From litman at vtpi.org Fri Jul 1 02:16:25 2011 From: litman at vtpi.org (Todd Alexander Litman) Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:16:25 -0700 Subject: [sustran] Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation: Transport Sector - New Report In-Reply-To: <3BC44BCACA60F3439EE06B100CC1B7EA0E5E64561C@EXPO17.exchange.mit.edu> References: <3BC44BCACA60F3439EE06B100CC1B7EA0E5E64561C@EXPO17.exchange.mit.edu> Message-ID: <01b001cc3749$713598e0$53a0caa0$@org> Dear Colleagues, Here is an interesting and useful new report intended to be a starting point for developing country governments, planners, and stakeholders involved in climate change emission reduction action plans. It includes information on a diverse range of energy conservation and emission reduction strategies. I particularly like, Appendix III, "Some questions to help you assess the walkability of a locality and how it can be improved." Please share this information with anybody who might use it. Robert Salter, Subash Dhar and Peter Newman (2011), "Technologies for Climate Change Mitigation: Transport Sector," Ris? Centre on Energy, Climate and Sustainable Development, United Nations Environmental Program (www.uneprisoe.org); at http://tech-action.org/Guidebooks/TNAhandbook_Transport.pdf. 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 eric.britton at ecoplan.org Fri Jul 1 18:31:50 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 11:31:50 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Outrageous driving behavior in Kunming, China Message-ID: <003801cc37d1$baea46b0$30bed410$@britton@ecoplan.org> From: jane. [mailto:voodikon@yahoo.com] Sent: Friday, 01 July, 2011 10:48 Pedestrian overpasses have been erected all over Chinese cities, reportedly to improve (motor vehicle) traffic flow. Here in Chengdu, pedestrians climb three or four flights of stairs or a ramp graded at about 45 degrees (many feature slippery surfaces, and you slide back an inch or so for every step you take, particularly if you're pushing a bike up--on the downhill, walkers in high heels or flip flops often just grab onto the handrail and do their best to slide down--and that's in dry conditions) in order to cross the street. Surface-level crossing is not an option at many intersections. Bikers carrying heavy loads pedal a kilometer or so out of the way to cross the street, or they simply ride down the wrong way to avoid pushing their bike up and over. And that's nothing to say about people in wheelchairs or those without the fortitude to walk the extra distance or elevation. Despite the inconveniences for pedestrians and cyclists, at least one driver in Kunming, Yunnan, is trying to claim the pedestrian bridge as another car roadway. http://gokunming.com/en/blog/item/2297/video_kunming_driver_crosses_pedestri an_bridge From matteo123 at yoyomaniacs.com Fri Jul 1 19:46:03 2011 From: matteo123 at yoyomaniacs.com (matteo Carrelli) Date: Fri, 1 Jul 2011 12:46:03 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Where I can find working systems based on EGNOS? Message-ID: Hello, I'm Matteo from Italy and i'm new to this mailing list. I?ve recently participated at the ITS forum in Lyon and I've got interested in EGNOS, technology that can enable intelligent mobility ( http://egnos-portal.gsa.europa.eu/news/discussing-egnos-for-intelligent-mobility ). Do you know if there are any trials or already working systems based on EGNOS in the transportation sector (except the three cited in the article)? Thank you. Matteo From edelman at greenidea.eu Wed Jul 6 18:27:39 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:27:39 +0200 Subject: [sustran] From "Urbanist" group on Linked In: A new urban planning open network for developing countries Message-ID: <4E142A8B.3070009@greenidea.eu> "A new urban planning open network for developing countries Dear colleagues, I hope all of you have received the mail with the draft version of the network project. Now, I would like to invite you to discuss about the possible changes, integrations, or any other suggestion to enriched the network idea. 1) Just to start the with a topic what do you think of identifying regional references for the different geographical areas or countries? ...." Link to this discussion: http://linkd.in/qS1YGR -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory, a member of the OPENbike team Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu todd@openbike.se www.openbike.se Skype: toddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany *** OPENbike - Share the Perfect Fit! From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Fri Jul 8 01:07:04 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2011 18:07:04 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Urban Mobility and the Social Space Challenge Message-ID: <039301cc3cc0$0e89efd0$2b9dcf70$@britton@ecoplan.org> For those of you interested in the topics under discussion in this year?s Fifth Annual Cities for Mobility Congress that just concluded in Stuttgart, World Streets is pleased to offer a selection of the working papers and discussions which we think will be of most interest to our readers. The theme this year was ?urban mobility and social space?, an angle, a way of viewing the sector which we believe opens up some interesting new ideas for public policy and private practice that merit careful consideration. The following will take you to the PowerPoint support for the first presentation opening the Congress. Selected other presentations will appear here in the days immediately ahead, and in all cases we invite your questions and comments. (For background information on the Congress click to http://citiesformobility.net.) * Click here for the opening presentation - http://worldstreets.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/stuttgart-2011-social-space- 4jul11-final.pdf 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 P Avant d'imprimer, pensez ? l'environnement From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 11 00:33:23 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:33:23 +0200 Subject: [sustran] From World Streets: Why people do what they do? And why it's important for us to understand. Message-ID: <00f301cc3f16$b6a35690$23ea03b0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Below links to the latest from W/S which may interest some of you. As a matter of convenience, the best way to keep up to date efficiently on World Streets is to register on the site (upper left at www.WorldStreets.org ) and then sign in for quick summary daily or weekly updates. Alternatively if you are on Facebook, the address for Sustrans Global South is http://www.facebook.com/groups/worldstreets. And for today . . . Why people do what they do? And why it?s important for us to understand. ? http://www.facebook.com/l/qAQC3vkINAQCFZLwE5fyAK5F-cx55Wlffyw9EwNHxb1C1eg/worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/why-people-do-what-they-do-its-important-for-us-to-understand/ ? ? ? Also at: http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/10/why-people-do-what-they-do-its-important-for-us-to-understand/ From edelman at greenidea.eu Wed Jul 13 14:20:15 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Wed, 13 Jul 2011 07:20:15 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Skateboarding in India Message-ID: <4E1D2B0F.5020309@greenidea.eu> Saw this beautifully-shot video/advert from a French skateboard company somewhere in India: http://vimeo.com/25864666 Curious about skateboards in India. They are definitely only personal transport - so that leaves out a few key roles - but of course they have many advantages, as long as the pavement or street is smooth. And as you will see they can go quite fast on smooth asphalt! - T -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory, a member of the OPENbike team Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu todd@openbike.se www.openbike.se Skype: toddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany *** OPENbike - Share the Perfect Fit! From edelman at greenidea.eu Thu Jul 14 18:04:38 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2011 11:04:38 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Green Idea Factory blog: NEW major public transport link in Los Angeles opens next week! Message-ID: <4E1EB126.1080001@greenidea.eu> In /El Pueblo de Nuestra Se?ora la Reina de los ?ngeles del R?o de Porci?ncula/ this upcoming weekend is something filling the brains of USA drivers (and their dependants) - with the possible exception of some New Yorkers and San Franciscans - with total horror but which I hope is making many others around the world laugh out loud: Carmageddon! To continue reading, please visit this link . - T -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory, a member of the OPENbike team Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu todd@openbike.se www.openbike.se Skype: toddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany *** OPENbike - Share the Perfect Fit! From carlosfpardo at gmail.com Sat Jul 16 03:30:49 2011 From: carlosfpardo at gmail.com (Carlosfelipe Pardo) Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:30:49 -0500 Subject: [sustran] Road user hierarchy Message-ID: <4E208759.3070604@gmail.com> Hi everyone, Does anyone have specific examples of traffic codes or similar legislation (city or national wide) that applies the road user hierarchy (i.e. pedestrians are more important than bicycles, bicycles more than buses, etc etc)? I have been asked by a Ministry of Transport to justify this with international examples but have been having a bit of trouble finding good examples... links to the actual laws (even if not in English) are most useful. Thanks in advance! Best regards, Carlos. From operations at velomondial.net Sat Jul 16 17:17:23 2011 From: operations at velomondial.net (Pascal van den Noort) Date: Sat, 16 Jul 2011 10:17:23 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Re: Road user hierarchy In-Reply-To: <4E208759.3070604@gmail.com> References: <4E208759.3070604@gmail.com> Message-ID: <1618D7DC-E178-41F0-858A-329A06BE0D9C@velomondial.net> 'Pedestrian Emperor' & 'Cyclist King' are two policy documents acopted by the City Council of Amsterdam. I have asked the author Fjodor Molenaar if he has an abstract in English; I will respond as soon as I know. Pascal J.W. van den Noort Executive Director Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National operations@velomondial.net +31206270675 landline +31627055688 mobile phone -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 33926 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110716/7fc642bf/PastedGraphic-2-0002.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 260464 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110716/7fc642bf/PastedGraphic-2-0003.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. On 15 jul 2011, at 20:30, Carlosfelipe Pardo wrote: > Hi everyone, > > Does anyone have specific examples of traffic codes or similar > legislation (city or national wide) that applies the road user hierarchy > (i.e. pedestrians are more important than bicycles, bicycles more than > buses, etc etc)? I have been asked by a Ministry of Transport to justify > this with international examples but have been having a bit of trouble > finding good examples... links to the actual laws (even if not in > English) are most useful. > > Thanks in advance! > > Best regards, > > Carlos. > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 navdeep.asija at gmail.com Sun Jul 17 13:34:37 2011 From: navdeep.asija at gmail.com (Asija, Navdeep) Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 10:04:37 +0530 Subject: [sustran] US scholar urges people to use eco-friendly means of transport Message-ID: Fazilka, July 16 ?The government and the people of the country should come forward to promote the use of non-automotive traditional eco-friendly means of transportation in Asian countries to prevent environment and fight against global warming.? ?A country like America has committed the blunder of damaging the environment by excessive motorisation. There are over 700 cars against 1000 population in the US creating environmental imbalance,? said Albert Ching, a scholar from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (USA) during his visit to the border town today to study the unique dial-a-rickshaw (Ecocab) transport system in Fazilka. The eco-cab was introduced in June 2008. Albert ML Ching is conducting research on traditional means of transportation in Asia and was here at the initiative of the Graduate Welfare Association, Fazilka (GWAF). ?To attach the modern system with a traditional system like dial-a-rickshaw initiated by the GWAF in Fazilka has prompted me to visit the town to study the system on the spot,? said Ching, who is also a Research Assistant, Future of Urban Mobility, Government of Singapore. The MIT scholar lauded the latest designing of the eco-cab displayed by the GWAF at the Research and Development Centre here set up by its patron Dr Bhupinder Singh, retired professor, IIT, Roorkee. GWAF patron Dr Bhupinder Singh and general secretary Navdeep Asija said the GWAF effort to promote technical non-motorisation system is to check global warming. Dr Singh disclosed that the weight of new eco-cab machine has been reduced from 100 kg to 75 kg. ?We have improved by installing shock absorbers under the seat and selecting the size of traction wheels. We are now going for tubeless and airless tyres.? Ching and members of the GWAF also distributed two pair of school dresses, Rs 600 per student to three daughters of rickshaw pullers of Fazilka, sponsored by Fazilka-based NRI Vikram Kamra. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110717/bathinda.htm#4 From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 18 01:43:13 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:43:13 +0200 Subject: [sustran] a very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Dear colleagues, For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them firmly reality-based. It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly good examples from your own experience for our readers. Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not make the final cut: . Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. . France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, and mobility implications that somehow never entered into the calculus of the decision-makers. . Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to people who need another willing to pay for them. And further that the rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized forms of public transport. . United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less possible. (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.) . China: Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority of all citizens. What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to point up. The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form that will make it available to all. As always Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly even more so. Eric Britton From ajplumbe at hotmail.com Mon Jul 18 02:00:29 2011 From: ajplumbe at hotmail.com (Tony Plumbe) Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:00:29 +0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: Road user hierarchy In-Reply-To: <4E208759.3070604@gmail.com> References: <4E208759.3070604@gmail.com> Message-ID: Carlos, For UK guidance, please see chapter 3 in the 'Manual for Streets, Volume 1' (2007). It can be accessed from http://www2.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/manforstreets/ Tony Plumbe (A J Plumbe) > Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 13:30:49 -0500 > From: carlosfpardo@gmail.com > To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org > Subject: [sustran] Road user hierarchy > > Hi everyone, > > Does anyone have specific examples of traffic codes or similar > legislation (city or national wide) that applies the road user hierarchy > (i.e. pedestrians are more important than bicycles, bicycles more than > buses, etc etc)? I have been asked by a Ministry of Transport to justify > this with international examples but have been having a bit of trouble > finding good examples... links to the actual laws (even if not in > English) are most useful. > > Thanks in advance! > > Best regards, > > Carlos. > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 morten7an at yahoo.com Mon Jul 18 06:00:58 2011 From: morten7an at yahoo.com (Morten Lange) Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:00:58 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: [NewMobilityCafe] a very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Message-ID: <1310936458.9087.YahooMailClassic@web39413.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi, Interesting. **** "Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. " I am not familiar with the special circumstances in Mexico, and I'd say this point needs an explanation, at least not shorter than the other items on the list . ?+ Demote to a lower placement ?)? ?Do you have specifics on low usage, poor followup etc ? ?I know of a very positive consequence of the bicycle sharing initiative : The authorities reversed their decision to make helmets obligatory for bicycle users. ? ? Perhaps better to focus on ?e.g.?1. car-centric developments as there are more than enough of them ? ? 2. The decisions to force helmets and hi-visibility vests on cyclists ?(even though they might be national laws / bylaws ) ?without taking the time to evaluate the negative very effects in NZ, AU and elsewhere.? -- Regards / Kvedja Morten Lange, Reykjav?k --- On Sun, 17/7/11, eric britton wrote: From: eric britton Subject: [NewMobilityCafe] a very short list of very bad practices To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org, NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com, WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com, Cities-for-Mobility@yahoogroups.com, UTSG@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Date: Sunday, 17 July, 2011, 17:43 ? Dear colleagues, ?For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. ?I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them firmly reality-based.? It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly good examples from your own experience for our readers.? ?Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not make the final cut: ?????????? Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. ?????????? France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, and mobility implications that somehow never ?entered into the calculus of the decision-makers. ?????????? Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to people who need another willing to pay for them.? And further that the rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized forms of public transport. ?????????? United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less possible.? (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.)? ?????????? China:? Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority of all citizens. ?What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to point up. ?The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form that will make it available to all. As always ?Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly even more so. ?Eric Britton __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group Check in here via the homepage at http://www.newmobility.org?? To post message to group: NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com Please think twice before posting to the group as a whole (It might be that your note is best sent to one person?) Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest ? Unsubscribe ? Terms of Use . __,_._,___ From pantpr at yahoo.com Mon Jul 18 13:55:56 2011 From: pantpr at yahoo.com (Pradip Raj Pant) Date: Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:55:56 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: a very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> References: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Message-ID: <1310964956.41249.YahooMailNeo@web161207.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> Hi All ? "Carmageddon" apparently is for adding extra lane; but the $1 Billion may not be totally wasted since news coverage report that the added lane is exclusively for HOV. I believe investing in infrastructure for supporting transportation other than POV shouldn't be petrifying. Somebody with more knowledge about the project?should chime in. ---------------------------------------- Pradip Raj Pant email: pantpr@yahoo.com From: eric britton To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org; NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com; WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com; Cities-for-Mobility@yahoogroups.com; UTSG@JISCMAIL.AC.UK Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 6:43 AM Subject: [sustran] a very short list of very bad practices Dear colleagues, For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them firmly reality-based.? It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly good examples from your own experience for our readers.? Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not make the final cut: .? ? ? ? Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. .? ? ? ? France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, and mobility implications that somehow never? entered into the calculus of the decision-makers. .? ? ? ? Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to people who need another willing to pay for them.? And further that the rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized forms of public transport. .? ? ? ? United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less possible.? (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.)? .? ? ? ? China:? Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority of all citizens. What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to point up. The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form that will make it available to all. As always Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly even more so. Eric Britton -------------------------------------------------------- To search the archives of sustran-discuss visit http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=014715651517519735401:ijjtzwbu_ss ================================================================ SUSTRAN-DISCUSS is a forum devoted to discussion of people-centred, equitable and sustainable transport with a focus on developing countries (the 'Global South'). From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 18 15:43:59 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:43:59 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Now . . . A not so short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <1310924501.94607.YahooMailClassic@web32007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> <1310924501.94607.YahooMailClassic@web32007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <00c501cc4516$188be480$49a3ad80$@britton@ecoplan.org> Those who fail to learn history (no matter how painful) are doomed to repeat it * Thank you. The response to this request , through these lists and in private, to this quick weekend call for examples has been instructive, gratifying and has lead me to the following proposal for a small collaborative project, possibly for selective publication of a certain number of examples on World Streets as well as via these lists. 1. First, we have to agree - at least some of us - that though inventories of and information on "good" and "best" practices can be very important and useful, there also is excellent reason for better and broader understanding not just so-so or debatably bad, but truly egregiously, exemplary bad practices in our troubled sector. 2. Moreover, it is my long experience that if we look hard enough at specific selected cases we will not only have lively stories that deserve to be better known (and not covered up or purposefully forgotten as so often is the case), but moreover that in very many of these cases there are lessons for policy makers and others involved that have universal implications. That to my mind is the real reason that bad practices deserve to be better known and more widely discussed 3. It is important that each of these incidents be understood and presented in a balanced manner - there is no benefit if it is taken as a combination witch hunt and turkey shoot. Any such treatments should be authoritative (though it also is to be understood that many will be vigorously argued and contested - that indeed is part of the process.) 4. With this in view, I would now like to invite any and all here to consider sending on a first summary note of what they personally know about in their own city or country of one such exemplary bad practice/project. (My own linitial listing below is, as a number of you have pointed out, presented in too cursory a manner and as such wide open to debate and misinterpretation. ) 5. Then, we could discuss how this example might be expanded into a short W/S article, say 300 words or so (but your call really). With references for those who will wish to dig deeper. 6. The idea is not to tie up a lot of your time. The project should be one you now well and on which you have information at hand. Ideally there will be some coverage from local news sources, etc. In this way, our work will be available to all. I look forward to your ideas on this. Eric Britton PS. As you surely know the opening quote here is not quite right. Santayana's actual words in his book Reason in Common Sense were: "Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it". But the frequent misquote (without my parenthetic words) is surely close enough. Pace. From: eric britton [mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org] Sent: Sunday, 17 July, 2011 18:43 Subject: a very short list of very bad practices Dear colleagues, For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them firmly reality-based. It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly good examples from your own experience for our readers. Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not make the final cut: . Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. . France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, and mobility implications that somehow never entered into the calculus of the decision-makers. . Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to people who need another willing to pay for them. And further that the rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized forms of public transport. . United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less possible. (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.) . China: Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority of all citizens. What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to point up. The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form that will make it available to all. As always Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly even more so. Eric Britton From edelman at greenidea.eu Mon Jul 18 17:33:22 2011 From: edelman at greenidea.eu (Todd Edelman) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 10:33:22 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Re: a very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <1310964956.41249.YahooMailNeo@web161207.