enthusiastic. "People are already reeling under taxes ? we don't need > any > >> > >>> more," Mamta Choudhary, a teacher who regularly shops in one of the > areas > >> > >>> designated for the new scheme, told the Times of India newspaper. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Ram Thakur, a 45-year-old manager who spends up to two hours a day in > >> > >>> traffic driving from the satellite city of Faridabad to his office, > said > >> no > >> > >>> amount of charging would make him give up the small car that he bought > a > >> > >>> year ago. "I started on a bicycle and I've taken buses for 20 years. > Now > >> I > >> > >>> am a car owner and life is very much nicer. I am not giving it up to go > >> > >>> back on buses or bikes," he told the Guardian. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> Dr Robin Hickman, an expert in urban transport at London University, > said > >> > >>> that implementing a congestion charge in Delhi would be "extremely > >> > >>> difficult. "It would probably be a better option to increase tax on > fuel > >> in > >> > >>> the city and invest the funds generated in public transport," Hickman, > >> who > >> > >>> has worked in Delhi, said. > >> > >>> > >> > >>> -- > >> > >>> *Dr. Sarath Guttikunda* > >> > >>> Founder and Analyst, UrbanEmissions.Info (New Delhi, India) > >> > >>> Affiliate Associate Research Professor, Desert Research Institute > (Reno, > >> > >>> USA) > >> > >>> *Tel +91-9891315946 | http://www.urbanemissions.info* > >> > >>> *http://www.dri.edu/sarath-guttikunda* > >> > >>> -------------------------------------------------------- > >> > >>> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > >> > >>> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > >> > >>> > >> > >>> ================================================================ > >> > >>> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > >> > >>> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing > countries > >> > >>> (the 'Global South'). > >> > >>> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -- > >> > >> Cornie Huizenga > >> > >> Joint Convener > >> > >> Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > >> > >> Mobile: +86 13901949332 > >> > >> cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > >> > >> www.slocat.net > >> > >> -------------------------------------------------------- > >> > >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > >> > >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > >> > >> > >> > >> ================================================================ > >> > >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > >> (the 'Global South'). > >> > >> > >> > >> -------------------------------------------------------- > >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > >> > >> ================================================================ > >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > >> (the 'Global South'). > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > Ashok R.Datar > > Mumbai Environmental Social Network > > 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 > > 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org > > > > * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I > understand.* > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Ashok R.Datar Mumbai Environmental Social Network 20 Madhavi, Makarand Society, S.V.S.Marg, Mahim-400 016 98676 65107/0222 444 9212 see our website : www.mesn.org * I hear, then I forget. I see, then I remember. I do, then I understand.* From kanthikannan at gmail.com Tue Dec 13 14:46:03 2011 From: kanthikannan at gmail.com (Kanthi Kannan) Date: Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:16:03 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Please join the R2W face book page Message-ID: <4ee6e6bd.843cb60a.10a1.71ed@mx.google.com> Dear all Greetings!! The R2W got a video made to create awareness about the issue of stopping for a pedestrian to cross. Please check our R2W face book page and comment. Please also request your friends to join us in the campaign. Thanks Kanthi http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/377283572558/ From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Dec 14 17:42:08 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 09:42:08 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Report on 2011 Urban Mobility India Conference Message-ID: <00ee01ccba3c$46273340$d27599c0$@britton@ecoplan.org> New post on World Streets Report on 2011 Urban Mobility India Conference Report for India Streets by Vidyadhar Date, Mumbai The fourth annual Urban Mobility India conference organised in Delhi from December 3 to 6 by the ministry of urban development was no doubt a useful exercise. It did well to give more focus on bicycles and public transport than the previous conference. But the venue itself [...] Read more of this post http://wp.me/psKUY-26T Thanks for flying with WordPress.com From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Dec 14 18:02:20 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:02:20 +0100 Subject: [sustran] India Streets lives. In-Reply-To: <6853540.8115.0@wordpress.com> References: <6853540.8115.0@wordpress.com> Message-ID: <00f901ccba3f$18508d60$48f1a820$@britton@ecoplan.org> Dear Friends, Just in case you have not noticed. India Streets lives. Well at www.IndiaStreets.org the site is breathing a bit slowly and seems to sleep a fair amount of the time, but my strategy is to keep it warm and wait for others to chip in when and as they can (and wish). I still believe that the basic project is viable and important, hence my stubborn dedication. Also to note: The parallel facebook site at http://www.facebook.com/groups/indiastreets/ has 69 members, and there is a pretty steady flow of interesting comments and project information that comes in . The Twitter page at https://twitter.com/#!/indiastreets has not been much used, so I had a go this morning at cleaning it up. I hope that you will feed into it from time to time. Both those new media links are at the top left menu, where you will also see a direct link to the 2012 Safe Streets Challenge at http://safestreetstrategies.wordpress.com/. So when and if the moment strikes you . . . Regards/Eric ________________________________________ World Streets Eric Britton, Editor / Managing Director World Streets / New Mobility Partnerships / Sustainability Seminar Series 8, rue Jospeh Bara 75006 Paris France Tel. +331 7550 3788 | editor@newmobility.org | Skype: newmobility P Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 19271 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20111214/5dadd24a/attachment.jpe From sutp at sutp.org Wed Dec 14 19:24:01 2011 From: sutp at sutp.org (sutp at sutp.org) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:24:01 +0000 Subject: [sustran] =?utf-8?Q?GIZ-SUTP_releases_two_new_technical_documents?= =?utf-8?Q?_titled_=22Rising_Automobile_Dependency=3A_How_to_Break_the_Tre?= =?utf-8?Q?nd_22=3F=3D_and_=22Measuring_Public_Transport_Performance-_Less?= =?utf-8?Q?ons_for_developing_cities=22?