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> References: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> <1310964956.41249.YahooMailNeo@web161207.mail.bf1.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <4E23EFD2.7070407@greenidea.eu> Carmageddon: LA's Billion-Dollar Car-Pool Lane [Note: "HOV lanes" in Los Angeles require only two people per vehicle - http://www.metro.net/projects/hov/hov_faq/ . Also, most electric and hybrid cars are exempt from the two-person rule! - http://www.ehow.com/list_6943042_rules-carpool-lanes-california.html ] Midnight tonight [15 July] marks the beginning of Carmageddon in Los Angeles: For two days and five hours, Interstate 405 between I-10 and US 101 will be completely shut down. Since the 405?and yes, we always use "the" in front of our freeway numbers in Southern California?is the main artery between Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, everyone expects total chaos as drivers jam up every available alternate route into the city (and into LAX, which is, inconveniently, located right on the 405). City and transit officials are treating this about the same way they'd treat a tsunami warning, telling residents in increasingly apocalyptic tones to either leave town or else just stay inside for the duration. Their message, broadcast across every medium known to science for the past two months, is pretty simple: Don't even think about taking your car anywhere if you live within a 30-mile radius of the construction. So what's the reason for this mind-boggling closure? Answer: Caltrans is adding a 10-mile northbound car-pool lane to the freeway. The Los Angeles Times' architecture critic, Christopher Hawthorne, has some questions about this: To begin with: Is widening the 405 (to add one solitary carpool lane on the freeway's northbound side) really something that we should be spending $1 billion on? Will it actually make traffic through the pass better? And if so, for how long? After all, study after study has shown the ineffectiveness of this approach. As soon as you open up new lanes, drivers adjust: A few more decide to take the newly widened route each day, and before long the congestion is just as bad as before. In this case, because an HOV lane is being added, some of the change in behavior will be virtuous, turning drivers into passengers. It's still tough to think of a less cost-efficient way to spend a billion dollars of public money. Actually, it might be even worse than Hawthorne thinks. For the past two decades Los Angeles has gone on a binge of increasingly expensive car-pool construction, but the benefits of these new lanes are surprisingly equivocal. The lanes are always additions to freeways (no previously existing lane has been converted for car-pool use since the Santa Monica diamond lane debacle of 1976, which set back car-pool lanes by a decade), so they always ease traffic for a while. But as Hawthorne points out, the phenomenon of "traffic generation" has been known for decades. More lanes just attract more drivers and more congestion. What's more, although it's true that car-pool lanes carry more passengers than general purpose lanes, this is a meaningless statistic. If all of a freeway's existing car-pools move into a newly constructed HOV lane, all you've done is juggle the traffic around. In fact, since HOV lanes generally have lower capacities than multiuse lanes (thanks to the "snail" effect, which is exactly what it sounds like), you actually lose some overall traffic capacity. But here's the worst news. What we really want to know is how many drivers are motivated by HOV lanes to form new car pools. Surprisingly, though, considering the thousands of miles of HOV lanes constructed in the United States over the past two decades, this is a hard number to get a handle on. There have been a few studies of new car-pool formation, however, and here's one of them from Caltrans showing the number of car pools on LA freeways over the past 20 years: The good news is that HOV lane construction during the '90s appears to have genuinely spurred more carpooling. True, adding 25,000 new car pools doesn't seem like much for a region the size of the LA basin with hundreds of miles of freeways, but at least it's measurable progress. The bad news is that despite the billions of dollars spent since then, new car-pool formation during the past decade has been...zero. All that money seems to have had no effect on car-pool behavior at all. Nor is this limited just to Los Angeles. Pravin Varaiya of the University of California's PATH program came to the same conclusion for the Bay Area's HOV lanes in a 2007 study. Over both the near and long term, the shorter commute times of HOV lanes apparently has almost no effect on the willingness of drivers to form car pools. What's more, census data suggests this is a nationwide phenomenon. "Over time the attraction of HOV travel appears to be weakening," Varaiya concludes. None of this should be taken as a definitive takedown of car-pool lanes. The data on their effectiveness is murky, to say the least, and a lot depends on where the lanes are built and how well they support bus traffic. But that murkiness is surprising all by itself considering the HOV spree the country has been on over the past two decades. Even after 20 years of nonstop construction, we still don't really know how effective HOV lanes are at promoting car pools. For Angelenos, however, the news is almost certainly bad. For starters, the I-405 shutdown is going to produce two rounds of chaos (the second one coming at the end of the project). And the project is sucking up a billion dollars that could almost certainly be used more efficiently on other transit projects. But that's the least of it. If Caltrans' own chart is to be believed, LA's willingness to carpool was saturated over a decade ago. Adding another billion dollars in new HOV lanes won't produce even a single new car pool. Now that's Carmageddon. Plus even Hitler [in "Downfall" movie parody] doesn't like it. And he's the guy who built the autobahns. (To see chart about HOV use and parody of "Carmageddon" based on the movie "Downfall", see http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2011/07/billion-dollar-carpool-lane. I also blogged about this last week: See http://greenideafactory.blogspot.com/2011/07/carmageddon.html ] On 07/18/2011 06:55 AM, Pradip Raj Pant wrote: > Hi All > > "Carmageddon" apparently is for adding extra lane; but the $1 Billion may not be totally wasted since news coverage report that the added lane is exclusively for HOV. I believe investing in infrastructure for supporting transportation other than POV shouldn't be petrifying. Somebody with more knowledge about the project should chime in. > > ---------------------------------------- > Pradip Raj Pant > email: pantpr@yahoo.com > > > From: eric britton > To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org; NewMobilityCafe@yahoogroups.com; WorldTransport@yahoogroups.com; Cities-for-Mobility@yahoogroups.com; UTSG@JISCMAIL.AC.UK > Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 6:43 AM > Subject: [sustran] a very short list of very bad practices > > Dear colleagues, > > > > For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a > significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and > investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and > sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small > page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness > in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. > > > > I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different > parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them > firmly reality-based. It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly > good examples from your own experience for our readers. > > > > Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not > make the final cut: > > > > . Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of > Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to > impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. > > > > . France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train > stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in > many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, > and mobility implications that somehow never entered into the calculus of > the decision-makers. > > > > . Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots > with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban > on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are > offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to > people who need another willing to pay for them. And further that the > rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many > of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized > forms of public transport. > > > > . United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too > horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a > result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 > billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, > further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less > possible. (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation > planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.) > > > > . China: Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to > serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have > done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority > of all citizens. > > > > What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is > that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in > common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to > point up. > > > > The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form > that will make it available to all. As always > > > > Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might > post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every > bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly > even more so. > > > > Eric Britton > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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'). > -- Todd Edelman Green Idea Factory, a member of the OPENbike team Mobile: ++49(0)162 814 4081 edelman@greenidea.eu www.greenidea.eu todd@openbike.se www.openbike.se Skype: toddedelman http://twitter.com/toddedelman Urbanstr. 45 10967 Berlin Germany *** OPENbike - Share the Perfect Fit! From operations at velomondial.net Mon Jul 18 18:43:39 2011 From: operations at velomondial.net (Pascal van den Noort) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 11:43:39 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Re: Now . . . A not so short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <00c501cc4516$188be480$49a3ad80$@britton@ecoplan.org> References: <011c01cc44a0$a16e7a90$e44b6fb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> <1310924501.94607.YahooMailClassic@web32007.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <00c501cc4516$188be480$49a3ad80$@britton@ecoplan.org> Message-ID: Dear Eric, For the time being we only have best practices; there are not many people taking time to advertise bad or worst practices; we are all aware of them, but only academics can thrive on them. I don't think other people have budgets to advertise their failures.\ Greetings, Pascal Pascal J.W. van den Noort Executive Director Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National operations@velomondial.net +31206270675 landline +31627055688 mobile phone -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 33926 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110718/07fab058/PastedGraphic-2-0002.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 260464 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110718/07fab058/PastedGraphic-2-0003.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. On 18 jul 2011, at 08:43, eric britton wrote: > > Those who fail to learn history (no matter how painful) are doomed to repeat > it * > > Thank you. The response to this request , through these lists and in > private, to this quick weekend call for examples has been instructive, > gratifying and has lead me to the following proposal for a small > collaborative project, possibly for selective publication of a certain > number of examples on World Streets as well as via these lists. > > 1. First, we have to agree - at least some of us - that though > inventories of and information on "good" and "best" practices can be very > important and useful, there also is excellent reason for better and broader > understanding not just so-so or debatably bad, but truly egregiously, > exemplary bad practices in our troubled sector. > > > 2. Moreover, it is my long experience that if we look hard enough at > specific selected cases we will not only have lively stories that deserve > to be better known (and not covered up or purposefully forgotten as so often > is the case), but moreover that in very many of these cases there are > lessons for policy makers and others involved that have universal > implications. That to my mind is the real reason that bad practices deserve > to be better known and more widely discussed > > > 3. It is important that each of these incidents be understood and > presented in a balanced manner - there is no benefit if it is taken as a > combination witch hunt and turkey shoot. Any such treatments should be > authoritative (though it also is to be understood that many will be > vigorously argued and contested - that indeed is part of the process.) > > > 4. With this in view, I would now like to invite any and all here to > consider sending on a first summary note of what they personally know about > in their own city or country of one such exemplary bad practice/project. (My > own linitial listing below is, as a number of you have pointed out, > presented in too cursory a manner and as such wide open to debate and > misinterpretation. ) > > > 5. Then, we could discuss how this example might be expanded into a > short W/S article, say 300 words or so (but your call really). With > references for those who will wish to dig deeper. > > > 6. The idea is not to tie up a lot of your time. The project should be > one you now well and on which you have information at hand. Ideally there > will be some coverage from local news sources, etc. > > In this way, our work will be available to all. > > I look forward to your ideas on this. > > Eric Britton > > PS. As you surely know the opening quote here is not quite right. > Santayana's actual words in his book Reason in Common Sense were: "Those who > cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it". But the frequent > misquote (without my parenthetic words) is surely close enough. Pace. > > > > > > From: eric britton [mailto:eric.britton@ecoplan.org] > Sent: Sunday, 17 July, 2011 18:43 > Subject: a very short list of very bad practices > > Dear colleagues, > > For a new book just getting underway here, and which is attempting to make a > significant contribution as a useful guide for better informed policy and > investment in the field of sustainable transport, sustainable cities and > sustainable lives, I am attempting to develop by way of introduction a small > page showing some of the more typical examples of egregious thoughtlessness > in our sector by way of setting the stage for better alternative approaches. > > I think it would be effective to have a selection of examples from different > parts of the world, all of them short and to the point, and all of them > firmly reality-based. It would be great if you could offer a few howlingly > good examples from your own experience for our readers. > > Here the first handful that come to mind from here, which may or may not > make the final cut: > > . Mexico: The decision, come hell or high water, of the mayor of > Mexico City to create a public bicycle system for his city, or rather to > impose a public bicycle system on his city, ready or not. > > . France: The decades-long practice of closing of local train > stations in many smaller communities across France, (a practice of course in > many other parts of the world as well), with all of the social, economic, > and mobility implications that somehow never entered into the calculus of > the decision-makers. > > . Bangladesh The decision of the authorities in Dhaka, in cahoots > with the Council of international consultants, to progressively extend a ban > on the use of rickshaws, despite the fact that these wheeled vehicles are > offering every day and at low cost massively important mobility services to > people who need another willing to pay for them. And further that the > rickshaws offer a large number of economically and socially useful jobs many > of which would disappear if they were replaced by more institutionalized > forms of public transport. > > . United States: And finally to cap it all with something of all too > horrible familiarity, the latest "Carmageddon" episode in Los Angeles as a > result of the decision of the authorities there to spend an additional $1 > billion to increase the capacity of an already huge urban highway network, > further locking in the car and making alternative solutions all the less > possible. (Proving once again that forecast and build transportation > planning is not dead, despite all of the abundant proofs to the contrary.) > > . China: Continuing to plan and build additional infrastructure to > serve private cars despite the fact that virtually everything that they have > done thus far has led to increasingly poorer service for the great majority > of all citizens. > > What is to my mind most interesting about many of these bad practices, is > that if you scratch a bit you will find that they have a number of things in > common. And that already is very useful. And this is what we are hoping to > point up. > > The results of this work will be periodically posted and shared in a form > that will make it available to all. As always > > Thanks for your examples. And in fact maybe even more useful if you might > post them to the group, since bad practices are, in my book at least, every > bit as important as all those best practices inventories. And quite possibly > even more so. > > Eric Britton > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 Jul 18 21:48:35 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:48:35 +0200 Subject: [sustran] "Worst Practices": Los Angeles on the rocks Message-ID: <020c01cc4549$05ad62c0$11082840$@britton@ecoplan.org> Link: http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/worst-practices-los-angeles-on- the-rocks/ . "Worst Practices": Los Angeles on the rocks Eric Britton, editor | 18 July 2011 at 12:05 | Tags: Mother Jones | Categories: Worst practices | URL: http://wp.me/psKUY-1LW It's a fine thing of course to know about "best practices" in our troubled sector, and there are quite a number of programs and groups in various corners of the world that are assembling these and making them available in various databases. That is excellent. But we decided that World Streets can make a useful contribution if we take all this from the other end - and launch a series of collaborative "worst practice" (or possibly just "bad practice") profiles, illustrating different ways to get it very wrong [...] Read more of this post Add a comment to this post From whook at itdp.org Mon Jul 18 22:09:17 2011 From: whook at itdp.org (Walter Hook) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 09:09:17 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: "Worst Practices": Los Angeles on the rocks In-Reply-To: <4e242bbd.1446e70a.1ed2.ffffd6fdSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <4e242bbd.1446e70a.1ed2.ffffd6fdSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Dear Eric, I was rather astonished to read that the top #1 'worst practice' that you identify in your list is the Mexico City public bike sharing system. Somehow, this modest 1200 bike sharing system for the Roma and Condessa neighborhoods, which has been pretty successful as far as I can tell, (I use the system myself, its quite nice, other than a rather weakly negotiated contract, seems to be working fine). Perhaps you could clarify how a system that has increased bike trips has been singled out for your ire, and ranks somehow above the construction of highways all over china? Clearly this list seems to be more the Eric "pet peeves" list, and as such I dont see much point in lending it much credibility walter On Mon, Jul 18, 2011 at 8:48 AM, eric britton wrote: > Link: > > http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/worst-practices-los-angeles-on- > the-rocks/ . > > > > > < > http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/worst-practices-los-angeles-on > -the-rocks/> "Worst Practices": Los Angeles on the rocks > > Eric Britton, editor > | 18 July 2011 > at > 12:05 | Tags: Mother Jones > | Categories: Worst > practices | URL: > http://wp.me/psKUY-1LW > It's a fine thing of course to know about "best practices" in our troubled > sector, and there are quite a number of programs and groups in various > corners of the world that are assembling these and making them available in > various databases. That is excellent. But we decided that World Streets can > make a useful contribution if we take all this from the other end - and > launch a series of collaborative "worst practice" (or possibly just "bad > practice") profiles, illustrating different ways to get it very wrong > [...] > Read more of this post > < > http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/worst-practices-los-angeles-on > -the-rocks/> > Add a comment to this post > < > http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/worst-practices-los-angeles-on > -the-rocks/#respond> > > < > http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=worldstreets.wordpress.com&blog=68535 > 40&post=6816&subd=worldstreets&ref=&email=1> > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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'). > -- Walter Hook Executive Director Institute for Transportation and Development Policy 9 East 19th Street, 7th Floor New York, NY 10003 1-212-629-8001 www.itdp.org Promoting sustainable and equitable transportation worldwide. From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 18 22:28:59 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:28:59 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Worst Practices Message-ID: <026d01cc454e$aa0bafc0$fe230f40$@britton@ecoplan.org> Yes Walter Quite right. That was right off the top of my head late night, and was based on my initial consulting work with them at the outset in the first planning stages. At the outset it was indeed a bad idea, but what is more important is what they have done with it. That said I know that they have worked hard on it since those early days in which they were truly floating. I should have, and will, update my information on this immediately. Thanks for drawing it to my attention. I will now have to figure out, once I have my information in place, how to make good on this. Count on it. Eric PS. That said, I still think the Worst Practices idea is one that is worth pursuing. Some of these projects have been so dear and so phenomenally counterproductive that I feel quite sure the lessons need to be broadly shared. That said, we do need to be very careful about what we write, otherwise the whole thing looses both credibility and usefulness. -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+editor=worldstreets.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+editor=worldstreets.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Walter Hook Sent: Monday, 18 July, 2011 15:09 To: eric britton Cc: Bernardo Baranda; sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Subject: [sustran] Re: "Worst Practices": Los Angeles on the rocks Dear Eric, I was rather astonished to read that the top #1 'worst practice' that you identify in your list is the Mexico City public bike sharing system. Somehow, this modest 1200 bike sharing system for the Roma and Condessa neighborhoods, which has been pretty successful as far as I can tell, (I use the system myself, its quite nice, other than a rather weakly negotiated contract, seems to be working fine). Perhaps you could clarify how a system that has increased bike trips has been singled out for your ire, and ranks somehow above the construction of highways all over china? Clearly this list seems to be more the Eric "pet peeves" list, and as such I dont see much point in lending it much credibility walter -- Walter Hook Executive Director Institute for Transportation and Development Policy 9 East 19th Street, 7th Floor New York, NY 10003 1-212-629-8001 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 nuno.quental at iclei.org Mon Jul 18 23:50:57 2011 From: nuno.quental at iclei.org (Nuno Quental) Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:50:57 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Worst Practices Message-ID: <4E244851.2080803@iclei.org> An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110718/b0bffbd1/attachment.html From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Jul 19 16:51:53 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:51:53 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Food for thought: Your lungs on a typical work trip in traffic in New Delhi In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <014301cc45e8$bf14ea90$3d3ebfb0$@britton@ecoplan.org> _____________________________________________________ World Streets Make it yours Good morning Sarath, Kind thanks for sending along that information on the video and paper, which I would like to turn into a very short piece for Worldstreets today, which provides the reader with a brief introduction to the topic and then takes them to both the video and the full paper. I wondered if it might interest you to share a few lines with our readers on this, which I would then intend to follow up with the following abstract of the authors and from hence links to both video and paper. I can of course write them myself but I think it carries more weight coming from someone with so much impressive hands-on knowledge as you have. And I would have loved to have had a larger high definition version of the above photo, so that we could turn it into the header for the article. Hope this is agreeable to you. With regards/Eric. Abstract Concentrations of air pollutants from vehicles are elevated along roadways, indicating that human exposure in transportation microenvironments may not be adequately characterized by centrally located monitors. We report results from not, vert, similar180 h of real-time measurements of fine particle and black carbon mass concentration (PM2.5, BC) and ultrafine particle number concentration (PN) inside a common vehicle, the auto-rickshaw, in New Delhi, India. Measured exposure concentrations are much higher in this study (geometric mean for not, vert, similar60 trip-averaged concentrations: 190 ?g m?3 PM2.5, 42 ?g m?3 BC, 280 ? 103 particles cm?3; GSD not, vert, similar1.3 for all three pollutants) than reported for transportation microenvironments in other megacities. In-vehicle concentrations exceeded simultaneously measured ambient levels by 1.5? for PM2.5, 3.6? for BC, and 8.4? for PN. Short-duration peak concentrations (averaging time: 10 s), attributable to exhaust plumes of nearby vehicles, were greater than 300 ?g m?3 for PM2.5, 85 ?g m?3 for BC, and 650 ? 103 particles cm?3 for PN. The incremental increase of within-vehicle concentration above ambient levels?which we attribute to in- and near-roadway emission sources?accounted for 30%, 68% and 86% of time-averaged in-vehicle PM2.5, BC and PN concentrations, respectively. Based on these results, we estimate that one?s exposure during a daily commute by auto-rickshaw in Delhi is as least as large as full-day exposures experienced by urban residents of many high-income countries. This study illuminates an environmental health concern that may be common in many populous, low-income cities Eric Britton, Editor / Managing Director World Streets / New Mobility Partnerships 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/png Size: 205478 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110719/b74c0469/attachment-0001.png From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Jul 19 18:03:06 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:03:06 +0200 Subject: [sustran] A very short list of very bad practices Message-ID: <018f01cc45f2$af067560$0d136020$@britton@ecoplan.org> I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at the same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now clarify a bit. For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to castigate or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which they close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, hopefully. And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories is to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in World Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what may have gone wrong.) . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are extremely good at what they do. . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to creating the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, but they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") Exemplary weak points and commentary: 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is in theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused in a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can pull a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV lanes) needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the base of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error of actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic thinking. That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would like to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I am sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. Kind regards/Eric Britton From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Jul 20 01:10:54 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 18:10:54 +0200 Subject: [sustran] "Worst Practices": Regulations that prohibit shared taxis Message-ID: <032601cc462e$72307500$56915f00$@britton@ecoplan.org> Source: http://worldstreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/worst-practices-regulations-that-prohibit-shared-taxis/ "Worst Practices": Regulations that prohibit shared taxis anywhere Eric Britton, editor | 19 July 2011 at 16:20 | Categories: poor planning/execution , taxi sharing , Worst practices | URL: http://wp.me/psKUY-1M7 "Regulations that prohibit shared taxis are an example of worst practices." - Ann Hackett Read more of this post Add a comment to this post WordPress WordPress.com | Thanks for flying with WordPress! Manage Subscriptions | Unsubscribe | Express yourself. Start a blog. Trouble clicking? Copy and paste this URL into your browser: http://subscribe.wordpress.com From krc12353 at gmail.com Wed Jul 20 01:39:55 2011 From: krc12353 at gmail.com (Karthik Rao-Cavale) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:39:55 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Eric, Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very uncomfortable with generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" and "best practice methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in its own context rather than uprooting it from its context and looking at it as a generic program. For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister's Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a definite worst practice strategy". It extends the capacity of infrastructure to carry motor vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot be disregarded. Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant women can get to maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is available) and thereby reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to the village is more convenient, village teachers and doctors might not absent themselves as frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods bears a direct relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a village road can reduce the costs of essential commodities like foodgrains (which might have an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected village finds it easier to market its products, so a village may earn more income if it has road connectivity. Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road capacity might be extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only of cities, and further, only of cities in Europe and North America, your statement might have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be more cautious in evaluating programs and projects outside of their context. karthik On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton wrote: > I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find > them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at the > same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not > communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now > clarify a bit. > > > > For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to castigate > or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled > with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of > projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in > constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which > they > close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in > our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on > projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on > possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, > hopefully. > > > > And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories > is > to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and > instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst > Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of > outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in World > Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good > case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: > > > > Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to > see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what > may > have gone wrong.) > > > > . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are > extremely good at what they do. > > . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to > creating > the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, > but > they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a > fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. > > . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an > almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, > often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic > can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") > > > > Exemplary weak points and commentary: > > > > 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about > sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is > that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry > yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. > > > > 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is > in > theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused > in > a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner > why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single > passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can > pull > a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will > convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) > > > > 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of > carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best > information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are > not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the > old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we > were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in > which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution > (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV > lanes) > needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. > > > > 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the base > of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other > than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error > of > actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest > they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- > i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and > improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility > approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic > thinking. > > > > That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would > like > to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I am > sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I > hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I > wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and > commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be > better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. > > > > I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your > views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic > concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, > independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. > > > > Kind regards/Eric Britton > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 binacb at gmail.com Wed Jul 20 02:09:49 2011 From: binacb at gmail.com (Bina C.Balakrishnan) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 22:39:49 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: These are 2 entirely different things: What Eric is referring to is increasing the carrying capacity of URBAN roads, and thereby encouraging the use of personal modes of transport, resulting in greater congestion and delays and all the rest of it. What Kartik has referred to is improving ACCESSIBILITY in rural areas where this is either not available or is poor, to goods and essential services not available in the villages. Two very different issues, and simply not comparable. Bina Balakrishnan On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 10:09 PM, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > Eric, > > Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any project which extends > the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles > is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very uncomfortable with > generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" and "best practice > methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in its own context rather > than uprooting it from its context and looking at it as a generic program. > > For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister's > Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a definite worst > practice strategy". It extends the capacity of infrastructure to carry > motor > vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot be disregarded. > Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant women can get to > maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is available) and thereby > reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to the village is more > convenient, village teachers and doctors might not absent themselves as > frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods bears a direct > relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a village road can > reduce the costs of essential commodities like foodgrains (which might have > an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected village finds it easier to > market its products, so a village may earn more income if it has road > connectivity. > > Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road capacity might be > extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only of cities, and > further, only of cities in Europe and North America, your statement might > have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be more cautious in > evaluating programs and projects outside of their context. > > karthik > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton >wrote: > > > I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I > find > > them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at > the > > same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not > > communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can > now > > clarify a bit. > > > > > > > > For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to > castigate > > or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled > > with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of > > projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in > > constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which > > they > > close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But > in > > our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information > on > > projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up > on > > possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, > > hopefully. > > > > > > > > And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories > > is > > to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and > > instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst > > Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of > > outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in > World > > Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good > > case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: > > > > > > > > Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is > to > > see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what > > may > > have gone wrong.) > > > > > > > > . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are > > extremely good at what they do. > > > > . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to > > creating > > the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, > > but > > they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a > > fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. > > > > . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on > an > > almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, > > often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the > traffic > > can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") > > > > > > > > Exemplary weak points and commentary: > > > > > > > > 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about > > sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it > is > > that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to > carry > > yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. > > > > > > > > 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is > > in > > theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused > > in > > a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing > manner > > why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single > > passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can > > pull > > a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you > will > > convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) > > > > > > > > 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of > > carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best > > information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes > are > > not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the > > old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we > > were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in > > which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution > > (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV > > lanes) > > needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. > > > > > > > > 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the > base > > of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other > > than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error > > of > > actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the > rest > > they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- > > i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and > > improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility > > approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic > > thinking. > > > > > > > > That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would > > like > > to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I > am > > sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I > > hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I > > wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and > > commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be > > better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. > > > > > > > > I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your > > views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic > > concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, > open, > > independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. > > > > > > > > Kind regards/Eric Britton > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > 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'). > -- *Bina C. Balakrishnan* *Consultant - Sustainable Transportation Policy, Planning & Management India * *Cell: +91 99536 94218 (Gurgaon)* * +91 98339 00108 (Mumbai) * * e-mail: binacb@gmail.com binac@rediffmail.com web : www.binabalakrishnan.com skype: binacb* From krc12353 at gmail.com Wed Jul 20 02:59:28 2011 From: krc12353 at gmail.com (Karthik Rao-Cavale) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:59:28 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Increased capacity may or may not improve accessibility, and improved accessibility in general may or may not improve the social outcomes. What I tried to show is that the relationship between road capacity and accessibility is wholly context-dependent and cannot be generalized. The difference is not merely between urban and rural settings. Cities themselves come in various shapes and sizes. For instance almost half of the urban areas in India do not have a municipal corporation, and presumably do not benefit from urban services that improve connectivity. It is by no means clear that the relationship between road capacity and accessibility in these towns is negatively sloped, i.e. that increasing motor vehicle capacity decreases the accessibility level of goods and services. Perhaps, if we were speaking only of big cities like Jakarta and Bangalore, Eric's statement might hold true, but even so, I personally prefer to be very cautious while making generalizations. On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Bina C.Balakrishnan wrote: > These are 2 entirely different things: > > What Eric is referring to is increasing the carrying capacity of URBAN > roads, and thereby encouraging the use of personal modes of transport, > resulting in greater congestion and delays and all the rest of it. > > What Kartik has referred to is improving ACCESSIBILITY in rural areas where > this is either not available or is poor, to goods and essential services not > available in the villages. > > Two very different issues, and simply not comparable. > > Bina Balakrishnan > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 10:09 PM, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > >> Eric, >> >> Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any project which >> extends >> the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles >> is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very uncomfortable with >> generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" and "best practice >> methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in its own context rather >> than uprooting it from its context and looking at it as a generic program. >> >> For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister's >> Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a definite worst >> practice strategy". It extends the capacity of infrastructure to carry >> motor >> vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot be disregarded. >> Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant women can get to >> maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is available) and thereby >> reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to the village is more >> convenient, village teachers and doctors might not absent themselves as >> frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods bears a direct >> relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a village road can >> reduce the costs of essential commodities like foodgrains (which might >> have >> an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected village finds it easier >> to >> market its products, so a village may earn more income if it has road >> connectivity. >> >> Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road capacity might be >> extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only of cities, and >> further, only of cities in Europe and North America, your statement might >> have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be more cautious in >> evaluating programs and projects outside of their context. >> >> karthik >> >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton > >wrote: >> >> > I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I >> find >> > them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at >> the >> > same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not >> > communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can >> now >> > clarify a bit. >> > >> > >> > >> > For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to >> castigate >> > or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled >> > with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of >> > projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in >> > constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which >> > they >> > close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But >> in >> > our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information >> on >> > projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up >> on >> > possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, >> > hopefully. >> > >> > >> > >> > And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and >> inventories >> > is >> > to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and >> > instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst >> > Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of >> > outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in >> World >> > Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a >> good >> > case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: >> > >> > >> > >> > Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is >> to >> > see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what >> > may >> > have gone wrong.) >> > >> > >> > >> > . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are >> > extremely good at what they do. >> > >> > . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to >> > creating >> > the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, >> > but >> > they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do >> a >> > fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. >> > >> > . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on >> an >> > almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job >> done, >> > often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the >> traffic >> > can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") >> > >> > >> > >> > Exemplary weak points and commentary: >> > >> > >> > >> > 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about >> > sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it >> is >> > that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to >> carry >> > yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. >> > >> > >> > >> > 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before >> is >> > in >> > theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and >> abused >> > in >> > a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing >> manner >> > why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single >> > passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can >> > pull >> > a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you >> will >> > convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) >> > >> > >> > >> > 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of >> > carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best >> > information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes >> are >> > not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that >> the >> > old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we >> > were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation >> in >> > which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution >> > (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV >> > lanes) >> > needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and >> operations. >> > >> > >> > >> > 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the >> base >> > of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other >> > than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known >> error >> > of >> > actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the >> rest >> > they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- >> > i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and >> > improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility >> > approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic >> > thinking. >> > >> > >> > >> > That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would >> > like >> > to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I >> am >> > sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least >> I >> > hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I >> > wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and >> > commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and >> be >> > better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. >> > >> > >> > >> > I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your >> > views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the >> basic >> > concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, >> open, >> > independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. >> > >> > >> > >> > Kind regards/Eric Britton >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------------- >> > 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'). >> > > > > -- > *Bina C. Balakrishnan* > *Consultant - > Sustainable Transportation Policy, Planning & Management > India > * > *Cell: +91 99536 94218 (Gurgaon)* > * +91 98339 00108 (Mumbai) > * > * > e-mail: binacb@gmail.com > binac@rediffmail.com > web : www.binabalakrishnan.com > skype: binacb* > > From bruun at seas.upenn.edu Wed Jul 20 05:12:31 2011 From: bruun at seas.upenn.edu (bruun at seas.upenn.edu) Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:12:31 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <018f01cc45f2$af067560$0d136020$@britton@ecoplan.org> References: <018f01cc45f2$af067560$0d136020$@britton@ecoplan.org> Message-ID: <20110719161231.88604esa0zs8w10v@webmail.seas.upenn.edu> Two quick comments: 1) It would be helpful to qualify worst practices by saying URBAN worst practices. 