= Message-ID: GIZ-SUTP released two new technical documents titled "Rising Automobile Dependency: How to Break the Trend?" and "Measuring Public Transport Performance- Lessons for developing cities" at the recently held 6th Regional EST Forum and Urban Mobility India 2011, in New Delhi from 4-6 December, 2011. Short descriptions of the documents are provided below: GIZ Technical Document No.8 "Rising Automobile Dependency: How to Break the Trend?" (Author: Santhosh Kodukula) Developing cities are facing the crisis of increasing automobiles and thereby the consequences such as reduced air quality and road safety and economic loss. Citing the current conditions and drawing upon best practices from various cities, GIZ produced a document as a background paper for the 6th Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum held in Delhi during 4-6 December 2011. The document has been authored by Mr. Santhosh Kodukula and reviewed by peers in the sector. The document is 50 pages long with examples from Zurich, Switzerland; Copenhagen, Denmark; Muenster and Freiburg, Germany, and Curitiba, Brazil on how to break the trend. The document can be accessed at: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2827&Itemid=1&lang=en GIZ Technical Document No.9 "Measuring Public Transport Performance- Lessons for developing cities" (Author: Chhavi Dhingra) How can we make public transport a more attractive and viable mode of travel? What do our riders expect from our services and how can we serve them better? How can we make our cities more sustainable by increasing the modal shares of public transport? What sort of indicators shall we develop to evaluate and benchmark our existing public transport systems? Most developing country cities and public transport authorities face these questions as they take on the big challenge of augmenting and improving public transport services. While doing so, cities need an effective performance measurement system for public transport which helps them assess their progress and define where they want to go in the future. This technical document describes the role that performance measurement can play in public transportation planning and management, the need for developing cities to adopt performance evaluation and the steps for initiating this. The document also presents examples on performance measurement from various cities across the world and their experiences. The document is 50 pages is long and has been authored by Miss Chhavi Dhingra and has been reviewed by experts working in this area. The information in this document will be useful to policy makers, analysts, and practitioners involved in urban transport planning and particularly public transport planning and provision in cities, in both developed and developing countries. The document can be accessed at: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2826&Itemid=1&lang=en View other Technical Documents by GIZ on urban transport http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_docman&task=cat_view&gid=124&Itemid=54&lang=&Itemid=198 From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Thu Dec 15 01:00:09 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:00:09 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Who is reading the Streets of India these days? Message-ID: <032b01ccba79$7671cb40$635561c0$@britton@ecoplan.org> New post on The Streets of India Who is reading the Streets of India these days? Life has been a bit quiet here on India Streets of late, but even without a great deal of new editorial content (see below) the home page and the several associated new media programs continue to draw attention. The purpose of this short update is to draw to the attention of our faithful readers to [...] Read more of this post URL: http://wp.me/p15YEC-jR From yanivbin at gmail.com Thu Dec 15 15:14:18 2011 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:44:18 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Public transport too slow for city growth Message-ID: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/11102174.cms Public transport too slow for city growth Manthan K Mehta & Somit Sen, TNN | Dec 14, 2011, 06.07AM IST Public transport plays a major role in the lives of all metro dwellers. And so it is in Mumbai. Studies and estimates show that more than 70 lakh Mumbaikars travel by trains every day, nearly 40 lakh by public buses, and 10 lakh by autos, taxis, fleetcabs. No wonder, then, that respondents to The Times Of India-IMRB Quality Of Life Survey perceived Mumbai as having the bestpublic transport facilities of eight Indian mega-cities. In the survey, the financial capital received a score of 3.5 for its public transport, which, on a scale of 1 to 5, is an above average rating. Mumbai was followed by Hyderabad and Delhi, both of which got a score of 3.1. Experts warn that Mumbai's good showing in this parameter of the survey does not necessarily mean its trains, buses, autos and taxis are running ideally. Rather, it may imply that other cities are worse off than us. Also, they point out, there is a lot threatening to go wrong with our public transport system. For one, the Central Railway and Western Railway, the city's lifelines, are witnessing an annual growth of almost 3% in passenger numbers. The Harbour and Trans-Harbour networks, meanwhile, are witnessing a 10% growth in passengers. So, unless the railways plan well, experts say, the suburban rail network may soon reach the tipping point. "The key is to open new corridors as existing lines have reached a saturation point," said an official of Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation. "There is a need to open elevated high-speed corridors on Western, Central and Harbour lines." Due to projects like Mumbai Urban Transport Project-I, the situation has improved, but many of those gains too have been frittered away. The cause: delay in execution of project. On WR, the number of passengers per coach has dipped to 220 from a peak of 260 in 2006. But at the same time, the number of total passengers has risen from 2.95 million per day to 3.43 million. "These works are at best fire-fighting measures. There is little emphasis on long-term planning," Subhash Gupta, an ex-member of the National Rail User Consultative committee. "There is no concentrated effort to improve the circulating area at stations. Overcrowding has reached such proportions that there are fears of stampede since station designs have remained un-changed." There is a similar need for planning for buses, autos, taxis and fleetcabs. Some experts want the numbers of rickshaws, black-and-yellows and fleetcabs to be increased, while many others stress on implementing a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS). Transport expert A V Shenoy added that there is an urgent need to conduct a passenger survey and "accordingly, decide Mumbai's bus routes." "Today, a handful of corporators are deciding most of the bus routes. Many times, the BEST runs buses on routes which may not be really efficient and economical." He emphasized that there is a need to connect every corner of the city as new colonies come up in the city. From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Thu Dec 15 18:24:16 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 10:24:16 +0100 Subject: [sustran] World City Modal Split Database: An invitation Message-ID: <012701ccbb0b$659d1710$30d74530$@britton@ecoplan.org> New post on World Streets World City Modal Split Database: An invitation by Eric Britton, editor This open project from EPOMM -- the European Platform on Mobility Management -- is an absolutely brilliant idea. It does not require much explanation to get started; you can be off and going if you simply to click here and dig into their Google map. That said, a few words of introduction may not be [...] Read more of this post | URL: http://wp.me/psKUY-273 From pooja.sanghani at itdp.org Thu Dec 15 19:12:48 2011 From: pooja.sanghani at itdp.org (Pooja Sanghani) Date: Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:42:48 +0530 Subject: [sustran] India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles Message-ID: source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-green-cess-on-petrol-cars/articleshow/11099730.cms NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon become a costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a green surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban transport tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested urban transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the total cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport projects. It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the government generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel considering the fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this was offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through insurance companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value of the vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the additional 3% to the government. With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the Centre cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he added. The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be pooled in a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs of urban transport. The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and city level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land value tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion tax, a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources for the fund. ******************** -- Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves Institute for Transportation & Development Policy 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* From cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org Mon Dec 19 16:46:33 2011 From: cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org (Cornie Huizenga) Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 15:46:33 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles - so does Hanoi Message-ID: Dear Pooja and others, Interesting. I just came across a similar proposal for Hanoi ( http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-to-increase-car-registration-fee-by-10-times.html). It is interesting that the rationale is almost identical for both India and Viet Nam *Viet Nam*: "Hanoi administration wants to raise registration fee to curb the growth of personal vehicles, to reduce traffic jams, to increase budget revenue to invest in public transport projects. *India*: "The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport projects." It would be interesting to hear of other cities in Asia, Africa and Latin America who have similar plans. Cornie On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Pooja Sanghani wrote: > source: > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-green-cess-on-petrol-cars/articleshow/11099730.cms > > NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon become a > costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a green > surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the > annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban transport > tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. > The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested urban > transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the total > cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. > The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", aim > to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also > help generate resources to fund public transport projects. > It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the government > generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs > 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. > It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel considering the > fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this was > offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% > compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. > The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through insurance > companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value of the > vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the additional > 3% to the government. > With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the Centre > cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing > mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private > partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he added. > The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be pooled in > a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs of > urban transport. > The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and city > level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land value > tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion tax, > a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources for > the fund. > ******************** > -- > Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves > Institute for Transportation & Development Policy > 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India > Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org > > *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Dec 19 18:49:47 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 10:49:47 +0100 Subject: [sustran] Vietnam -- THE FACTOR OF TEN In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <00a801ccbe33$8d9036f0$a8b0a4d0$@britton@ecoplan.org> If I may make a very brief comment on this magnificent Vietnamese proposal: the crux of the issue and something that all of us should bear in mind as we ponder ways to create more effective public policy is the proposal to multiply the fee by a FACTOR OF TEN. Let me say that again since this is the fundamental point that I am trying to get at, and is one which will perhaps help us to understand that when it comes to using economic instruments to affect change, small increases tend to be absorbed one way or another without getting the desired results, whereas when the increase is by a FACTOR OF TEN, you truly have their attention. How you get up that scale without necessarily shaking apart the community and government is another trick, but let us leave that for another day, important as it is. The first lesson that the Vietnamese are giving us with their terrific proposal is that if we really mean business a factor of ten is one great way of getting the job done. (I always knew that I loved the Vietnamese.) Eric Britton (Saigon now Ho Chi Minh Ville, 1967-1968) _______________ EcoPlan International Association loi de 1901 Eric Britton, Managing Director Un projet de l'Association Ecoplan International (Loi de 1901) 8/10, rue Jospeh Bara ? Paris 75006 France +331 7550 3788 ? association@ecoplan.org ? Skype newmobility Sustainable Development, Business & Society | World Streets | New Mobility Partnerships Siret 304555295 00019 Arr?t? du ministre de l?int?rieur. 19 ao?t 1975 ? Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Dec 19 19:33:38 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 11:33:38 +0100 Subject: [sustran] What happens in a high-tech Smart City when the lights go out? Message-ID: <00c801ccbe39$ad678e00$0836aa00$@britton@ecoplan.org> New post on World Streets What happens in a high-tech Smart City when the lights go out? by Eric Britton, editor Wouldn't you say that is worth thinking about while you are figuring out how to spend the taxpayers money for safe streets? Read more of this post | URL: http://wp.me/psKUY-27e From carlosfpardo at gmail.com Tue Dec 20 06:49:25 2011 From: carlosfpardo at gmail.com (Carlosfelipe Pardo) Date: Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:49:25 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Re: India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles - so does Hanoi In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <4EEFB165.1030003@gmail.com> On this topic, Colombia is planning to have various charges for buying vehicles, as per the proposals from the current ViceMinister (Felipe Targa) who has stated that this will help reduce the current increase in automobile sales. Bogot?'s elected mayor (Gustavo Petro, who will start on 1st January 2012) has said he supports those measures fully and wants to complement them with congestion pricing in order to create a cross-subsidy for public transport i.e. (reducing fares). There are no detailed documents on this - at least not public (and all related news items are in Spanish but I'm happy to forward to those interested). Best regards, Carlos. On 19/12/2011 02:46 a.m., Cornie Huizenga wrote: > Dear Pooja and others, > > Interesting. I just came across a similar proposal for Hanoi ( > http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-to-increase-car-registration-fee-by-10-times.html). > It is interesting that the rationale is almost identical for both India and > Viet Nam > > *Viet Nam*: "Hanoi administration