2) in the case of LA, the Mayor is trying very hard to massively increase PT investment. I would guess that some turkeys like the HOV lane are the political price he has to pay for getting cooperation on the good projects. Alas, it does waste a lot of money, but trying to get rid of this project might delay other better ones like the BRT and RRT projects for many years as well. Eric Quoting eric britton : > I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find > them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at the > same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not > communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now > clarify a bit. > > > > For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to castigate > or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled > with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of > projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in > constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which they > close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in > our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on > projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on > possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, > hopefully. > > > > And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories is > to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and > instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst > Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of > outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in World > Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good > case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: > > > > Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to > see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what may > have gone wrong.) > > > > . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are > extremely good at what they do. > > . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to creating > the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, but > they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a > fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. > > . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an > almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, > often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic > can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") > > > > Exemplary weak points and commentary: > > > > 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about > sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is > that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry > yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. > > > > 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is in > theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused in > a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner > why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single > passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can pull > a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will > convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) > > > > 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of > carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best > information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are > not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the > old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we > were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in > which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution > (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV lanes) > needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. > > > > 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the base > of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other > than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error of > actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest > they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- > i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and > improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility > approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic > thinking. > > > > That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would like > to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I am > sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I > hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I > wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and > commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be > better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. > > > > I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your > views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic > concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, > independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. > > > > Kind regards/Eric Britton > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 Wed Jul 20 16:41:49 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:41:49 +0200 Subject: [sustran] "Or, practices for which we are struggling to find appropriate justification' Message-ID: <011401cc46b0$81116110$83342330$@britton@ecoplan.org> I find that there is great good sense in this counsel from Paul Minett in the context of our on-going Worst Practices exchanges and examples -- and I definitely agree that it needs to be put up close to our main title (which I am utterly loatch to abandon). Thank you Paul. -----Original Message----- From: Paul Minett [mailto:paulminett@tripconvergence.co.nz] Sent: Wednesday, 20 July, 2011 02:21 To: 'eric britton' Subject: RE: [sustran] A very short list of very bad practices Perhaps the title should not be 'worst practices' or even 'bad practices' but 'practices for which we are struggling to find appropriate justification'. That would enable you to move the item to a different classification when (if) it turns out that they had a good plan all along. Paul Minett Raspberry Express www.raspberryexpress.com 64 21 289 8444 64 9 524 9850 -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of eric britton Sent: Tuesday, 19 July 2011 9:03 p.m. I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at the same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now clarify a bit. For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to castigate or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which they close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, hopefully. And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories is to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in World Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what may have gone wrong.) . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are extremely good at what they do. . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to creating the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, but they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") Exemplary weak points and commentary: 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is in theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused in a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can pull a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV lanes) needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the base of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error of actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic thinking. That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would like to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I am sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Jul 20 20:04:31 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:04:31 +0200 Subject: [sustran] India Streets: We must be doing something right. Message-ID: <01ff01cc46cc$d7fdf800$87f9e800$@britton@ecoplan.org> Source: http://indiastreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/20/india-streets-we-must-be-doing- something-right/ India Streets: We must be doing something right. Eric Britton, editor | 20 July 2011 at 15:54 | Categories: World Streets | URL: http://wp.me/p15YEC-hw Here is something that is rather interesting about India Streets. While for various reasons there have been very little orignal content coming in from our Indian colleagues in the last months, the fact is that the journal is nonetheless quite heavily visited each day. And where do those readers come from? Read more of this post Add a comment to this post From operations at velomondial.net Wed Jul 20 20:14:02 2011 From: operations at velomondial.net (Pascal van den Noort) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 13:14:02 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <4A4B0106-1496-4F0D-AD56-4AB04A8A86B4@velomondial.net> Karthik has a few very valid points. In every sustainable project one will obviously see elements that affect the environment; at the same time one should not ignore the economic relevance of any mobility project, nor the social impact. When balancing those three on the long run, one will have to be a politician, but it should be well prepared by technicians who know very well what they talk about. Pascal J.W. van den Noort Executive Director Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National operations@velomondial.net +31206270675 landline +31627055688 mobile phone -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 33926 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110720/d6f23dca/PastedGraphic-2-0002.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: PastedGraphic-2.tiff Type: image/tiff Size: 260464 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110720/d6f23dca/PastedGraphic-2-0003.tiff -------------- next part -------------- Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. On 19 jul 2011, at 18:39, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > Eric, > > Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any project which extends > the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles > is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very uncomfortable with > generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" and "best practice > methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in its own context rather > than uprooting it from its context and looking at it as a generic program. > > For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister's > Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a definite worst > practice strategy". It extends the capacity of infrastructure to carry motor > vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot be disregarded. > Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant women can get to > maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is available) and thereby > reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to the village is more > convenient, village teachers and doctors might not absent themselves as > frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods bears a direct > relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a village road can > reduce the costs of essential commodities like foodgrains (which might have > an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected village finds it easier to > market its products, so a village may earn more income if it has road > connectivity. > > Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road capacity might be > extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only of cities, and > further, only of cities in Europe and North America, your statement might > have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be more cautious in > evaluating programs and projects outside of their context. > > karthik > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton wrote: > >> I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find >> them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging. But at the >> same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not >> communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now >> clarify a bit. >> >> >> >> For starters, this is not a witch hunt. It is not my interest to castigate >> or humiliate any project or group behind it. Life is complex and filled >> with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of >> projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in >> constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which >> they >> close down forever. That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in >> our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on >> projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on >> possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, >> hopefully. >> >> >> >> And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories >> is >> to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and >> instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst >> Practices mini project. What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of >> outstanding from examples which we can learn. Yesterday's article in World >> Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good >> case in point. Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: >> >> >> >> Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to >> see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what >> may >> have gone wrong.) >> >> >> >> . Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are >> extremely good at what they do. >> >> . Not only are they world level performers when it comes to >> creating >> the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, >> but >> they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a >> fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. >> >> . For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an >> almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, >> often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic >> can start to roll. ("The cones are up.") >> >> >> >> Exemplary weak points and commentary: >> >> >> >> 1. Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about >> sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is >> that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry >> yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. >> >> >> >> 2. The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is >> in >> theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused >> in >> a number of ways. (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner >> why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single >> passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can >> pull >> a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will >> convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) >> >> >> >> 3. The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of >> carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best >> information, right on target. Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are >> not part of the solution? Not at all! But what it does mean is that the >> old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date. So, if we >> were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in >> which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution >> (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV >> lanes) >> needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. >> >> >> >> 4. So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job. We have at the base >> of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other >> than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error >> of >> actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest >> they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- >> i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and >> improved quality of life. Basically they were taking an old mobility >> approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic >> thinking. >> >> >> >> That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would >> like >> to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary. I am >> sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I >> hope so. But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I >> wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and >> commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be >> better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. >> >> >> >> I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your >> views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic >> concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, >> independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. >> >> >> >> Kind regards/Eric Britton >> >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> 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 eric.britton at ecoplan.org Thu Jul 21 01:53:13 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:53:13 +0200 Subject: [sustran] A very short list of very bad practices Message-ID: <03cf01cc46fd$861539f0$923fadd0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Dear Colleagues, I have been following the various commentaries and suggestions on my little brainstorm proposal with real interest. And I have to say that I find it quite fascinating that this simple and I really thought quite sensible concept -- i.e., that there really are some very bad practices and that they really do need to be pinned down and made known so as not to be mindlessly replicated again and again and again -- -- apparently seems to divide us into two rather distinct groups. For my part, I am glad to see the vigorous discussions and at times apparently pretty strongly felt differences among us, because I really do believe that we need a lot more of that kind of lively discussion and a lot less soft agreement that all is for the best and that nothing should ever be criticized publicly. All is not for the best, and many of the projects that we are discussing or shall be discussing under this heading really suck and should be understood for their outstanding flaws So, given that, it may not surprise those of you who know me know that I really do appreciate the more spirited negative reactions. I do not think it would be particularly useful for me to take your time to try to justify my thinking on any of this. The discussion is out there for everyone to take a swing at it, and rather than defend I prefer to keep pushing out for yet more examples of very bad practices. And if the recent past is any guide, I will not be alone. Thanks to you all for your ideas and suggestions, and let us see what happens next. Eric Britton 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 morten7an at yahoo.com Thu Jul 21 03:40:44 2011 From: morten7an at yahoo.com (Morten Lange) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:40:44 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: Message-ID: <1311187244.92710.YahooMailClassic@web39415.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hi, I think you both / all have a point. But what Eric said was : "to carry yet more moving motor vehicles". Yet more. By this he presumably meant increasing capacity where there are already a great many car trips being carried out. And he is I venture talking of practices which implicitly are doing very little for other modes of transport of people than the private automobile. Here is a case in point, albeit not from a developing nation. I think the mindset is sadly the same, in much too many countries and settings. Some years ago a road connecting two suburbs of Reykjavik (somewhat simplified), was widened from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction along with multilevel crossings. _Nothing_ was done to use the momentum of the large construction project to improve access for pedestrians, cyclists or users of public transport along the same route. And the same thing happened again, between to other suburbs. Tips from the cyclists organisations, were ignored. Now 5 year later, with higher petrol prices and more cycling, authorities are beginning to realise the lack of connections for cyclists (especially) along those two routes. -- Regards / Kvedja Morten Lange, Reykjav?k --- On Tue, 19/7/11, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > From: Karthik Rao-Cavale > Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices > To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org > Date: Tuesday, 19 July, 2011, 18:59 > Increased capacity may or may not > improve accessibility, and improved > accessibility in general may or may not improve the social > outcomes. > > What I tried to show is that the relationship between road > capacity and > accessibility is wholly context-dependent and cannot be > generalized. The > difference is not merely between urban and rural settings. > Cities themselves > come in various shapes and sizes. For instance almost half > of the urban > areas in India do not have a municipal corporation, and > presumably do not > benefit from urban services that improve connectivity. It > is by no means > clear that the relationship between road capacity and > accessibility in these > towns is negatively sloped, i.e. that increasing motor > vehicle capacity > decreases the accessibility level of goods and services. > > Perhaps, if we were speaking only of big cities like > Jakarta and Bangalore, > Eric's statement might hold true, but even so, I personally > prefer to be > very cautious while making generalizations. > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 1:09 PM, Bina C.Balakrishnan wrote: > > > These are 2 entirely different things: > > > > What Eric is referring to is increasing the carrying > capacity of URBAN > > roads, and thereby encouraging the use of personal > modes of transport, > > resulting in greater congestion and delays and all the > rest of it. > > > > What Kartik has referred to is improving ACCESSIBILITY > in rural areas where > > this is either not available or is poor, to goods and > essential services not > > available in the villages. > > > > Two very different issues, and simply not comparable. > > > > Bina Balakrishnan > > > > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 10:09 PM, Karthik Rao-Cavale > wrote: > > > >> Eric, > >> > >> Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that > "any project which > >> extends > >> the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet > more moving motor vehicles > >> is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am > very uncomfortable with > >> generalizations such as "worst practice > strategies" and "best practice > >> methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program > in its own context rather > >> than uprooting it from its context and looking at > it as a generic program. > >> > >> For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak > Yojana (Prime Minister's > >> Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you > consider "a definite worst > >> practice strategy". It extends the capacity of > infrastructure to carry > >> motor > >> vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that > cannot be disregarded. > >> Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that > pregnant women can get to > >> maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is > available) and thereby > >> reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel > to the village is more > >> convenient, village teachers and doctors might not > absent themselves as > >> frequently, so services may improve. The cost of > goods bears a direct > >> relationship with the cost of transporting them, > so a village road can > >> reduce the costs of essential commodities like > foodgrains (which might > >> have > >> an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected > village finds it easier > >> to > >> market its products, so a village may earn more > income if it has road > >> connectivity. > >> > >> Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road > capacity might be > >> extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking > only of cities, and > >> further, only of cities in Europe and North > America, your statement might > >> have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be > more cautious in > >> evaluating programs and projects outside of their > context. > >> > >> karthik > >> > >> On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton > >> >wrote: > >> > >> > I received a fair number of communications > both on and off-line and I > >> find > >> > them interesting, challenging, and generally > very encouraging.? But at > >> the > >> > same time I am made aware of the fact that I > have most probably not > >> > communicated the basic goal behind this > project, so let me see if I can > >> now > >> > clarify a bit. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > For starters, this is not a witch hunt.? > It is not my interest to > >> castigate > >> > or humiliate any project or group behind > it.? Life is complex and filled > >> > with all kinds of internal contradictions, > and moreover the kinds of > >> > projects and policies that concern us here > tend to be in process, in > >> > constant evolution and adaptation, until that > is the day comes in which > >> > they > >> > close down forever.? That of course is > the time to do a postmortem. But > >> in > >> > our particular case here is my guess that we > will be sharing information > >> on > >> > projects in process, so let us make sure that > we (that I) do not give up > >> on > >> > possible adaptations and improvements that > may well be in process, > >> > hopefully. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > And if the usual ambitious goal of Best > Practices surveys and > >> inventories > >> > is > >> > to get out there and capture quite a large > number of attractive and > >> > instructive projects, it is not at all the > case in our own modest Worst > >> > Practices mini project.? What I am > looking for is one or two handfuls of > >> > outstanding from examples which we can > learn.? Yesterday's article in > >> World > >> > Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 > road widening project is a > >> good > >> > case in point.? Let us take a minute to > have a look at it together: > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place > to start since our goal is > >> to > >> > see if we can have a balanced understanding > of what is going on and what > >> > may > >> > have gone wrong.) > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > .? ? ? > ???Caltrans and the other players involved in > this project are > >> > extremely good at what they do. > >> > > >> > .? ? ? ???Not > only are they world level performers when it comes to > >> > creating > >> > the planning and engineering standards to > make a project like this work, > >> > but > >> > they also, in partnership with other players, > consistently manage to do > >> a > >> > fine job of bringing their projects in to > standard and on time. > >> > > >> > .? ? ? ???For > those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on > >> an > >> > almost daily basis the manner in which the > road crews get their job > >> done, > >> > often within minutes of the plan and clean up > the mess so that the > >> traffic > >> > can start to roll.? ("The cones are > up.") > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Exemplary weak points and commentary: > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > 1.? Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if > we have learned one thing about > >> > sustainable and on sustainable transportation > over the last decades, it > >> is > >> > that any project which extends the capacity > of the infrastructure to > >> carry > >> > yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite > Worst Practice strategy. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > 2.? The concept of creating HOV lanes in > the place of what went before > >> is > >> > in > >> > theory an excellent one, but in practice is > often watered down and > >> abused > >> > in > >> > a number of ways.? (Maybe somebody can > explain to me in a convincing > >> manner > >> > why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles > should be allowed with a single > >> > passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to > listen and whether you can > >> > pull > >> > a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, > I most doubtful that you > >> will > >> > convince me or any other experienced > independent observer.) > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > 3.? The articles' authors commentary > concerning the limitations of > >> > carpooling as presently practiced in the > region is, according to my best > >> > information, right on target.? Does this > mean, however, that HOV lanes > >> are > >> > not part of the solution?? Not at > all!? But what it does mean is that > >> the > >> > old ideas about how to do this need to be > brought up to date.? So, if we > >> > were to think about it from this perspective, > here we have a situation > >> in > >> > which there is what looks like a potentially > excellent hardware solution > >> > (i.e., converting portions of the existing > road infrastructure to HOV > >> > lanes) > >> > needs to have better complementarity in terms > of software and > >> operations. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > 4.? So, to summarize, they failed to do > the whole job.? We have at the > >> base > >> > of this project a good idea, well executed on > the hardware side -- other > >> > than the fact that the project team made the > old and now well known > >> error > >> > of > >> > actually increasing infrastructure capacity > for cars -- while for the > >> rest > >> > they simply fail to give attention to the > most important part of all -- > >> > i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars > with improved mobility and > >> > improved quality of life.? Basically > they were taking an old mobility > >> > approach to a problem/opportunity that > required new mobility strategic > >> > thinking. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > That is my take on this as an example of the > sort of thing that I would > >> > like > >> > to see in our modest shared Worst Practices > inventory and commentary.? I > >> am > >> > sure that a number of you will come in and do > more and better, at least > >> I > >> > hope so.? But my reason for sharing this > with you this morning is that I > >> > wish to offer this is an example of the kind > of project analysis and > >> > commentary that I believe can help us to > better organize our ideas and > >> be > >> > better prepared for future initiatives and > opportunities. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > I look forward to hearing from you either > personally or here with your > >> > views, objections, and eventually your ideas > and suggestions on the > >> basic > >> > concept here namely , that of setting out to > create a collaborative, > >> open, > >> > independent Worst Practices inventory and > commentary. > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> > Kind regards/Eric Britton > >> > > >> > > -------------------------------------------------------- > >> > 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'). > >> > > > > > > > > -- > > *Bina C. Balakrishnan* > > *Consultant - > > Sustainable Transportation Policy, Planning & > Management > > India > > * > > *Cell:? ? +91 99536 94218 (Gurgaon)* > > *? ? ? ? ???+91 > 98339 00108? (Mumbai) > > * > > * > > e-mail: binacb@gmail.com > >? ? ? ? ? ? binac@rediffmail.com > > web : www.binabalakrishnan.com > > skype: binacb* > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 joshirutul at yahoo.co.in Wed Jul 20 22:23:52 2011 From: joshirutul at yahoo.co.in (Rutul Joshi) Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2011 18:53:52 +0530 (IST) Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <4A4B0106-1496-4F0D-AD56-4AB04A8A86B4@velomondial.net> References: <4e254859.0428e70a.3daa.4b76SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> <4A4B0106-1496-4F0D-AD56-4AB04A8A86B4@velomondial.net> Message-ID: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> I see at least two sets of bad practices. One, the projects which are favoring private motor vehicles openly. Second, the projects which use rhetoric of sustainable transport but never really believe in them which reflects in their selective implementation and thus they favour private motor vehicles discreetly. I see, both as equally damaging. In India, there is a surge of projects which are being funded in the name of sustainable transport. So it would be interesting to see in long run whether they have resulted in mainstreaming more sustainable modes or not.? Rutul Rutul Joshi, School of Planning, CEPT University, Ahmedabad - 9. www.cept.ac.in ________________________________ From: Pascal van den Noort To: Karthik Rao-Cavale Cc: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 4:44 PM Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices Karthik has a few very valid points. In every sustainable project one will obviously see elements that affect the environment; at the same time one should not ignore the economic relevance of any mobility project, nor the social impact. When balancing those three on the long run, one will have to be a politician, but it should be well prepared by technicians who know very well what they talk about. Pascal J.W. van den Noort Executive Director Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National operations@velomondial.net? +31206270675 landline +31627055688 mobile phone Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. On 19 jul 2011, at 18:39, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > Eric, > > Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any project which extends > the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more moving motor vehicles > is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very uncomfortable with > generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" and "best practice > methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in its own context rather > than uprooting it from its context and looking at it as a generic program. > > For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Prime Minister's > Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a definite worst > practice strategy". It extends the capacity of infrastructure to carry motor > vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot be disregarded. > Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant women can get to > maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is available) and thereby > reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to the village is more > convenient, village teachers and doctors might not absent themselves as > frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods bears a direct > relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a village road can > reduce the costs of essential commodities like foodgrains (which might have > an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected village finds it easier to > market its products, so a village may earn more income if it has road > connectivity. > > Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road capacity might be > extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only of cities, and > further, only of cities in Europe and North America, your statement might > have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be more cautious in > evaluating programs and projects outside of their context. > > karthik > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton wrote: > >> I received a fair number of communications both on and off-line and I find >> them interesting, challenging, and generally very encouraging.? But at the >> same time I am made aware of the fact that I have most probably not >> communicated the basic goal behind this project, so let me see if I can now >> clarify a bit. >> >> >> >> For starters, this is not a witch hunt.? It is not my interest to castigate >> or humiliate any project or group behind it.? Life is complex and filled >> with all kinds of internal contradictions, and moreover the kinds of >> projects and policies that concern us here tend to be in process, in >> constant evolution and adaptation, until that is the day comes in which >> they >> close down forever.? That of course is the time to do a postmortem. But in >> our particular case here is my guess that we will be sharing information on >> projects in process, so let us make sure that we (that I) do not give up on >> possible adaptations and improvements that may well be in process, >> hopefully. >> >> >> >> And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices surveys and inventories >> is >> to get out there and capture quite a large number of attractive and >> instructive projects, it is not at all the case in our own modest Worst >> Practices mini project.? What I am looking for is one or two handfuls of >> outstanding from examples which we can learn.? Yesterday's article in World >> Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road widening project is a good >> case in point.? Let us take a minute to have a look at it together: >> >> >> >> Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to start since our goal is to >> see if we can have a balanced understanding of what is going on and what >> may >> have gone wrong.) >> >> >> >> .? ? ? ? Caltrans and the other players involved in this project are >> extremely good at what they do. >> >> .? ? ? ? Not only are they world level performers when it comes to >> creating >> the planning and engineering standards to make a project like this work, >> but >> they also, in partnership with other players, consistently manage to do a >> fine job of bringing their projects in to standard and on time. >> >> .? ? ? ? For those of us familiar with driving in LA, we can testify on an >> almost daily basis the manner in which the road crews get their job done, >> often within minutes of the plan and clean up the mess so that the traffic >> can start to roll.? ("The cones are up.") >> >> >> >> Exemplary weak points and commentary: >> >> >> >> 1.? Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have learned one thing about >> sustainable and on sustainable transportation over the last decades, it is >> that any project which extends the capacity of the infrastructure to carry >> yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst Practice strategy. >> >> >> >> 2.? The concept of creating HOV lanes in the place of what went before is >> in >> theory an excellent one, but in practice is often watered down and abused >> in >> a number of ways.? (Maybe somebody can explain to me in a convincing manner >> why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be allowed with a single >> passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to listen and whether you can >> pull >> a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I most doubtful that you will >> convince me or any other experienced independent observer.) >> >> >> >> 3.? The articles' authors commentary concerning the limitations of >> carpooling as presently practiced in the region is, according to my best >> information, right on target.? Does this mean, however, that HOV lanes are >> not part of the solution?? Not at all!? But what it does mean is that the >> old ideas about how to do this need to be brought up to date.? So, if we >> were to think about it from this perspective, here we have a situation in >> which there is what looks like a potentially excellent hardware solution >> (i.e., converting portions of the existing road infrastructure to HOV >> lanes) >> needs to have better complementarity in terms of software and operations. >> >> >> >> 4.? So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole job.? We have at the base >> of this project a good idea, well executed on the hardware side -- other >> than the fact that the project team made the old and now well known error >> of >> actually increasing infrastructure capacity for cars -- while for the rest >> they simply fail to give attention to the most important part of all -- >> i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with improved mobility and >> improved quality of life.? Basically they were taking an old mobility >> approach to a problem/opportunity that required new mobility strategic >> thinking. >> >> >> >> That is my take on this as an example of the sort of thing that I would >> like >> to see in our modest shared Worst Practices inventory and commentary.? I am >> sure that a number of you will come in and do more and better, at least I >> hope so.? But my reason for sharing this with you this morning is that I >> wish to offer this is an example of the kind of project analysis and >> commentary that I believe can help us to better organize our ideas and be >> better prepared for future initiatives and opportunities. >> >> >> >> I look forward to hearing from you either personally or here with your >> views, objections, and eventually your ideas and suggestions on the basic >> concept here namely , that of setting out to create a collaborative, open, >> independent Worst Practices inventory and commentary. >> >> >> >> Kind regards/Eric Britton >> >> -------------------------------------------------------- >> 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'). -------------------------------------------------------- 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 morten7an at yahoo.com Thu Jul 21 19:12:09 2011 From: morten7an at yahoo.com (Morten Lange) Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 03:12:09 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Hello, I find it fruitful to classify the bad practices (and later the good ones ). This does not mean that they are all bad in every instance, but often. So we have (Slightly modified and expanded): A. Projects to expand capacity for private cars in an urban setting, where cars already are well provided for B. Projects which use the rhetoric of sustainable transport but never really believe in them. Can reflect in their selective implementation and thus favouring private motor vehicles discreetly. E.g. 1) half-hearted / or very unprofessional implementations of public transport or active transport projects 2) Dressing electrical, biofuel, methane etc private cars as THE solution 3) more examples of types wanted I would like to add : C. Even worse than A: Expansion of capacity (or max speeds) for private cars, while ignoring and often reducing access for more beneficial modes. Especially true for urban/semi urban settings ? D. Outright restrictions on usage of beneficial modes, often with poor justification. E.g. restrict rickshaws, restrict collective use of taxis (Eric Britton mentioned this) E. Restrictive measures dressed as safety measures, often poorly supported by science, but falling into the category of victim blaming : Helmet compulsion for cyclists, perhaps soon for pedestrians (?), deceitful helmet promotion, compulsory wearing of high-visibility clothes etc, fencing off roads to prevent pedestrians from crossing, building of under- or overpasses without providing level crossing opportunities. F. Planning and evaluation practices that underpin the priorities in transport spending, based on falsehoods of societal economic gain from expansion for the private car, which ignore the true cost of oil, the externalities of car transport etc, often while ignoring new insight like Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for cycling from WHO Europe. -- Regards / Kvedja Morten Lange, Reykjav?k --- On Wed, 20/7/11, Rutul Joshi wrote: > From: Rutul Joshi > Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices > To: "sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org" > Date: Wednesday, 20 July, 2011, 14:23 > I see at least two sets of bad > practices. One, the projects which are favoring private > motor vehicles openly. Second, the projects which use > rhetoric of sustainable transport but never really believe > in them which reflects in their selective implementation and > thus they favour private motor vehicles discreetly. I see, > both as equally damaging. > > > In India, there is a surge of projects which are being > funded in the name of sustainable transport. So it would be > interesting to see in long run whether they have resulted in > mainstreaming more sustainable modes or not.? > > > Rutul > > > Rutul Joshi, > School of Planning, > CEPT University, > > Ahmedabad - 9. > > www.cept.ac.in > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Pascal van den Noort > To: Karthik Rao-Cavale > Cc: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org > Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 4:44 PM > Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad > practices > > Karthik has a few very valid points. In every sustainable > project one will obviously see elements that affect the > environment; at the same time one should not ignore the > economic relevance of any mobility project, nor the social > impact. When balancing those three on the long run, one will > have to be a politician, but it should be well prepared by > technicians who know very well what they talk about. > > > Pascal J.W. van den Noort > Executive Director > Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National > > operations@velomondial.net? > > +31206270675 landline > +31627055688 mobile phone > > > > > > Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) > and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here > > > > > > Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. > > > > > On 19 jul 2011, at 18:39, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > > > Eric, > > > > Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any > project which extends > > the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more > moving motor vehicles > > is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very > uncomfortable with > > generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" > and "best practice > > methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in > its own context rather > > than uprooting it from its context and looking at it > as a generic program. > > > > For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana > (Prime Minister's > > Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a > definite worst > > practice strategy". It extends the capacity of > infrastructure to carry motor > > vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot > be disregarded. > > Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant > women can get to > > maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is > available) and thereby > > reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to > the village is more > > convenient, village teachers and doctors might not > absent themselves as > > frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods > bears a direct > > relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a > village road can > > reduce the costs of essential commodities like > foodgrains (which might have > > an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected > village finds it easier to > > market its products, so a village may earn more income > if it has road > > connectivity. > > > > Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road > capacity might be > > extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only > of cities, and > > further, only of cities in Europe and North America, > your statement might > > have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be > more cautious in > > evaluating programs and projects outside of their > context. > > > > karthik > > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton wrote: > > > >> I received a fair number of communications both on > and off-line and I find > >> them interesting, challenging, and generally very > encouraging.? But at the > >> same time I am made aware of the fact that I have > most probably not > >> communicated the basic goal behind this project, > so let me see if I can now > >> clarify a bit. > >> > >> > >> > >> For starters, this is not a witch hunt.? It is > not my interest to castigate > >> or humiliate any project or group behind it.? > Life is complex and filled > >> with all kinds of internal contradictions, and > moreover the kinds of > >> projects and policies that concern us here tend to > be in process, in > >> constant evolution and adaptation, until that is > the day comes in which > >> they > >> close down forever.? That of course is the time > to do a postmortem. But in > >> our particular case here is my guess that we will > be sharing information on > >> projects in process, so let us make sure that we > (that I) do not give up on > >> possible adaptations and improvements that may > well be in process, > >> hopefully. > >> > >> > >> > >> And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices > surveys and inventories > >> is > >> to get out there and capture quite a large number > of attractive and > >> instructive projects, it is not at all the case in > our own modest Worst > >> Practices mini project.? What I am looking for is > one or two handfuls of > >> outstanding from examples which we can learn.? > Yesterday's article in World > >> Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road > widening project is a good > >> case in point.? Let us take a minute to have a > look at it together: > >> > >> > >> > >> Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to > start since our goal is to > >> see if we can have a balanced understanding of > what is going on and what > >> may > >> have gone wrong.) > >> > >> > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? Caltrans and the other players > involved in this project are > >> extremely good at what they do. > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? Not only are they world level > performers when it comes to > >> creating > >> the planning and engineering standards to make a > project like this work, > >> but > >> they also, in partnership with other players, > consistently manage to do a > >> fine job of bringing their projects in to standard > and on time. > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? For those of us familiar with > driving in LA, we can testify on an > >> almost daily basis the manner in which the road > crews get their job done, > >> often within minutes of the plan and clean up the > mess so that the traffic > >> can start to roll.? ("The cones are up.") > >> > >> > >> > >> Exemplary weak points and commentary: > >> > >> > >> > >> 1.? Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have > learned one thing about > >> sustainable and on sustainable transportation over > the last decades, it is > >> that any project which extends the capacity of the > infrastructure to carry > >> yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst > Practice strategy. > >> > >> > >> > >> 2.? The concept of creating HOV lanes in the > place of what went before is > >> in > >> theory an excellent one, but in practice is often > watered down and abused > >> in > >> a number of ways.? (Maybe somebody can explain to > me in a convincing manner > >> why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be > allowed with a single > >> passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to > listen and whether you can > >> pull > >> a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I > most doubtful that you will > >> convince me or any other experienced independent > observer.) > >> > >> > >> > >> 3.? The articles' authors commentary concerning > the limitations of > >> carpooling as presently practiced in the region > is, according to my best > >> information, right on target.? Does this mean, > however, that HOV lanes are > >> not part of the solution?? Not at all!? But what > it does mean is that the > >> old ideas about how to do this need to be brought > up to date.? So, if we > >> were to think about it from this perspective, here > we have a situation in > >> which there is what looks like a potentially > excellent hardware solution > >> (i.e., converting portions of the existing road > infrastructure to HOV > >> lanes) > >> needs to have better complementarity in terms of > software and operations. > >> > >> > >> > >> 4.? So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole > job.? We have at the base > >> of this project a good idea, well executed on the > hardware side -- other > >> than the fact that the project team made the old > and now well known error > >> of > >> actually increasing infrastructure capacity for > cars -- while for the rest > >> they simply fail to give attention to the most > important part of all -- > >> i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with > improved mobility and > >> improved quality of life.? Basically they were > taking an old mobility > >> approach to a problem/opportunity that required > new mobility strategic > >> thinking. > >> > >> > >> > >> That is my take on this as an example of the sort > of thing that I would > >> like > >> to see in our modest shared Worst Practices > inventory and commentary.? I am > >> sure that a number of you will come in and do more > and better, at least I > >> hope so.? But my reason for sharing this with you > this morning is that I > >> wish to offer this is an example of the kind of > project analysis and > >> commentary that I believe can help us to better > organize our ideas and be > >> better prepared for future initiatives and > opportunities. > >> > >> > >> > >> I look forward to hearing from you either > personally or here with your > >> views, objections, and eventually your ideas and > suggestions on the basic > >> concept here namely , that of setting out to > create a collaborative, open, > >> independent Worst Practices inventory and > commentary. > >> > >> > >> > >> Kind regards/Eric Britton > >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------------- > >> 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'). > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 eric.britton at ecoplan.org Thu Jul 21 21:17:46 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:17:46 +0200 Subject: [sustran] A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <005b01cc47a0$36d06bf0$a47143d0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Subject: Victim Blaming Thank you very much Morton. I find your analysis excellent, as always from, you considered and sober (I guess that is because you are a Icelandic) and all in all a good guide to the topic and possible next steps. I wonder if I might ask you to write this up an article for World Streets, and of course for this forum, on what you call so rightly Victim Blaming. An excellent topic, quite at the level of good sense at which we need to operate. Moreover it's great stuff because it is so thoroughly counter-intuitive and against the grain of unexamined but passively accepted standard practice. It certainly has to be right up there in the top rank of the pantheon of Worst Practices, and I know that you can do a great piece for us all on this so as to make sure that becomes part of the battery of tools and awareness is which are so essential to getting transportation related policy decisions right. I very much hope you will be able take the time out of your busy schedule to do this for us all. In closing I would like to make a brief remark about the importance of treating this little Worst Practices exercise in a properly mature manner. There is in the very title, Worst Practices, a somewhat jocular stab at the concept of Best Practices with all of the pretentiousness and potential dangers that such a mindset inevitably carries with it. I have no great problem with Bet's little cousin Good Practices, but when we begin to get into the hallowed halls of "Best Practices" and I find myself getting a bit obstreperous. "Worst Practices" is like Richard Strauss's opera the Rosenkavalier. As one critic put it long ago: to be viewed with a wink in one eye, and a tear in the other. Eric Britton From krc12353 at gmail.com Thu Jul 21 22:04:13 2011 From: krc12353 at gmail.com (Karthik Rao-Cavale) Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 09:04:13 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <4e2818fe.082d2b0a.508a.ffffa6c2SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4e2818fe.082d2b0a.508a.ffffa6c2SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Speaking of victim-blaming, I'm surprised no one has brought up this ghastly case where the mother of a child killed in a road accident is being charged with manslaughter. It's just shocking. Deeply, profoundly, shocking. http://t4america.org/blog/2011/07/18/prosecuting-the-victim-absolving-the-perpetrators/ Also, without meaning to pimp my own work, I recently wrote an article in which I argue that the relationship between motor vehicles and pedestrians is analogous to that of colonizers and the colonized. http://vishwakarman.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/taming-street-peopl-civilizational-project/ 2011/7/21 eric britton > Subject: Victim Blaming > > > > Thank you very much Morton. I find your analysis excellent, as always > from, you considered and sober (I guess that is because you are a Icelandic) > and all in all a good guide to the topic and possible next steps. > > > > I wonder if I might ask you to write this up an article for World Streets, > and of course for this forum, on what you call so rightly Victim Blaming. > An excellent topic, quite at the level of good sense at which we need to > operate. Moreover it's great stuff because it is so thoroughly > counter-intuitive and against the grain of unexamined but passively accepted > standard practice. It certainly has to be right up there in the top rank > of the pantheon of Worst Practices, and I know that you can do a great > piece for us all on this so as to make sure that becomes part of the > battery of tools and awareness is which are so essential to getting > transportation related policy decisions right. > > > > I very much hope you will be able take the time out of your busy schedule > to do this for us all. > > > > In closing I would like to make a brief remark about the importance of > treating this little Worst Practices exercise in a properly mature manner. > There is in the very title, Worst Practices, a somewhat jocular stab at the > concept of Best Practices with all of the pretentiousness and potential > dangers that such a mindset inevitably carries with it. I have no great > problem with Bet's little cousin Good Practices, but when we begin to get > into the hallowed halls of "Best Practices" and I find myself getting a bit > obstreperous. > > > > "Worst Practices" is like Richard Strauss's opera the Rosenkavalier. As > one critic put it long ago: to be viewed with a wink in one eye, and a tear > in the other. > > > > Eric Britton > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 madhav.g.badami at mcgill.ca Thu Jul 21 23:57:13 2011 From: madhav.g.badami at mcgill.ca (Madhav Badami, Prof.) Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2011 10:57:13 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4e2818fe.082d2b0a.508a.ffffa6c2SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com>, Message-ID: Karthik, Your comparison of the relationship between motor vehicles and pedestrians to that of colonizers and the colonized is interesting. In an article on pedestrian accessibility in India in EPW a couple of years ago, I had -- borrowing from the Ecologist -- termed the urban transport situation as a "tragedy of enclosure"; this is especially true of the Indian context, where personal motor vehicles are provided for, at the expense of the non-motorized modes, and the vast majority who rely on them: "Garrett Hardin, in his influential article ?The Tragedy of the Commons?, argued that common property resources are inevitably degraded and depleted to the detriment of all (Hardin 1968). While Hardin was describing a real and important problem, what he was characterising was not so much a tragedy of the commons, for there are many community-governed common property resources that are effectively conserved, but a tragedy of open, unrestricted (and unregulated) access, under which conditions users are motivated only by short-term private benefits and costs, without regard to even their own, let alone society?s, long-term interests. Urban transport infrastructure is in many respects characterised by these conditions, and thus prone to over-exploitation, and excessive negative externalities. But the extent to which common property resources are degraded and depleted, even under these conditions, depends on the mode of use and the technology employed. If urban travel was exclusively by non-motorised modes, for example, the environment would not suffer, and neither would users, relative to one another, since the power to use the resource would be equally shared. The urban transport situation is not merely a tragedy of open access, but a tragedy of enclosure, as The Ecologist (1993) points out, with the public domain, both in physical and institutional terms, being expropriated for the benefit of personal motor vehicles and the dominant minority that uses them. As more of it is fenced in for their benefit, not only is the public domain degraded, but the vast majority, who do not have access to these vehicles, are fenced out, and made vulnerable, at public expense." Madhav ************************************************************************ "As for the future, your task is not to foresee, but to enable it." -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery Madhav G. Badami, PhD School of Urban Planning and McGill School of Environment McGill University Macdonald-Harrington Building 815 Sherbrooke Street West Montreal, QC, H3A 2K6, Canada Phone: 514-398-3183 (Work) Fax: 514-398-8376; 514-398-1643 URLs: www.mcgill.ca/urbanplanning www.mcgill.ca/mse e-mail: madhav.badami@mcgill.ca ________________________________________ From: sustran-discuss-bounces+madhav.g.badami=mcgill.ca@list.jca.apc.org [sustran-discuss-bounces+madhav.g.badami=mcgill.ca@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Karthik Rao-Cavale [krc12353@gmail.com] Sent: 21 July 2011 09:04 To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices Speaking of victim-blaming, I'm surprised no one has brought up this ghastly case where the mother of a child killed in a road accident is being charged with manslaughter. It's just shocking. Deeply, profoundly, shocking. http://t4america.org/blog/2011/07/18/prosecuting-the-victim-absolving-the-perpetrators/ Also, without meaning to pimp my own work, I recently wrote an article in which I argue that the relationship between motor vehicles and pedestrians is analogous to that of colonizers and the colonized. http://vishwakarman.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/taming-street-peopl-civilizational-project/ 2011/7/21 eric britton > Subject: Victim Blaming > > > > Thank you very much Morton. I find your analysis excellent, as always > from, you considered and sober (I guess that is because you are a Icelandic) > and all in all a good guide to the topic and possible next steps. > > > > I wonder if I might ask you to write this up an article for World Streets, > and of course for this forum, on what you call so rightly Victim Blaming. > An excellent topic, quite at the level of good sense at which we need to > operate. Moreover it's great stuff because it is so thoroughly > counter-intuitive and against the grain of unexamined but passively accepted > standard practice. It certainly has to be right up there in the top rank > of the pantheon of Worst Practices, and I know that you can do a great > piece for us all on this so as to make sure that becomes part of the > battery of tools and awareness is which are so essential to getting > transportation related policy decisions right. > > > > I very much hope you will be able take the time out of your busy schedule > to do this for us all. > > > > In closing I would like to make a brief remark about the importance of > treating this little Worst Practices exercise in a properly mature manner. > There is in the very title, Worst Practices, a somewhat jocular stab at the > concept of Best Practices with all of the pretentiousness and potential > dangers that such a mindset inevitably carries with it. I have no great > problem with Bet's little cousin Good Practices, but when we begin to get > into the hallowed halls of "Best Practices" and I find myself getting a bit > obstreperous. > > > > "Worst Practices" is like Richard Strauss's opera the Rosenkavalier. As > one critic put it long ago: to be viewed with a wink in one eye, and a tear > in the other. > > > > Eric Britton > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 paulminett at tripconvergence.co.nz Fri Jul 22 05:56:20 2011 From: paulminett at tripconvergence.co.nz (Paul Minett) Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:56:20 +1200 Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> References: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <000c01cc47e8$a78f8f90$f6aeaeb0$@co.nz> 3) More examples wanted. I read with great anticipation the transportation component of the Whatcom County (Washington USA) comprehensive plan (http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/pds/planning/comp_plan/2005/2005%20January%20Co mp%20Plan%20-%20.pdf%20with%20.jpg%20maps/j%20Chapter%206%20-%20Transportati on/Chapter%206-Transportation.pdf). It begins with this great quotation: "Transportation planners and cardiologists face similar problems. Both are concerned about uninterrupted flow from the smaller collectors and through the major arterials to the destination. When blockages occur, the cardiologist does by-pass surgery (building a new arterial) or angioplastic surgery (widening of existing arterials). The onset of arteriosclerosis is hastened by a diet rich in cholesterol. The cholesterol of our transportation system is the single occupant vehicle (SOV), the proliferation of which leads to "arterial SOVosis" (i.e. the clogging and blockage of arterials by our transportation diet predominant with the single occupant vehicle. (SOV))." Bob Hughes CTAC The document espouses all sorts of rhetoric about methods that might alleviate demand, some of which might classify as 'sustainable transport'. And in the end, disappointment, when it turns out the whole exercise is a mechanism for prioritising which roads will be expanded next. Of course, the transportation department needs its work plan. Paul Minett Raspberry Express www.raspberryexpress.com 64 21 289 8444 64 9 524 9850 -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+paulminett=tripconvergence.co.nz@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+paulminett=tripconvergence.co.nz@list.jca.ap c.org] On Behalf Of Morten Lange Sent: Thursday, 21 July 2011 10:12 p.m. To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org; Rutul Joshi Cc: Landssamt?k hj?lrei?amanna Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices Hello, I find it fruitful to classify the bad practices (and later the good ones ). This does not mean that they are all bad in every instance, but often. So we have (Slightly modified and expanded): A. Projects to expand capacity for private cars in an urban setting, where cars already are well provided for B. Projects which use the rhetoric of sustainable transport but never really believe in them. Can reflect in their selective implementation and thus favouring private motor vehicles discreetly. E.g. 1) half-hearted / or very unprofessional implementations of public transport or active transport projects 2) Dressing electrical, biofuel, methane etc private cars as THE solution 3) more examples of types wanted I would like to add : C. Even worse than A: Expansion of capacity (or max speeds) for private cars, while ignoring and often reducing access for more beneficial modes. Especially true for urban/semi urban settings ? D. Outright restrictions on usage of beneficial modes, often with poor justification. E.g. restrict rickshaws, restrict collective use of taxis (Eric Britton mentioned this) E. Restrictive measures dressed as safety measures, often poorly supported by science, but falling into the category of victim blaming : Helmet compulsion for cyclists, perhaps soon for pedestrians (?), deceitful helmet promotion, compulsory wearing of high-visibility clothes etc, fencing off roads to prevent pedestrians from crossing, building of under- or overpasses without providing level crossing opportunities. F. Planning and evaluation practices that underpin the priorities in transport spending, based on falsehoods of societal economic gain from expansion for the private car, which ignore the true cost of oil, the externalities of car transport etc, often while ignoring new insight like Health Economic Assessment Tool (HEAT) for cycling from WHO Europe. -- Regards / Kvedja Morten Lange, Reykjav?k --- On Wed, 20/7/11, Rutul Joshi wrote: > From: Rutul Joshi > Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices > To: "sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org" > Date: Wednesday, 20 July, 2011, 14:23 > I see at least two sets of bad > practices. One, the projects which are favoring private > motor vehicles openly. Second, the projects which use > rhetoric of sustainable transport but never really believe > in them which reflects in their selective implementation and > thus they favour private motor vehicles discreetly. I see, > both as equally damaging. > > > In India, there is a surge of projects which are being > funded in the name of sustainable transport. So it would be > interesting to see in long run whether they have resulted in > mainstreaming more sustainable modes or not.? > > > Rutul > > > Rutul Joshi, > School of Planning, > CEPT University, > > Ahmedabad - 9. > > www.cept.ac.in > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > From: Pascal van den Noort > To: Karthik Rao-Cavale > Cc: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org > Sent: Wednesday, 20 July 2011 4:44 PM > Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad > practices > > Karthik has a few very valid points. In every sustainable > project one will obviously see elements that affect the > environment; at the same time one should not ignore the > economic relevance of any mobility project, nor the social > impact. When balancing those three on the long run, one will > have to be a politician, but it should be well prepared by > technicians who know very well what they talk about. > > > Pascal J.W. van den Noort > Executive Director > Velo Mondial, A Micro Multi-National > > operations@velomondial.net? > > +31206270675 landline > +31627055688 mobile phone > > > > > > Subscribe to Velo Mondial's Blog (Twitter, Yahoo, Google) > and Visit Velo Mondial's blog here > > > > > > Get all info on the Forum by clicking this link. > > > > > On 19 jul 2011, at 18:39, Karthik Rao-Cavale wrote: > > > Eric, > > > > Frankly, I disagree with your basic premise that "any > project which extends > > the capacity of the infrastructure to carry yet more > moving motor vehicles > > is a definite Worst Practice strategy", and I am very > uncomfortable with > > generalizations such as "worst practice strategies" > and "best practice > > methods". I'd much rather evaluate every program in > its own context rather > > than uprooting it from its context and looking at it > as a generic program. > > > > For instance, India's Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana > (Prime Minister's > > Village Road Scheme) does exactly what you consider "a > definite worst > > practice strategy". It extends the capacity of > infrastructure to carry motor > > vehicles. And yet, it has several benefits that cannot > be disregarded. > > Allowing easier vehicle access ensures that pregnant > women can get to > > maternity wards quickly (when a motor vehicle is > available) and thereby > > reduces maternal and infant mortality. If travel to > the village is more > > convenient, village teachers and doctors might not > absent themselves as > > frequently, so services may improve. The cost of goods > bears a direct > > relationship with the cost of transporting them, so a > village road can > > reduce the costs of essential commodities like > foodgrains (which might have > > an impact on nutrition levels). A well-connected > village finds it easier to > > market its products, so a village may earn more income > if it has road > > connectivity. > > > > Obviously, this is an extreme example of how road > capacity might be > > extremely beneficial. If one were to be speaking only > of cities, and > > further, only of cities in Europe and North America, > your statement might > > have greater validity. But even so, I prefer to be > more cautious in > > evaluating programs and projects outside of their > context. > > > > karthik > > > > On Tue, Jul 19, 2011 at 5:03 AM, eric britton wrote: > > > >> I received a fair number of communications both on > and off-line and I find > >> them interesting, challenging, and generally very > encouraging.? But at the > >> same time I am made aware of the fact that I have > most probably not > >> communicated the basic goal behind this project, > so let me see if I can now > >> clarify a bit. > >> > >> > >> > >> For starters, this is not a witch hunt.? It is > not my interest to castigate > >> or humiliate any project or group behind it.? > Life is complex and filled > >> with all kinds of internal contradictions, and > moreover the kinds of > >> projects and policies that concern us here tend to > be in process, in > >> constant evolution and adaptation, until that is > the day comes in which > >> they > >> close down forever.? That of course is the time > to do a postmortem. But in > >> our particular case here is my guess that we will > be sharing information on > >> projects in process, so let us make sure that we > (that I) do not give up on > >> possible adaptations and improvements that may > well be in process, > >> hopefully. > >> > >> > >> > >> And if the usual ambitious goal of Best Practices > surveys and inventories > >> is > >> to get out there and capture quite a large number > of attractive and > >> instructive projects, it is not at all the case in > our own modest Worst > >> Practices mini project.? What I am looking for is > one or two handfuls of > >> outstanding from examples which we can learn.? > Yesterday's article in World > >> Streets on the Los Angeles Interstate 405 road > widening project is a good > >> case in point.? Let us take a minute to have a > look at it together: > >> > >> > >> > >> Exemplary Strong points: (Always a good place to > start since our goal is to > >> see if we can have a balanced understanding of > what is going on and what > >> may > >> have gone wrong.) > >> > >> > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? Caltrans and the other players > involved in this project are > >> extremely good at what they do. > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? Not only are they world level > performers when it comes to > >> creating > >> the planning and engineering standards to make a > project like this work, > >> but > >> they also, in partnership with other players, > consistently manage to do a > >> fine job of bringing their projects in to standard > and on time. > >> > >> .? ? ? ?? For those of us familiar with > driving in LA, we can testify on an > >> almost daily basis the manner in which the road > crews get their job done, > >> often within minutes of the plan and clean up the > mess so that the traffic > >> can start to roll.? ("The cones are up.") > >> > >> > >> > >> Exemplary weak points and commentary: > >> > >> > >> > >> 1.? Oh dear. It is after all 2011 and if we have > learned one thing about > >> sustainable and on sustainable transportation over > the last decades, it is > >> that any project which extends the capacity of the > infrastructure to carry > >> yet more moving motor vehicles is a definite Worst > Practice strategy. > >> > >> > >> > >> 2.? The concept of creating HOV lanes in the > place of what went before is > >> in > >> theory an excellent one, but in practice is often > watered down and abused > >> in > >> a number of ways.? (Maybe somebody can explain to > me in a convincing manner > >> why electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles should be > allowed with a single > >> passenger on to HOV, and while I am ready to > listen and whether you can > >> pull > >> a rabbit out of a hat that I have ever seen, I > most doubtful that you will > >> convince me or any other experienced independent > observer.) > >> > >> > >> > >> 3.? The articles' authors commentary concerning > the limitations of > >> carpooling as presently practiced in the region > is, according to my best > >> information, right on target.? Does this mean, > however, that HOV lanes are > >> not part of the solution?? Not at all!? But what > it does mean is that the > >> old ideas about how to do this need to be brought > up to date.? So, if we > >> were to think about it from this perspective, here > we have a situation in > >> which there is what looks like a potentially > excellent hardware solution > >> (i.e., converting portions of the existing road > infrastructure to HOV > >> lanes) > >> needs to have better complementarity in terms of > software and operations. > >> > >> > >> > >> 4.? So, to summarize, they failed to do the whole > job.? We have at the base > >> of this project a good idea, well executed on the > hardware side -- other > >> than the fact that the project team made the old > and now well known error > >> of > >> actually increasing infrastructure capacity for > cars -- while for the rest > >> they simply fail to give attention to the most > important part of all -- > >> i.e., how to get more people into fewer cars with > improved mobility and > >> improved quality of life.? Basically they were > taking an old mobility > >> approach to a problem/opportunity that required > new mobility strategic > >> thinking. > >> > >> > >> > >> That is my take on this as an example of the sort > of thing that I would > >> like > >> to see in our modest shared Worst Practices > inventory and commentary.? I am > >> sure that a number of you will come in and do more > and better, at least I > >> hope so.? But my reason for sharing this with you > this morning is that I > >> wish to offer this is an example of the kind of > project analysis and > >> commentary that I believe can help us to better > organize our ideas and be > >> better prepared for future initiatives and > opportunities. > >> > >> > >> > >> I look forward to hearing from you either > personally or here with your > >> views, objections, and eventually your ideas and > suggestions on the basic > >> concept here namely , that of setting out to > create a collaborative, open, > >> independent Worst Practices inventory and > commentary. > >> > >> > >> > >> Kind regards/Eric Britton > >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------------- > >> 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'). > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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'). > -------------------------------------------------------- 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 Fri Jul 22 13:34:44 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Fri, 22 Jul 2011 06:34:44 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Breathing the lovely morning air in Delhi traffic Message-ID: <00e101cc4828$b2d0ecb0$1872c610$@britton@ecoplan.org> Source: http://indiastreets.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/breathing-the-lovely-mornng-air -in-delhi-traffic/ http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/78ba1a0b5f05cba9435d02ded04dad86?s=48&d=identic on&r=G Breathing the lovely morning air in Delhi traffic Eric Britton, editor | 22 luglio 2011 at 04:13 | Etichette: pollution , roads , vehicles | Categorie: World Streets | URL: http://wp.me/pXyfs-Na Breathing the lovely morning air in Delhi trafficGUEST POST. "Anyone who has sat in traffic in an Indian city knows what it feels like to be blasted in the face by the exhaust of a neighboring vehicle. Despite the potentially important health risks that may be involved with such encounters, relatively few studies have measured in-traffic air pollution in developing world cities, where the combination of congested traffic and high-emitting vehicle fleets make "in-your-face" exposures a feature . Read More via The Streets of India Aggiungi un commento a questo post http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=wordpress.com&blog=14193006&post=3048& subd=nuovamobilita&ref=&email=1 . With thanks to Sarath Guttikunda for the good heads-up on this. -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 1911 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110722/7e28c21e/attachment.