wants to raise registration fee to curb > the growth of personal vehicles, to reduce traffic jams, to increase budget > revenue to invest in public transport projects. > > *India*: "The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays > principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher > taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport projects." > > It would be interesting to hear of other cities in Asia, Africa and Latin > America who have similar plans. > > Cornie > > On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Pooja Sanghaniwrote: > >> source: >> >> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-green-cess-on-petrol-cars/articleshow/11099730.cms >> >> NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon become a >> costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a green >> surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the >> annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban transport >> tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. >> The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested urban >> transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the total >> cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. >> The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", aim >> to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also >> help generate resources to fund public transport projects. >> It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the government >> generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs >> 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. >> It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel considering the >> fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this was >> offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% >> compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. >> The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through insurance >> companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value of the >> vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the additional >> 3% to the government. >> With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the Centre >> cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing >> mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private >> partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he added. >> The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be pooled in >> a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs of >> urban transport. >> The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and city >> level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land value >> tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion tax, >> a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources for >> the fund. >> ******************** >> -- >> Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves >> Institute for Transportation& Development Policy >> 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India >> Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org >> >> *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit >> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss >> >> ================================================================ >> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >> (the 'Global South'). >> > > From cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org Tue Dec 20 11:04:58 2011 From: cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org (Cornie Huizenga) Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:04:58 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles - so does Hanoi In-Reply-To: <4EEFB165.1030003@gmail.com> References: <4EEFB165.1030003@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi Carlos, Thanks - through google translate we should be able to get the message of the news items. best regards, Cornie On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Carlosfelipe Pardo wrote: > On this topic, Colombia is planning to have various charges for buying > vehicles, as per the proposals from the current ViceMinister (Felipe Targa) > who has stated that this will help reduce the current increase in > automobile sales. Bogot?'s elected mayor (Gustavo Petro, who will start on > 1st January 2012) has said he supports those measures fully and wants to > complement them with congestion pricing in order to create a cross-subsidy > for public transport i.e. (reducing fares). There are no detailed documents > on this - at least not public (and all related news items are in Spanish > but I'm happy to forward to those interested). > > Best regards, > > Carlos. > > > On 19/12/2011 02:46 a.m., Cornie Huizenga wrote: > >> Dear Pooja and others, >> >> Interesting. I just came across a similar proposal for Hanoi ( >> http://english.vietnamnet.vn/**en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-** >> to-increase-car-registration-**fee-by-10-times.html >> ). >> It is interesting that the rationale is almost identical for both India >> and >> Viet Nam >> >> *Viet Nam*: "Hanoi administration wants to raise registration fee to curb >> >> the growth of personal vehicles, to reduce traffic jams, to increase >> budget >> revenue to invest in public transport projects. >> >> *India*: "The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays >> >> principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher >> taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport projects." >> >> It would be interesting to hear of other cities in Asia, Africa and Latin >> America who have similar plans. >> >> Cornie >> >> On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Pooja Sanghani >> >wrote: >> >> source: >>> >>> http://timesofindia.**indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-** >>> green-cess-on-petrol-cars/**articleshow/11099730.cms >>> >>> NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon become a >>> costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a green >>> surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the >>> annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban transport >>> tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. >>> The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested urban >>> transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the >>> total >>> cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. >>> The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", >>> aim >>> to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also >>> help generate resources to fund public transport projects. >>> It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the government >>> generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs >>> 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. >>> It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel considering >>> the >>> fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this was >>> offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% >>> compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. >>> The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through insurance >>> companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value of >>> the >>> vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the additional >>> 3% to the government. >>> With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the >>> Centre >>> cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing >>> mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private >>> partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he >>> added. >>> The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be pooled >>> in >>> a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs of >>> urban transport. >>> The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and city >>> level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land >>> value >>> tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion >>> tax, >>> a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources for >>> the fund. >>> ******************** >>> -- >>> Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves >>> Institute for Transportation& Development Policy >>> >>> 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India >>> Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org >>> >>> *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* >>> ------------------------------**-------------------------- >>> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit >>> http://www.google.com/coop/**cse?cx=014715651517519735401:**ijjtzwbu_ss >>> >>> ==============================**==============================**==== >>> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, >>> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries >>> (the 'Global South'). >>> >>> >> >> -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net From sudhir at cai-asia.org Wed Dec 21 19:56:01 2011 From: sudhir at cai-asia.org (Sudhir) Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:56:01 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles - so does Hanoi In-Reply-To: References: <4EEFB165.1030003@gmail.com> Message-ID: Hi all, My city Bangalore in fact wants to make parking free and allow underground parking along playgrounds and even allow parking on footpaths wherever available !! http://www.deccanherald.com/content/212571/parking-needs-space-research.html regards Sudhir On 20 December 2011 10:04, Cornie Huizenga < cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org> wrote: > Hi Carlos, > > Thanks - through google translate we should be able to get the message of > the news items. > > best regards, > Cornie > > On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Carlosfelipe Pardo > wrote: > > > On this topic, Colombia is planning to have various charges for buying > > vehicles, as per the proposals from the current ViceMinister (Felipe > Targa) > > who has stated that this will help reduce the current increase in > > automobile sales. Bogot?'s elected mayor (Gustavo Petro, who will start > on > > 1st January 2012) has said he supports those measures fully and wants to > > complement them with congestion pricing in order to create a > cross-subsidy > > for public transport i.e. (reducing fares). There are no detailed > documents > > on this - at least not public (and all related news items are in Spanish > > but I'm happy to forward to those interested). > > > > Best regards, > > > > Carlos. > > > > > > On 19/12/2011 02:46 a.m., Cornie Huizenga wrote: > > > >> Dear Pooja and others, > >> > >> Interesting. I just came across a similar proposal for Hanoi ( > >> http://english.vietnamnet.vn/**en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-** > >> to-increase-car-registration-**fee-by-10-times.html< > http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-to-increase-car-registration-fee-by-10-times.html > > > >> ). > >> It is interesting that the rationale is almost identical for both India > >> and > >> Viet Nam > >> > >> *Viet Nam*: "Hanoi administration wants to raise registration fee to > curb > >> > >> the growth of personal vehicles, to reduce traffic jams, to increase > >> budget > >> revenue to invest in public transport projects. > >> > >> *India*: "The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays > >> > >> principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher > >> taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport > projects." > >> > >> It would be interesting to hear of other cities in Asia, Africa and > Latin > >> America who have similar plans. > >> > >> Cornie > >> > >> On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Pooja Sanghani **org > >> >wrote: > >> > >> source: > >>> > >>> http://timesofindia.**indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-** > >>> green-cess-on-petrol-cars/**articleshow/11099730.cms< > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-green-cess-on-petrol-cars/articleshow/11099730.cms > > > >>> > >>> NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon become a > >>> costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a > green > >>> surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the > >>> annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban > transport > >>> tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. > >>> The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested > urban > >>> transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the > >>> total > >>> cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. > >>> The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays principle", > >>> aim > >>> to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and also > >>> help generate resources to fund public transport projects. > >>> It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the > government > >>> generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs > >>> 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. > >>> It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel considering > >>> the > >>> fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this > was > >>> offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% > >>> compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. > >>> The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through > insurance > >>> companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value of > >>> the > >>> vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the > additional > >>> 3% to the government. > >>> With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the > >>> Centre > >>> cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing > >>> mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private > >>> partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he > >>> added. > >>> The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be pooled > >>> in > >>> a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs of > >>> urban transport. > >>> The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and city > >>> level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land > >>> value > >>> tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion > >>> tax, > >>> a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources > for > >>> the fund. > >>> ******************** > >>> -- > >>> Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves > >>> Institute for Transportation& Development Policy > >>> > >>> 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India > >>> Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org > >>> > >>> *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* > >>> ------------------------------**-------------------------- > >>> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > >>> > http://www.google.com/coop/**cse?cx=014715651517519735401:**ijjtzwbu_ss< > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss> > >>> > >>> ==============================**==============================**==== > >>> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > >>> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing > countries > >>> (the 'Global South'). > >>> > >>> > >> > >> > > > -- > Cornie Huizenga > Joint Convener > Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > Mobile: +86 13901949332 > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > www.slocat.net > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > From cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org Thu Dec 22 12:41:24 2011 From: cornie.huizenga at slocatpartnership.org (Cornie Huizenga) Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:41:24 +0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: India's Planning Commission working group suggests 'urban transport tax' on purchase/ use of private vehicles - so does Hanoi In-Reply-To: References: <4EEFB165.1030003@gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear Sudhir, If Bangalore wants to avail of JNNURM funds to build parking facilities, they would have to follow the National Urban Transport Policy. I just looked up what the NUTP says about parking. In short: - Levy of a high parking fee, that truly represents the value of the land occupied, should be used as a means to make the use of public transport more attractive. It would seem that any parking policy being considered in Bangalore should take this into account. best regards, Cornie NUTP Parking section: 34. Land is valuable in all urban areas. Parking places occupy large portions of such land. This fact should be recognized in determining the principles for allocation of parking space. 35. Levy of a high parking fee, that truly represents the value of the land occupied, should be used as a means to make the use of public transport more attractive. Preference in the allocation of parking space for public transport vehicles and non-motorized modes as well as easier access of work places to and from such spaces would go a long way in encouraging the use of sustainable transport systems. Park and ride facilities for bicycle users, with convenient inter-change, would be another useful measure. Simultaneously, a graded scale of parking fee, that recovers the economic cost of the land used in such parking, should be adopted. The objective would be to persuade people to use public transport to reach city centers.State governments would be required to amend building bye laws in all million plus cities so that adequate parking space is available for all residents / users of such buildings. To enable this, FAR norms would be made more liberal. Multi-level parking complexes should be made a mandatory requirement in city centers that have several high rise commercial complexes. Such complexes could even be constructed underground, including below areas declared as green belts in the master plan. Such complexes could come up through public-private partnerships in order to limit the impact on the public budget. All such parking complexes would be encouraged to go in for electronic metering so that is there is better realization of parking fees to make the investments viable and also a better recovery of the cost of using valuable urban space in the parking of personal motor vehicles. In residential areas too, appropriate changes in bye-laws would be considered to free the public carriage way from parked vehicles that impede the smooth flow of traffic. Proposals for parking complexes would also be given priority under the National Urban Renewal Mission. Provisions would also be made in the appropriate legislation to prevent the use of the right of way on road systems for parking purposes. On Wed, Dec 21, 2011 at 6:56 PM, Sudhir wrote: > Hi all, > > My city Bangalore in fact wants to make parking free and allow underground > parking along playgrounds and even allow parking on footpaths wherever > available !! > > > http://www.deccanherald.com/content/212571/parking-needs-space-research.html > > > regards > Sudhir > > > > > > On 20 December 2011 10:04, Cornie Huizenga < > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org> wrote: > > > Hi Carlos, > > > > Thanks - through google translate we should be able to get the message of > > the news items. > > > > best regards, > > Cornie > > > > On Tue, Dec 20, 2011 at 5:49 AM, Carlosfelipe Pardo > > wrote: > > > > > On this topic, Colombia is planning to have various charges for buying > > > vehicles, as per the proposals from the current ViceMinister (Felipe > > Targa) > > > who has stated that this will help reduce the current increase in > > > automobile sales. Bogot?'s elected mayor (Gustavo Petro, who will start > > on > > > 1st January 2012) has said he supports those measures fully and wants > to > > > complement them with congestion pricing in order to create a > > cross-subsidy > > > for public transport i.e. (reducing fares). There are no detailed > > documents > > > on this - at least not public (and all related news items are in > Spanish > > > but I'm happy to forward to those interested). > > > > > > Best regards, > > > > > > Carlos. > > > > > > > > > On 19/12/2011 02:46 a.m., Cornie Huizenga wrote: > > > > > >> Dear Pooja and others, > > >> > > >> Interesting. I just came across a similar proposal for Hanoi ( > > >> http://english.vietnamnet.vn/**en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-** > > >> to-increase-car-registration-**fee-by-10-times.html< > > > http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/society/15731/hanoi-wants-to-increase-car-registration-fee-by-10-times.html > > > > > >> ). > > >> It is interesting that the rationale is almost identical for both > India > > >> and > > >> Viet Nam > > >> > > >> *Viet Nam*: "Hanoi administration wants to raise registration fee to > > curb > > >> > > >> the growth of personal vehicles, to reduce traffic jams, to increase > > >> budget > > >> revenue to invest in public transport projects. > > >> > > >> *India*: "The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays > > >> > > >> principle", aim to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing > higher > > >> taxes and also help generate resources to fund public transport > > projects." > > >> > > >> It would be interesting to hear of other cities in Asia, Africa and > > Latin > > >> America who have similar plans. > > >> > > >> Cornie > > >> > > >> On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 6:12 PM, Pooja Sanghani > **org > > >> >wrote: > > >> > > >> source: > > >>> > > >>> http://timesofindia.**indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-** > > >>> green-cess-on-petrol-cars/**articleshow/11099730.cms< > > > http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Now-a-green-cess-on-petrol-cars/articleshow/11099730.cms > > > > > >>> > > >>> NEW DELHI: Buying and running cars and two-wheelers could soon > become a > > >>> costly affair with a Planning Commission working group suggesting a > > green > > >>> surcharge of Rs 2 on every litre of petrol, a green cess of 3% of the > > >>> annual insured value of all private vehicles and a steep urban > > transport > > >>> tax to be collected at the time of purchase of private vehicles. > > >>> The panel, headed by Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan, has suggested > > urban > > >>> transport tax on purchase of new cars and two-wheelers at 7.5% of the > > >>> total > > >>> cost of petrol vehicles and 20% in case of personal diesel cars. > > >>> The recommendations, which are guided by the "polluter pays > principle", > > >>> aim > > >>> to discourage use of private vehicles by imposing higher taxes and > also > > >>> help generate resources to fund public transport projects. > > >>> It is estimated that the new surcharge and taxes will help the > > government > > >>> generate Rs 235,741 crore in the 12th five-year plan (2012-17) and Rs > > >>> 22,40,804 crore over 20 years. > > >>> It was decided not to impose the green surcharge on diesel > considering > > >>> the > > >>> fuel's multiple uses and the problems in dual pricing. However, this > > was > > >>> offset with the higher urban transport tax on new diesel cars at 20% > > >>> compared to 7.5% for petrol-driven variants. > > >>> The annual green cess of 3% is proposed to be collected through > > insurance > > >>> companies. These firms, which collect around 4% of the insured value > of > > >>> the > > >>> vehicle as annual premium, will now collect 7% and pass on the > > additional > > >>> 3% to the government. > > >>> With huge investment needed in the urban transport sector which the > > >>> Centre > > >>> cannot meet from traditional budgetary sources, innovative financing > > >>> mechanisms were being explored, an official said. Even public private > > >>> partnership projects could only partially meet the funding needs, he > > >>> added. > > >>> The resources mobilised from the new surcharge and taxes will be > pooled > > >>> in > > >>> a dedicated national urban transport fund to meet the growing needs > of > > >>> urban transport. > > >>> The working group also suggested dedicated funds at the state and > city > > >>> level through resources like land monetisation, betterment levy, land > > >>> value > > >>> tax and hike in property tax. It also recommended imposing congestion > > >>> tax, > > >>> a cess on sales tax and hike in parking charges to generate resources > > for > > >>> the fund. > > >>> ******************** > > >>> -- > > >>> Pooja Sanghani (Ms.) | Program Officer, Our Cities Ourselves > > >>> Institute for Transportation& Development Policy > > >>> > > >>> 301, Paritosh, near Darpana Academy, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad, India > > >>> Office +91 79 40069227 | Mobile +91 9879897959 | www.itdp.org > > >>> > > >>> *Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide* > > >>> ------------------------------**-------------------------- > > >>> To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > >>> > > http://www.google.com/coop/**cse?cx=014715651517519735401:**ijjtzwbu_ss< > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss> > > >>> > > >>> ==============================**==============================**==== > > >>> SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > >>> equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing > > countries > > >>> (the 'Global South'). > > >>> > > >>> > > >> > > >> > > > > > > -- > > Cornie Huizenga > > Joint Convener > > Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport > > Mobile: +86 13901949332 > > cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org > > www.slocat.net > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > > > ================================================================ > > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > > (the 'Global South'). > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit > http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss > > ================================================================ > SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, > equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries > (the 'Global South'). > -- Cornie Huizenga Joint Convener Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport Mobile: +86 13901949332 cornie.huizenga@slocatpartnership.org www.slocat.net From edelman at greenidea.eu Fri Dec 23 07:57:58 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:57:58 +0100 Subject: [sustran] What the mayor doesn't always tell you about bike modal share, Part Two - Immigrant-focused cycle training? Message-ID: <4EF3B5F6.10408@greenidea.eu> *Slow Factory blog: What the mayor doesn't always tell you about bike modal share, Part Two - Immigrant-focused cycle training?* "Unfortunately there are not really municipalities or politicians that want to 'go' for this topic. It has not been so in the past, and not now either," says Angela van der Kloof, a sustainable mobility consultant working at Mobycon in the Netherlands. The vast majority of training happens informally, like in many other places -- well, where parents bother - typically where parents teach their kids. Children receive traffic theory classes in their schools starting from age 6, and many take an on-street test by age 10 or 11. Angela continues: "Formal cycle training in NL has focused on women who were not born in the Netherlands. In the 1970s, women - mostly from the Mediterranean-area - were able to join their husbands who had emigrated for work. They had instruction in language, sewing, knitting and handicrafts, and then started to ask for cycling instruction. The formal training began in the 1980s, organised at first in a grassroots way by volunteers." To continue reading click on http://greenideafactory.blogspot.com/2011/12/what-mayor-doesnt-always-tell-you-about_22.html -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory / SLOWFactory Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu Skype: toddedelman https://www.facebook.com/Iamtoddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman http://de.linkedin.com/in/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany From shapshico at gmail.com Mon Dec 26 10:00:52 2011 From: shapshico at gmail.com (Gregorio Villacorta Alegria) Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 20:00:52 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Relationship between Metro Projects and Urban Road Safety Message-ID: Dear Friends, I would information about relationship between the implementation of Metro Project and Urban Road Safety, is to justify how a Metro project reduce the amount of accidents. regards Gregorio From kanthikannan at gmail.com Mon Dec 26 15:19:45 2011 From: kanthikannan at gmail.com (Kanthi Kannan) Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 11:49:45 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Crossing roads a nightmare in city, admits traffic top cop: Hyderabad!! Message-ID: <4ef8120f.e400e70a.21ff.7b8a@mx.google.com> Dear all Greetings!! The top traffic boss admits that crossing the road is a nightmare!! And he plans "As part of the pedestrian-friendly policing initiative, police have proposed measures like 'all red' signals at important road junctions and development of a two-feet wide barricaded pathway with openings only at road crossings on a suitable road stretch by next year." So how will a two feet pathway help? And what does "all red" signals mean? We have been having a dialogue with the police boss and he does seem to understand the issues that we are putting across but the meaning of traffic according to him is only vehicular movement. This probably is the same problem across the country. We need to campaign harder and make our thoughts better known. Thanks Kanthi http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Crossing-roads-a-nightmare -in-city-admits-traffic-top-cop/articleshow/11248277.cms Eight road accidents occur in the city every day, causing injuries to at least seven and resulting in one or two fatalities. Up to December 23, 2,590 road accidents had occurred in the city in which 2,481 persons suffered injuries and 426 lost their lives. With 27.18 lakh two-wheelers choking the roads in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, they have been found to be involved in most accidents. In fact, two-wheeler riders were guilty in 761 cases, closely followed by four-wheeler drivers, who are listed as accused in 735 offences. While 55 persons lost their lives in the accidents they caused, RTC bus drivers were in the third position for their involvement in 284 offences. Two-wheeler riders also constituted majority of victims (1,159) which is roughly 44% of the total number. This year, 972 pedestrians (38%) died in road accidents. Reeling out statistics at a media briefing here on Sunday, additional commissioner of police C V Anand said crossing the road in Hyderabad was a nightmare for pedestrians. "We have posted constables at a few busy road crossings like Greenlands to help pedestrians, but it is dangerous even for police personnel. Without security personnel stopping the traffic, it is even difficult for me to cross the busy roads," the additional CP admitted. As part of the pedestrian-friendly policing initiative, police have proposed measures like 'all red' signals at important road junctions and development of a two-feet wide barricaded pathway with openings only at road crossings on a suitable road stretch by next year. According to the top traffic cop, the special drive against drunken drivers would be intensified in the near future as they would be getting 30 more breathalysers soon. From et3 at et3.com Mon Dec 26 15:47:56 2011 From: et3 at et3.com (E T 3 Space Travel On Earth tm) Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 23:47:56 -0700 Subject: [sustran] Happy Holidays Message-ID: We hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday season. Our Christmas in Colorado with family today was covered in a blanket of snow. Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2012, Brenda and Daryl Oster -- Best regards, The ET3 Team et3@et3.com ?www.et3.com ?www.et3.net From gsbravi026 at yahoo.co.in Mon Dec 26 21:17:13 2011 From: gsbravi026 at yahoo.co.in (ravi gadepalli) Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:47:13 +0530 (IST) Subject: [sustran] Re: Crossing roads a nightmare in city, admits traffic top cop: Hyderabad!! In-Reply-To: <4ef8120f.e400e70a.21ff.7b8a@mx.google.com> References: <4ef8120f.e400e70a.21ff.7b8a@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <1324901833.70044.YahooMailNeo@web137301.mail.in.yahoo.com> Dear Ms. Kanthi, Its a welcome development that there is an initiative towards pedestrian infrastructure. However 2 feet walkways are too narrow and barricaded ones mostly become hawker zones more than walkways. If he is listening to you better push for a 2.5m walkway or a minimum of 2m if it is to be of proper use. Best wishes for your efforts. Ravi Gadepalli, iTrans Pvt. Ltd., TBIU, IIT Delhi, New Delhi. ________________________________ From: Kanthi Kannan To: 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport' Sent: Monday, 26 December 2011 11:49 AM Subject: [sustran] Crossing roads a nightmare in city, admits traffic top cop: Hyderabad!! Dear all Greetings!! The top traffic boss admits that crossing the road is a nightmare!! And he plans "As part of the pedestrian-friendly policing initiative, police have proposed measures like 'all red' signals at important road junctions and development of a two-feet wide barricaded pathway with openings only at road crossings on a suitable road stretch by next year." So how will a two feet pathway help? And what does "all red" signals mean? We have been having a dialogue with the police boss and he does seem to understand the issues that we are putting across but the meaning of traffic according to him is only vehicular movement. This probably is the same problem across the country. We need to campaign harder and make our thoughts better known. Thanks Kanthi http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Crossing-roads-a-nightmare -in-city-admits-traffic-top-cop/articleshow/11248277.cms Eight road accidents ? occur in the city every day, causing injuries to at least seven and resulting in one or two fatalities. Up to December 23, 2,590 road accidents had occurred in the city in which 2,481 persons suffered injuries and 426 lost their lives. With 27.18 lakh two-wheelers choking the roads in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, they have been found to be involved in most accidents. In fact, two-wheeler riders were guilty in 761 cases, closely followed by four-wheeler drivers, who are listed as accused in 735 offences. While 55 persons lost their lives in the accidents they caused, RTC bus drivers were in the third position for their involvement in 284 offences. Two-wheeler riders also constituted majority of victims (1,159) which is roughly 44% of the total number. This year, 972 pedestrians (38%) died in road accidents. Reeling out statistics at a media briefing here on Sunday, additional commissioner of police C V Anand said crossing the road in Hyderabad was a nightmare for pedestrians. "We have posted constables at a few busy road crossings like Greenlands to help pedestrians, but it is dangerous even for police personnel. Without security personnel stopping the traffic, it is even difficult for me to cross the busy roads," the additional CP admitted. As part of the pedestrian-friendly policing initiative, police have proposed measures like 'all red' signals at important road junctions and development of a two-feet wide barricaded pathway with openings only at road crossings on a suitable road stretch by next year. According to the top traffic cop, the special drive against drunken drivers would be intensified in the near future as they would be getting 30 more breathalysers soon. -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From litman at vtpi.org Tue Dec 27 11:35:20 2011 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Mon, 26 Dec 2011 18:35:20 -0800 Subject: [sustran] Re: Relationship between Metro Projects and Urban Road Safety In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <01df01ccc440$2d379470$87a6bd50$@org> For information on the safety and health benefits of smart growth, urban locations and more multi-modal transportation systems see: Reid Ewing, Richard A. Schieber, Charles V. Zegeer (2003), "Urban Sprawl As A Risk Factor In Motor Vehicle Occupant And Pedestrian Fatalities," American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 93, No. 9 (www.ajph.org), Sept. 2003, pp. 1541-1545. Reid Ewing and Eric Dumbaugh (2009), "The Built Environment and Traffic Safety: A Review of Empirical Evidence," Journal of Planning Literature, Vol. 23 No. 4, May 2009, pp. 347-367; at http://jpl.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/23/4/347. Todd Litman (2009), "Transportation Policy and Injury Control," Injury Prevention, Vol. 15, Issue 6 (http://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/15/6/362.full); at www.vtpi.org/tpic.pdf. Todd Litman (2010), "Evaluating Public Transportation Health Benefits," American Public Transportation Association (www.apta.com); at www.vtpi.org/tran_health.pdf. Todd Litman (2011), "Pricing For Traffic Safety: How Efficient Transport Pricing Can Reduce Roadway Crash Risk," Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org); at www.vtpi.org/price_safe.pdf. Todd Litman and Steven Fitzroy (2005), "Safe Travels: Evaluating Mobility Management Traffic Safety Impacts," VTPI (www.vtpi.org); at www.vtpi.org/safetrav.pdf. Gordon Lovegrove and Todd Litman (2008), "Macrolevel Collision Prediction Models to Evaluate Road Safety Effects of Mobility Management Strategies: New Empirical Tools to Promote Sustainable Development," Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting (www.trb.org); at www.vtpi.org/lovegrove_litman.pdf. William Lucy (2002), "Danger in Exurbia: Outer Suburbs More Dangerous Than Cities," University of Virginia (www.virginia.edu); summarized in www.virginia.edu/topnews/releases2002/lucy-april-30-2002.html William H. Lucy (2003), "Mortality Risk Associated With Leaving Home: Recognizing the Relevance of the Built Environment," American Journal of Public Health (www.ajph.org), Vol. 93, No. 9, September, pp. 1564-1569; at www.ajph.org/cgi/content/full/93/9/1564. WHO (2011), "Health Co-Benefits Of Climate Change Mitigation - Transport Sector: Health In The Green Economy," Health Impact Assessment, World Health Organization (www.who.int/hia); at www.who.int/hia/examples/trspt_comms/transport_sector_health_co-benefits_cli mate_change_mitigation/en/index.html. There are a number of factors to be aware of when evaluating these issues: * When countries develop from very poor to medium incomes, per captia crash rates tend to decline while vehicle ownership increases. Only when you compare cities or countries of comparable wealth does it become clear that areas with higher per capita vehicle travel tend to have higher per captia crash rates. * Traffic safety experts tend to measure risk based on distance traveled (per hundred-million or billion vehicle-kilometers) which tends to overlook the risks associated with increased driving and the safety benefits of mobility management. Only by measuring risk per capita, as with other health risks, can we perceive the risks associated with policies that stimulate driving. * Incrased automobile dependency contributes to other health risk, including air pollution and sedentary living. More comprehensive evaluation of health risks tends to increase the potential health benefits of mobility management. Sincerely, Todd Litman Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org) litman@vtpi.org facebook.com/todd.litman Phone & Fax 250-360-1560 1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA "Efficiency - Equity - Clarity" -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+litman=vtpi.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Gregorio Villacorta Alegria Sent: December-25-11 5:01 PM To: Global 'South' Sustainable Transport Subject: [sustran] Relationship between Metro Projects and Urban Road Safety Dear Friends, I would information about relationship between the implementation of Metro Project and Urban Road Safety, is to justify how a Metro project reduce the amount of accidents. regards Gregorio -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South').