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 2419 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110722/7e28c21e/attachment-0001.jpe -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110722/7e28c21e/attachment.gif From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Sun Jul 24 00:04:42 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:04:42 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Mile upon mile of emptiness Message-ID: <016801cc4949$eb99d7b0$c2cd8710$@britton@ecoplan.org> Inventing the Interstate Direct: http://wp.me/psKUY-1MI Mile upon mile of emptiness We do not normally "do" roads here in the pages of World Streets, our primary focus, even fixation, being not on vehicles and highways but rather on streets and people. But we would be foolish to forget that making full and continuing full use of our peripheral vision is critical if we are ever to understand context and to be able to see broader patterns. So from time to time we do, usually with the help of others, have a look at the roads end of our business. [...] http://stats.wordpress.com/b.gif?host=worldstreets.wordpress.com&blog=685354 0&post=6864&subd=worldstreets&ref=&email=1 -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/gif Size: 43 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110723/82f84864/attachment.gif From navdeep.asija at gmail.com Sun Jul 24 03:41:20 2011 From: navdeep.asija at gmail.com (Asija, Navdeep) Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:11:20 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood Message-ID: This is unusual post of mine, but I hope u will like it. As we all know, unholistic planning and policies has just not influenced and reduced the bicycle usage and cycling culture across the country but also forced Bollywood to chance their onscreen mode of transportation. Instead of happy riders of yesteryear, now a large proportion of the road crash victims in India are pedestrians and cyclists. In Punjab against per 100 people 12 people own bicycle and only 2 people owns. Saddest part is cycle ownership is there but not ridership due the reason we all know very well. Facilitation and early licensing to one car user going to put life of 12 cycle user and many pedestrian at risk and government claim it as achievement. Anyways, I made this collection of bollywood songs, being picturised or written on theme ?Cycle and Cycling?. They are the people with? no voice? and have almost no influence over the policy makers road construction agencies and we have to be the voice of those. See, in this era of transition for both transport planner and Bollywood, if we can do something to revive the cycling culture on our roads and Bollywood. So, enjoy listening and this collection might help to remind our policy makers to think about the need of those who matters most to our society; *Ek din Lahore ki Thandi Sadak Par** (Sagaayi) (1951)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Bzb0POwdo *Aaya Re Aaya Re Baajiwala- Toofan Aur Diya (1956)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAqROvDuko *Suno Re Bhaiyya Ham Laaye Hain ek Khabar Mastaani- Paighaam-(1959)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWhcgjUx2U *Babu Bol Kaisa Roka ?Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xnGOEZ9-1M *Mere Peeche Ek Diwana - Nazrana (1961)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAA4Lro2aBU *Akela Hoon Main- Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmPIKX6m1vg *Pukarta Chala Hoo Mein- Mere Sanam (1965)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nio1DdtqoAI *Main Chali Main Chali - Saira Banu ? Padosan (1968)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFxM9KBNMA *Pyase Panchi Neel Gagan Mein Geet Man Ke Gaye - Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePjlDMdwUiQ *Cycle Pe Haseenon Ki Toli- Amaanat ? (1977)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=manTkkfM6Tg *Ladki Cycle wali oye ladki- Pati Patni aur Woh (1978)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2uL8xjhxs *Bhawre Ne Khilaya Phool- Prem Rog (1982)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96gZjLLgig *Chandi Ki Cycle Sone Ki Seat Aao Chalein Darling ?Bhabhi (1991)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixS-nK8cmbw *Iss Jahan Ki Nahi Hai Tumhari Aankhein - King Uncle (1993)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMnv_2u7v20 *Cycle by Gurdass Mann (Punjabi-2007)* http://www.saavn.com/popup/psong-u159YznY.html *Cycle Rickshaw* * * *Chori Chori dil ka lagana buri baat hai - Bada Bhai (1957)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh5i47d5sWg *Main Hoon Ghoda Ye hai Gaadi - Kunwara Baap (1974)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LrQneXl07Y Regards, Navdeep From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Sun Jul 24 17:10:30 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sun, 24 Jul 2011 10:10:30 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <008d01cc49d9$2a787510$7f695f30$@britton@ecoplan.org> _____________________________________________________ World Streets Make them yours Dear Navdeep, What a great idea! I would with your permission like to make it into a weekend "musing" for World Streets. If you agree, it would be good to know a couple of things. 1. Might you introduce yourself in a few lines. Perhaps with a pic? 2. Which of the clips you identify are your three favorites. Maybe taking them from different decades (but that's only an idea and of course your choice)? 3. May I edit bits of the text slightly for our American readers? 4. Finally, would you clarify for me: First sentence 2nd paragraph: where you are saying: 12 out of 100 people in Punjab won bikes, but only 2 in 100 actually are using them today? 5. Also: Can you clarify why " Facilitation and early licensing to one car user going to put life of 12 cycle user and many pedestrian at risk". I hope this is agreeable to you, and I know that your contribution will interest many of our readers on World Streets, and I will also of course post on India Streets. A final point, which I think is quit delicate and I would hope to deal with appropriately ? and for which I ask for your counsel. I do not want our readers to come away from this weekend trip over time and space thinking anything like "Oh how cute those Indians are? How quaint". Given the special qualities of Bollywood this is just a too easy shot. Anyway, we all have our Bollywood. The idea behind World Streets has from the beginning been to seek out and share universal lessons, from specific times and places but which, with thought, open up our eyes to many things, including ourselves and our own limitations and quirks. So I do want to make sure that my short introductory note will reflect this combination of curiously, insight and generosity. So even if you don't want us to post this on W/S, let me nonetheless thank you so very much. I spent a very thought provoking half hour with Bollywood. Very best/Eric 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 eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 25 14:55:00 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:55:00 +0200 Subject: [sustran] an example of a worst practice Message-ID: <009f01cc4a8f$693f32f0$3bbd98d0$@britton@ecoplan.org> -----Original Message----- From: Cherry, Chris R (Christopher Cherry) [mailto:cherry@utk.edu] Sent: Sunday, 24 July, 2011 11:03 To: eric britton; Walter Hook Eric and Walter, Here's an example of a worst practice, an analogue to the rickshaw ban you mentioned. This one is coming from Guangzhou, ITDP's sustainable city award winner this year. This was in the China Daily a couple of days ago. China is notorious for arbitrary "crackdowns" that have significant implications for (often poor) users of these vehicles. These crackdowns are infrequent, occur without warning, and are negatively reinforced by non-enforcement 360 days a year. This leads poor individuals to invest huge portions of their income to purchase these vehicles, for transportation or goods delivery, only to have them confiscated and crushed without warning (actually this happened to me once in Kunming. Fortunately I'm not poor, but I felt terrible watching rural migrants lose about everything they have in one swoop). Unfortunately, these individuals cannot afford to live near BRT or their trips are not adequately served by that mode. It would be interesting to compare this policy to a policy of impounding and crushing cars (with richer drivers) that drive or park on sidewalks. I think that the impact, considering purchasing power, might be about the same. I'm particularly interested in the paper's explicit mention of "tricycles used by the disabled" and "electric bicycles", two of the most socially and environmentally sustainable modes on earth. Chris Cherry Assistant Professor Civil and Environmental Engineering University of Tennessee-Knoxville 223 Perkins Hall Knoxville, TN 37996-2010 phone: 865-974-7710 mobile: 865-684-8106 fax: 865-974-2669 http://web.utk.edu/~cherry From krc12353 at gmail.com Mon Jul 25 15:33:22 2011 From: krc12353 at gmail.com (Karthik Rao-Cavale) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:33:22 -0400 Subject: [sustran] Re: an example of a worst practice In-Reply-To: <4e2d0540.15d18e0a.3e10.ffffa48eSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> References: <4e2d0540.15d18e0a.3e10.ffffa48eSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: Only last year, the Delhi High Court ruled that the policy of impounding unlicensed cycle rickshaws violated constitutional guarantees in the Indian Constitution. Here is an article from today's Times of India in which the Municipal Corporation bemoans the fact that it cannot use this policy any longer. The cycle rickshaws are being described as a nuisance in the context of a Delhi Metro station (where they provide last-mile connectivity) because nearby residents are not able to take their cars in and out of their driveways. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/For-some-Kailash-Colony-Metro-a-pain/articleshow/9338442.cms On Mon, Jul 25, 2011 at 1:55 AM, eric britton wrote: > -----Original Message----- > From: Cherry, Chris R (Christopher Cherry) [mailto:cherry@utk.edu] > Sent: Sunday, 24 July, 2011 11:03 > To: eric britton; Walter Hook > > Eric and Walter, > > Here's an example of a worst practice, an analogue to the rickshaw ban you > mentioned. This one is coming from Guangzhou, ITDP's sustainable city award > winner this year. This was in the China Daily a couple of days ago. > China is notorious for arbitrary "crackdowns" that have significant > implications for (often poor) users of these vehicles. These crackdowns are > infrequent, occur without warning, and are negatively reinforced by > non-enforcement 360 days a year. This leads poor individuals to invest huge > portions of their income to purchase these vehicles, for transportation or > goods delivery, only to have them confiscated and crushed without warning > (actually this happened to me once in Kunming. > > Fortunately I'm not poor, but I felt terrible watching rural migrants lose > about everything they have in one swoop). Unfortunately, these individuals > cannot afford to live near BRT or their trips are not adequately served by > that mode. It would be interesting to compare this policy to a policy of > impounding and crushing cars (with richer drivers) that drive or park on > sidewalks. I think that the impact, considering purchasing power, might be > about the same. I'm particularly interested in the paper's explicit mention > of "tricycles used by the disabled" and "electric bicycles", two of the > most > socially and environmentally sustainable modes on earth. > > Chris Cherry > Assistant Professor > Civil and Environmental Engineering > University of Tennessee-Knoxville > 223 Perkins Hall > Knoxville, TN 37996-2010 > phone: 865-974-7710 > mobile: 865-684-8106 > fax: 865-974-2669 > http://web.utk.edu/~cherry > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 voodikon at yahoo.com Mon Jul 25 19:28:49 2011 From: voodikon at yahoo.com (jane.) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 03:28:49 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices In-Reply-To: References: <1311168232.77507.YahooMailNeo@web137311.mail.in.yahoo.com> <1311243129.53686.YahooMailClassic@web39410.mail.mud.yahoo.com> <4e2818fe.082d2b0a.508a.ffffa6c2SMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <1311589729.51485.YahooMailNeo@web39505.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Thanks for the link to that story, Karthik. Here's another on a related note that might be of interest, from Kunming, China. http://gokunming.com/en/blog/item/1681/carfocused_development_neglecting_pedestrians_and_cyclists Jane ________________________________ From: Karthik Rao-Cavale To: sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Sent: Thursday, July 21, 2011 9:04 PM Subject: [sustran] Re: A very short list of very bad practices Speaking of victim-blaming, I'm surprised no one has brought up this ghastly case where the mother of a child killed in a road accident is being charged with manslaughter. It's just shocking. Deeply, profoundly, shocking. http://t4america.org/blog/2011/07/18/prosecuting-the-victim-absolving-the-perpetrators/ Also, without meaning to pimp my own work, I recently wrote an article in which I argue that the relationship between motor vehicles and pedestrians is analogous to that of colonizers and the colonized. http://vishwakarman.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/taming-street-peopl-civilizational-project/ 2011/7/21 eric britton > Subject: Victim Blaming > > > > Thank you very much Morton.? I find your analysis excellent, as always > from, you considered and sober (I guess that is because you are a Icelandic) > and all in all a good guide to the topic and possible next steps. > > > > I wonder if I might ask you to write this up an article for World Streets, > and of course for this forum, on what you call so rightly Victim Blaming. >? An excellent topic, quite at the level of good sense at which we need to > operate. Moreover it's great stuff because it is so thoroughly > counter-intuitive and against the grain of unexamined but passively accepted > standard? practice.? It certainly has to be right up there in the top rank > of the pantheon of Worst Practices, and I know that you can do a great >? piece for us all on this so as to make sure that becomes part of the > battery of tools and awareness is which are so essential to getting > transportation related policy decisions right. > > > > I very much hope you will be able take the time out of your busy schedule > to do this for us all. > > > > In closing I would like to make a brief remark about the importance of > treating this little Worst Practices exercise in a properly mature manner. >? There is in the very title, Worst Practices, a somewhat jocular stab at the > concept of Best Practices with all of the pretentiousness and potential > dangers that such a mindset inevitably? carries with it.? I have no great > problem with Bet's little cousin Good Practices, but when we begin to get > into the hallowed halls of "Best Practices" and I find myself getting a bit > obstreperous. > > > > "Worst Practices" is like Richard Strauss's opera the Rosenkavalier.? As > one critic put it long ago: to be viewed with a wink in one eye, and a tear > in the other. > > > > Eric Britton > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > 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 ashok.sreenivas at gmail.com Mon Jul 25 19:30:14 2011 From: ashok.sreenivas at gmail.com (Ashok Sreenivas) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:00:14 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Cycle track discarded and footpath narrowed along Ahmedabad BRTS corridors Message-ID: <4E2D45B6.5090109@gmail.com> http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-23/ahmedabad/29807366_1_brts-stretch-uc-padia-isro Guess this could qualify as a "worst practice" - particularly since the reasons given are security, "lack of space due to high vehicular traffic" and vehicles parked on the road. Even sadder considering this is the city that won the "Sustainable Transport Award" as recently as 2010. -- Ashok Sreenivas From joshirutul at yahoo.co.in Mon Jul 25 20:39:10 2011 From: joshirutul at yahoo.co.in (Rutul Joshi) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:09:10 +0530 (IST) Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood References: Message-ID: <1311593950.1643.YahooMailNeo@web137302.mail.in.yahoo.com> Hi Navdeep and others, This is a great compilation for more than one reason. It is an interesting sociological material to understand cycling culture in India. Just adding some observations... - Majority of the movies cited here are from 50s and 60s where it was OK for the protagonist to be a regular cyclist. There is a clear distinction in later decades. The on-screen cycling appear more as a recreational and occasional activity but not really as a full-time, regular activity where one cycles to work. It is rare to see a mainstream Hindi language film (Bollywood!) hero or heroin to use a cycle on a daily basis. All though I am not a big fan of such movies but these movies are a big cultural import, so the concerns are even more grave. These films dubbed in to many Asian and African languages. These movies manufacture imaginations and imageries, associations and preferences. - Almost all movie celebrities are into advertising (and selling) some or the other kind of automobiles. The Banks advertise how buying a car is a logical transition from owning motorized 2 wheeler. Some of the eco-conscious celebrities are not yet vocal ambassadors of cycling. However, I have heard that some friends in this forum has made successful attempts to bring some celebrities to the cycling rallies. - Even the minority of (part-time or full-time) urban middle-class cyclists (who are the new cycling group) are not really interested in including the poor people in their campaigns. In Ahmedabad, there is a cycling group run by the doctors of the city who organise cycling events but it is a closed group! Generally, no one likes to include the poor in anything unless something is being claimed in their name. - It is very rare to find a cyclist amongst the policy makers, bureaucrats, consultants who are supposed to fund or plan cycling related infrastructure. Well, being a regular cyclist is not a qualification here but even an occasional cyclist would know 'what not to do'! The cycling efforts in India are massively legging behind in terms of social marketing and advocacy. There are just a few national organizations who work around urban issues and they still don't really recognize 'transport' as a social or political issue. Where as the international organizations loose their credibility at the local level when they are parachuting from a city to city (if not from cause to cause!) selling their ideas instead of investing in a long-term advocacy of policy change.? Please excuse my cynicism (if you find any ;)) but I am still naively hopeful about future of cycling in India. People like Navdeep gives us a hope of changing things bottom-up and building grass-root level policy changes. regards, Rutul ________________________________ From: "Asija, Navdeep" To: Sent: Sunday, 24 July 2011 12:11 AM Subject: [sustran] Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood This is unusual post of mine, but I hope u will like it.? As we all know, unholistic planning and policies has just not influenced and reduced the bicycle usage and cycling culture across the country but also forced Bollywood to chance their onscreen mode of transportation.? Instead of happy riders of yesteryear, now a large proportion of the road crash victims in India are pedestrians and cyclists. In Punjab against per 100 people 12 people own bicycle and only 2 people owns. Saddest part is cycle ownership is there but not ridership due the reason we all know very well. Facilitation and early licensing to one car user going to put life of 12 cycle user and many pedestrian at risk and government claim it as achievement. Anyways, I made this collection of bollywood songs, being picturised or written on theme ?Cycle and Cycling?. They are the people with? no voice? and have almost no influence over the policy makers road construction agencies and we have to be the voice of those.? See, in this era of transition for both transport planner and Bollywood, if we can do something to revive the cycling culture on our roads and Bollywood. So, enjoy listening and this collection might help to remind our policy makers to think about the need of those who matters most to our society; *Ek din Lahore ki Thandi Sadak Par** (Sagaayi) (1951)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Bzb0POwdo *Aaya Re Aaya Re Baajiwala- Toofan Aur Diya (1956)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAqROvDuko *Suno Re Bhaiyya Ham Laaye Hain ek Khabar Mastaani- Paighaam-(1959)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWhcgjUx2U *Babu Bol Kaisa Roka ?Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xnGOEZ9-1M *Mere Peeche Ek Diwana - Nazrana (1961)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAA4Lro2aBU *Akela Hoon Main- Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmPIKX6m1vg *Pukarta Chala Hoo Mein- Mere Sanam (1965)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nio1DdtqoAI *Main Chali Main Chali - Saira Banu ? Padosan (1968)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFxM9KBNMA *Pyase Panchi Neel Gagan Mein Geet Man Ke Gaye - Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePjlDMdwUiQ *Cycle Pe Haseenon Ki Toli- Amaanat ? (1977)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=manTkkfM6Tg *Ladki Cycle wali oye ladki- Pati Patni aur Woh (1978)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2uL8xjhxs *Bhawre Ne Khilaya Phool- Prem Rog (1982)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96gZjLLgig *Chandi Ki Cycle Sone Ki Seat Aao Chalein Darling ?Bhabhi (1991)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixS-nK8cmbw *Iss Jahan Ki Nahi Hai Tumhari Aankhein - King Uncle (1993)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMnv_2u7v20 *Cycle by Gurdass Mann (Punjabi-2007)* http://www.saavn.com/popup/psong-u159YznY.html *Cycle Rickshaw* * * *Chori Chori dil ka lagana buri baat hai - Bada Bhai (1957)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh5i47d5sWg *Main Hoon Ghoda Ye hai Gaadi - Kunwara Baap (1974)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LrQneXl07Y Regards, Navdeep -------------------------------------------------------- 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 ravibabumanchala at gmail.com Mon Jul 25 21:13:53 2011 From: ravibabumanchala at gmail.com (ravibabu manchala) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:43:53 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycle track discarded and footpath narrowed along Ahmedabad BRTS corridors In-Reply-To: <4E2D45B6.5090109@gmail.com> References: <4E2D45B6.5090109@gmail.com> Message-ID: Dear all, I am generally a mute recipient of wonderful exchange of ideas that take place on this forum. Coming to bad practices I am tempted to post this on misplaced policy priorities. Government of India has initiated a plan to revive the urban areas under central funding scheme and the and the areas eligible for assistance are: (1)Urban renewal, that is, redevelopment of inner (old) city areas [including widening of narrow streets, shifting of industrial and commercial establishments from non-conforming (inner city) areas to conforming (outer city) areas to reduce congestion, replacement of old and worn out pipes by new and higher capacity ones, renewal of the sewerage, drainage, and solid waste disposal system etc.] ; (2) Water supply (including desalination plants) and sanitation. (3) Sewerage and solid waste management. (4) Construction and improvement of drains and storm water drains. (5) Urban transportation including roads, highways, expressways, MRTS, and metro projects. (6) Parking lots and spaces on PPP basis. (7) Development of heritage areas (8) Prevention and rehabilitation of soil erosion and landslides only in cases of special category States where such problems are common; and (9) Preservation of water bodies. Item 5 is about urban transport and it has no mention of cycle tracks or pedestrian pathways. Details of approved cost of the projects sanctioned is as follows: 1) Total projects: 527 2) Total approved cost (in Rs) = 59918.3 Crores or 599 billion (includes transport and others) 3) Projects where words pedestrian, cycling or foot over bridge are mentioned: 4 4) Approved cost on the 4 projects (in Rs): 147.4 crores or 1.5 billion 5) % share: 0.24 Note: This is based on quick scan of all the 527 projects and also search of prominent words. I may not be accurate but it gives the picture. I can share the pdf document if anybody is interested. This gives an example of a national level misplaced policy. regards Ravibabu From alok.priyanka at gmail.com Mon Jul 25 21:37:44 2011 From: alok.priyanka at gmail.com (alok.priyanka at gmail.com) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:37:44 +0000 Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood In-Reply-To: <1311593950.1643.YahooMailNeo@web137302.mail.in.yahoo.com> References: <1311593950.1643.YahooMailNeo@web137302.mail.in.yahoo.com> Message-ID: <734562259-1311597498-cardhu_decombobulator_blackberry.rim.net-979245007-@b4.c19.bise7.blackberry> Navdeep, Thoroughly enjoyed your post with a twist. Apart from songs there are many movies in the 60s or 70s where lead characters were portrayed to own a bicycle. Not anymore, sir. Is that why we call that a golden era? Talking of aspirational advertising, recently saw the attached at Delhi Metro Golf Course Station. I wonder why metro guys even allowed such an ad to be put in which clearly pitches their own services in bad light. Cheers Alok Sent on my BlackBerry? from Vodafone -----Original Message----- From: Rutul Joshi Sender: sustran-discuss-bounces+alok.priyanka=gmail.com@list.jca.apc.org Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:09:10 To: Asija, Navdeep; sustran-discuss@list.jca.apc.org Reply-To: Rutul Joshi Subject: [sustran] Re: Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood Hi Navdeep and others, This is a great compilation for more than one reason. It is an interesting sociological material to understand cycling culture in India. Just adding some observations... - Majority of the movies cited here are from 50s and 60s where it was OK for the protagonist to be a regular cyclist. There is a clear distinction in later decades. The on-screen cycling appear more as a recreational and occasional activity but not really as a full-time, regular activity where one cycles to work. It is rare to see a mainstream Hindi language film (Bollywood!) hero or heroin to use a cycle on a daily basis. All though I am not a big fan of such movies but these movies are a big cultural import, so the concerns are even more grave. These films dubbed in to many Asian and African languages. These movies manufacture imaginations and imageries, associations and preferences. - Almost all movie celebrities are into advertising (and selling) some or the other kind of automobiles. The Banks advertise how buying a car is a logical transition from owning motorized 2 wheeler. Some of the eco-conscious celebrities are not yet vocal ambassadors of cycling. However, I have heard that some friends in this forum has made successful attempts to bring some celebrities to the cycling rallies. - Even the minority of (part-time or full-time) urban middle-class cyclists (who are the new cycling group) are not really interested in including the poor people in their campaigns. In Ahmedabad, there is a cycling group run by the doctors of the city who organise cycling events but it is a closed group! Generally, no one likes to include the poor in anything unless something is being claimed in their name. - It is very rare to find a cyclist amongst the policy makers, bureaucrats, consultants who are supposed to fund or plan cycling related infrastructure. Well, being a regular cyclist is not a qualification here but even an occasional cyclist would know 'what not to do'! The cycling efforts in India are massively legging behind in terms of social marketing and advocacy. There are just a few national organizations who work around urban issues and they still don't really recognize 'transport' as a social or political issue. Where as the international organizations loose their credibility at the local level when they are parachuting from a city to city (if not from cause to cause!) selling their ideas instead of investing in a long-term advocacy of policy change.? Please excuse my cynicism (if you find any ;)) but I am still naively hopeful about future of cycling in India. People like Navdeep gives us a hope of changing things bottom-up and building grass-root level policy changes. regards, Rutul ________________________________ From: "Asija, Navdeep" To: Sent: Sunday, 24 July 2011 12:11 AM Subject: [sustran] Cycle, Cycling Culture and Bollywood This is unusual post of mine, but I hope u will like it.? As we all know, unholistic planning and policies has just not influenced and reduced the bicycle usage and cycling culture across the country but also forced Bollywood to chance their onscreen mode of transportation.? Instead of happy riders of yesteryear, now a large proportion of the road crash victims in India are pedestrians and cyclists. In Punjab against per 100 people 12 people own bicycle and only 2 people owns. Saddest part is cycle ownership is there but not ridership due the reason we all know very well. Facilitation and early licensing to one car user going to put life of 12 cycle user and many pedestrian at risk and government claim it as achievement. Anyways, I made this collection of bollywood songs, being picturised or written on theme ?Cycle and Cycling?. They are the people with? no voice? and have almost no influence over the policy makers road construction agencies and we have to be the voice of those.? See, in this era of transition for both transport planner and Bollywood, if we can do something to revive the cycling culture on our roads and Bollywood. So, enjoy listening and this collection might help to remind our policy makers to think about the need of those who matters most to our society; *Ek din Lahore ki Thandi Sadak Par** (Sagaayi) (1951)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-Bzb0POwdo *Aaya Re Aaya Re Baajiwala- Toofan Aur Diya (1956)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDAqROvDuko *Suno Re Bhaiyya Ham Laaye Hain ek Khabar Mastaani- Paighaam-(1959)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaWhcgjUx2U *Babu Bol Kaisa Roka ?Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xnGOEZ9-1M *Mere Peeche Ek Diwana - Nazrana (1961)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAA4Lro2aBU *Akela Hoon Main- Baat Ek Raat Ki (1962)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmPIKX6m1vg *Pukarta Chala Hoo Mein- Mere Sanam (1965)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nio1DdtqoAI *Main Chali Main Chali - Saira Banu ? Padosan (1968)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szFxM9KBNMA *Pyase Panchi Neel Gagan Mein Geet Man Ke Gaye - Pyasa Panchi (1960)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePjlDMdwUiQ *Cycle Pe Haseenon Ki Toli- Amaanat ? (1977)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=manTkkfM6Tg *Ladki Cycle wali oye ladki- Pati Patni aur Woh (1978)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW2uL8xjhxs *Bhawre Ne Khilaya Phool- Prem Rog (1982)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W96gZjLLgig *Chandi Ki Cycle Sone Ki Seat Aao Chalein Darling ?Bhabhi (1991)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixS-nK8cmbw *Iss Jahan Ki Nahi Hai Tumhari Aankhein - King Uncle (1993)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMnv_2u7v20 *Cycle by Gurdass Mann (Punjabi-2007)* http://www.saavn.com/popup/psong-u159YznY.html *Cycle Rickshaw* * * *Chori Chori dil ka lagana buri baat hai - Bada Bhai (1957)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kh5i47d5sWg *Main Hoon Ghoda Ye hai Gaadi - Kunwara Baap (1974)* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LrQneXl07Y Regards, Navdeep -------------------------------------------------------- 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'). -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: IMG00100-20110612-1227.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 91367 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110725/0f4e8ed4/utf-8BSU1HMDAxMDAtMjAxMTA2MTItMTIyNy5qcGc-0001.jpg From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Mon Jul 25 23:53:00 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 16:53:00 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Bollywood Bicycle Boogie In-Reply-To: References: <4e2bd374.4d650e0a.572b.03cfSMTPIN_ADDED@mx.google.com> Message-ID: <02d701cc4ada$8e1c3140$aa5493c0$@britton@ecoplan.org> Navdeep, And for anyone who is interested to see a bit more about the Bollywood Bicycle Boogie. First that if you wish to have a quick visual preview of the full list of films, it has been posted today with images as a Comment on India Streets. You will also find other excellent comments and observations there. Keep pedaling Eric britton From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Tue Jul 26 03:15:54 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Mon, 25 Jul 2011 20:15:54 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Momentarily off topic Message-ID: <031801cc4af6$e6be6770$b43b3650$@britton@ecoplan.org> Sometimes we (i.e., me) get a bit off topic here, and some of those times, given we are who we are, interesting things come up as a result. For example, I am very pleased with Navdeep's Bollywood Bicycle Boogie comments, so let me take a risk and try another slightly off topic item for you. We all know that if you really want to get to know India, you have to get out of Delhi or Mumbai, to know France leave Paris behind you, and likewise for just about any other place in the world. Well, let me share this with you about a way to get to know the United States. Something that I had done myself and that you can do in 2011. It's called 'hit the road', it is almost free, and if you can drive without running over cattle, I know no better way to get a feel for our great and yes, often greatly confusing country. So if you spirit of adventure beckons, check out http://networkdispatches.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/on-the-road-ii-drive-acros s-america-for-free/. And when you make that trip make sure you tell us all about it. Sorry, and I shall now strictly stick to topic. Eric Britton From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Wed Jul 27 23:40:05 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:40:05 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Women taking the lead for sustainable transport and sustainable cities Message-ID: <01bf01cc4c6b$1a135cf0$4e3a16d0$@britton@ecoplan.org> We really need some help here. After the first two articles in this series only yesterday we have already had about two dozen nominations. All very impressive. But there is a problem 20 of the 24 are from the States. Then one each from South Africa, India, Belgium and the UK. That's crazy and cannot be so. And that is why I ask you for help. You can see advance notices of the first two postings on this at http://networkdispatches.org. That should give you an idea of where we are trying to take this. Please help us find and share information on outstanding women who are making a contributions in our field. I think we should all know more about them, and if we can do our bit, well all the better. Kind thanks/Eric Britton 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 matteo123 at yoyomaniacs.com Thu Jul 28 01:51:13 2011 From: matteo123 at yoyomaniacs.com (matteo Carrelli) Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:51:13 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Other intelligent transport systems in Europe? Message-ID: Hello, In my research for EGNOS in the Road transport sector, I?ve find out that there are also these projects ongoing in Europe for the intelligent transport systems: http://heavyroute.fehrl.org/?m=1 and the Easyway project + forum: http://www.easyway-its.eu/1/ Is anybody aware of others? Bye Matteo From sutp at sutp.org Thu Jul 28 20:00:09 2011 From: sutp at sutp.org (SUTP Team) Date: Thu, 28 Jul 2011 16:30:09 +0530 Subject: [sustran] GIZ SUTP Newsletter - May - June 2011 Message-ID: GIZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) ### Newsletter Issue 03/11 May June 2011 ### *************************************************************** A HTML version of the newsletter is available from: http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/0311/NL-SUTP-MAY-JUN-11.html A PDF version can be downloaded from: http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/0311/NL-SUTP-MAY-JUN-11.pdf ****************************************************************** In this Edition: - KOTI and GIZ sign a MoU at the KOTI World Forum - GIZ-SUTP and IUT organized a 5-Day training course on Public Transport in Goa from 11-15th July - GIZ at the Fifth Asia Pacific Urban Forum, Bangkok, Thailand - GIZ participated in the "Working Together for Sustainable and Healthy Urban Transport? workshop in Kyiv - BTG Symposium in Bonn: "Moving Transport from CDM to NAMAs" - VELOFORUM Ukraine with GIZ participation - GIZ at C40 Summit in Sao Paulo (Brazil) - GIZ at the International Transport Forum (ITF), Leipzig - GIZ-SUTP at the 2nd NTDPC Consultation meeting in Bangalore - GIZ Transport Team at the International Conference on Climate Friendly Transport - No agreement on Transport at CSD 19! - GIZ at the CAI LAC Sustainable Transport Conference in Rosario (9-13 May) - Learning Centre at CSD 19 *********** KOTI and GIZ sign a MoU at the KOTI World Forum A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the Korea Transport Institute (KOTI) and the GIZ Transport Sector -Policy Project. The MoU envisages cooperation between the two parties in the areas of transportation, logistics, urban planning, urban mobility and climate change. This MoU provides opportunities for the urban transport experts from GIZ and KOTI to work together and expand the existing knowledge on sustainable urban transport, supporting developing cities in the region and around Asia. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2692 *********** GIZ at the Fifth Asia Pacific Urban Forum, Bangkok, Thailand The GIZ-SUTP and the Transport division of the UNESCAP jointly organised a breakout session at the Fifth Asia Pacific Urban Forum on the 22nd June 2011 in Bangkok, Thailand. The title of the breakout session was "Sustainable Urban Transport and Financing?. The event was attended by more than 40 participants from various backgrounds such as academics, city government officials, national level officials and UN staff. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2691 *********** GIZ participated in "Working Together for Sustainable and Healthy Urban Transport? workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine The UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe co-organized a workshop, titled "Working Together for Sustainable and Healthy Urban Transport," which discussed strategies, policies and measures to promote innovative policies to support walking and cycling as increasingly viable and attractive modes of urban mobility. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2689 *********** BTG Symposium in Bonn: "Moving Transport from CDM to NAMAs" On the occasion of the climate talks in Bonn, a symposium titled "Moving transport from CDM to NAMAs" was held by the Bridging the Gap Initiative. The event attracted nearly 100 participants from developing and developed countries, representatives of key international aid agencies as well as leading experts and practitioners in the field of transport and climate change. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2686 *********** VELOFORUM Ukraine with GIZ participation During June 4-5, the Ukrainian VELOFORUM took place in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, organised by the Kyiv Cycling Association (www.avk.org.ua). It gathered more than 50 activists, planners and decision-makers. The topics included the promotion of cycling, current examples and practices, technical issues as well as the set up of a Ukrainian Centre for Cycling Expertise. Armin Wagner, GIZ team leader of the project ?Climate-friendly mobility in Ukrainian cities?, gave a presentation about the concept of Sustainable Urban Mobility. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2685 *********** GIZ at C40 Summit in Sao Paulo, Brazil GIZ organized events around the C40 Summit and participated actively in the event. The C40 Summit is a biannual event bringing together mayors of the world?s largest cities to share information on their respective experiences in dealing with climate change. Before the Summit, GIZ, in cooperation with the Municipality of Sao Paulo, Ministry of Sports, Ministry of Cities and CCI developed a workshop on Sustainable Urban Transport from May 30-31st, which saw 35 participants from the 8 'host cities' of the 2014 Soccer World Cup. This workshop was delivered by international and local experts and covered a range of issues on sustainable urban transport, and was developed to enhance the knowledge of these Host Cities on the topic to improve their transport projects in the next years. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2684 *********** GIZ at the International Transport Forum (ITF), Leipzig, Germany The 2011 Annual Summit of the International Transport Forum (ITF) took place on May 25-27th, 2011 in Leipzig, Germany. The theme of the event was ?Transport for Society?. This forum represents a place for the exchange of ideas about recent developments and the future of transport among a wide range of transport professionals, including experts from different transport sub-sectors, decision-makers and members of the academia. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2669 *********** GIZ-SUTP at the 2nd NTDPC Consultation meeting in Bangalore, India The second National Consultation Workshop for the Working Group on Urban Transport of the National Transport Development Policy Committee (NTDPC) was held on 3rd June, 2011 in Bangalore. The NTDPC is a High Level Committee under the Chairmanship of Mr. Rakesh Mohan, which has been constituted to recommend policy initiatives for the entire transport sector to meet the projected demand in 2030. GIZ-SUTP was present there as a key stakeholder in urban transport in India, along with several others, to share its views and suggestions on the scope of work and approach of the various working groups, each dealing with a different aspect of urban transport like land-use, ITS, road safety, investments, etc. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2676 *********** GIZ Transport Team at the International Conference on Climate Friendly Transport in Belgrade, Serbia The conference was organized by the FP7 project REACT and the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade. About 150 participants, mostly from the Balkan Region, took part in the event at the Chamber of Commerce in Belgrade, Serbia. In three parallel sessions, the conference aimed to discuss the question on how to shape climate friendly transport in Europe. The theme for the REACT Conference marked the continuing progress on climate friendly transport theory and practice leading to a greatly improved application in science and our lives. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2673 *********** No agreement on Transport at CSD 19! At the beginning of May, the Commission on Sustainable Development met at the 19th session in New York. This was an important event for the transport community as transport was one of the sectors on the agenda amongst others like mining, production and chemicals. SLoCaT organized a learning center on policies for sustainable transport on May, 4th. See http://www.slocat.net/event/429 for a copy of the program and presentations. Unfortunately, the meeting was not able to reach an agreement, not withstanding an all-nighter from Friday to Saturday! Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2667 *********** GIZ at the CAI LAC Sustainable Transport Conference in Rosario, Argentina (9-13 May) GIZ actively participated in a number of events and activities and contributed through training courses on Non-motorized transport and Public Bicycle Planning during the Conference on ?Sustainable Transportation, Air Quality and Climate Change for Latin America and the Caribbean - How to Achieve Sustainable Urban Transport?", held in Rosario, Argentina. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2646 *********** Learning Centre at CSD 19 Within the nineteenth Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) Policy Session, GIZ contributed to a learning centre on Policies for Sustainable Low Carbon Transport (SLoCat). CSD is an annual meeting of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Transport has been emphasized in Agenda 21 in several chapters, not limited to, Chapter 7 on Human Settlements and in Chapter 9 on Atmosphere. The session sponsored by the SLoCat partnership presented policy actions in Africa, Asia and Europe. It discussed global ideas on policy options, including recommendations and tools for tracking sustainability in transport. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2658 *********** New Publications *********** Module 4b: Inspection, Maintenance and Roadworthiness reviewed A key component of a sustainable transport system is an in-use vehicle testing system. This is essential to ensure that vehicles are properly maintained, from both an environmental (emissions) and safety (roadworthiness) perspective. This module provides advice on the types of inspection and maintenance systems appropriate for a developing countries and how cities can develop and implement an effective I&M system. The module has been reviewed and is available for download. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2718 *********** Urban Transport and Climate Change Action Plans: An Overview This paper summarises the measures outlined in Climate Change Action Plans of more than 30 cities in all continents. Its focus is on the actions proposed in the transport chapter of the relevant plans. However, in many cases other Urban Transport Planning documents (Transportation Master Plans, Land Use Plans, etc.) play a key role for implementing specific measures, while the Climate Action Plans outline the more general goals. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2690 *********** Reading List on Low Carbon Transport Transport is a fast growing sector. A steadily increasing motorisation along with urbanisation is a trend that can be observed in most developing countries. This and the oil dependence of the transport sector lead to considerable growth rates of carbon emissions. Actions to stop this trend are urgently needed. This paper shows how national and/or urban low-carbon transportation policies could help countries to achieve a smart, sustainable economic growth while at the same time stabilizing and later reducing transport emissions. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2674 *********** Factsheet: Sustainable Urban Transport: Avoid-Shift-Improve (A-S-I) Released Inspired by the principles of sustainability, this alternative approach focuses on the demand side of transport management as opposed to the conventional supply side approach. The new approach, known as A-S-I (from Avoid/Reduce, Shift/Maintain, Improve), seeks to achieve significant GHG emission reductions, reduced energy consumption, less congestion, with the final objective to create more liveable cities. The objective of the A-S-I approach is to promote alternative mobility solutions and to develop sustainable transport systems. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2660 *********** GIZ Module 5b: Urban Road Safety now in Chinese Building on the earlier 2004 version of the SUTP Sourcebook Module 5b, the revised edition of 'Urban Road Safety' presents up-to-date figures on the challenge of road safety in developing cities, and outlines measures to address the problem. The latter range from technical standards to issues such as awareness raising and financing. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2693 *********** Module 2c: Parking Management for Developing Cities translated to Portuguese and Spanish languages Parking controls and pricing are transport demand management measures implemented frequently by local authorities, yet little of the academic literature deals with experience of this policy, preferring instead to concentrate on the politically ?more lucrative? topic of congestion charging. This module, now available in Portuguese and Spanish languages, attempts to redress that balance a little. It discusses the various definitional, operational, planning, institutional and social challenges around parking practices in cities, and how these could be overcome. The module also discusses topics like types of marking, parking demand and common myths associated with vehicle parking. Portuguese Version: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2670 Spanish Version: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2655 *********** Module 1f: Financing Sustainable Urban Transport now in Indonesian This module, now available in Bahasa, is dedicated to policy makers, financial sector specialists and urban planners/practitioners working on key challenges related to financing urban transport systems. The sourcebook provides options to close the gap between the ever growing demand for efficient, equitable and environmentally friendly urban transport systems on one hand, and the dwindling financial resources available to state and local authorities on the other. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2671 *********** Upcoming Events: 30.08.2011 Washington D.C.,US: Safe & Sustainable Mobility for Older People Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=500&lang=en 11.09.2011 Durban, S.A.: Thredbo 12 Conference Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=531&lang=en 20.09.2011 Johannesburg, ZA: Sustainable Transport & Mobility 2011 Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=537&lang=en 26.09.2011 Perth, AU: New Urbanism & Smart Transport 2011 Intl. Conference Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=505&lang=en 26.09.2011 Mexico City, MX: XXIVth World Road Congress - 2011 Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=389&lang=en 27.09.2011 Singapore, SG: 3rd Annual Sustainable Cities Conference Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=543&lang=en 06.10.2011 Gothenburg, SE: Urban Governance: Getting People on Board! Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=509&lang=en 10.10.2011 Glasgow, UK: European Transport Conference 2011 Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=507&lang=en 16.10.2011 Washington D.C., US: Rail~Volution 2011 Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=530&lang=en 16.10.2011 Orlando, US: 18th ITS World Congress Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=544&lang=en 18.10.2011 Rio, BR:18th Brazilian Congress of Transport and Traffic Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=512&lang=en 22.10.2011 Changwon, KR: EcoMobility 2011 Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=511&lang=en 24.10.2011 Seoul, KR: 11th UITP Asia-Pacific Assembly Link: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56&func=details&did=550&lang=en For a complete list of events visit: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=56 *********** News from Partners and Elsewhere *********** UITP's Metro Service Performance Indicators The definition, implementation and monitoring of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in public transport service is a critical issue for two of the pillars of the UITP PTx2 strategy, which sets out the aim to double the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025.The UITP Metro Division has defined five important indicators of operational performance. Download: http://www.uitp.org/mos/corebrief/CB_Metro_indicators-en.pdf *********** Car Free Day to be Held Every Week The Car Free Day (HBKB) routine held by the Jakarta Capital City Government is so far considered successful to reduce air pollution in Jakarta. Although it was initially conducted only once a month, it is now receiving a positive response and greater support from various parties. In fact, due to high demand for car-free days, the Jakarta Capital City Government plans to hold it every week. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2688 *********** Tearing Down to Start Again From cost-benefit analysis for urban roads to tearing down highway projects, this article discusses how cities are reversing the trend and have started to shift from promoting just mobility to promoting overall liveability, as a "new urban values" approach. Read the full article in the Winter Issue of the ITDP Sustainable Transport Magazine, Issue 22. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2687 *********** EMBARQ publishes a new guidebook: "From Here to There" Communications, marketing and branding principles to help cities improve public transport In an attempt to give public transport a competitive edge, EMBARQ released in May this year a report on marketing and branding public transport today. The reports aims to help guide cities and public transit agencies in making mass transit a competitive and desirable alternative to private vehicles. Titled ?From Here to There: A Creative Guide to Making Public Transport the Way to Go?, this 29-page report hopes to encourage cities and transit agencies to think critically and creatively about how to make public transport the preferred way to travel. Read more: http://www.embarq.org/en/news/11/05/26/new-guidebook-from-here-to-there *********** Jamie Lerner receives Leadership in Transport Award at ITF 2011 Jaime Lerner, visionary urban planner from Brazil and pioneer of globally successful public transport ideas, was the winner of the first Leadership in Transport Award. The Leadership in Transport Award has been newly created in 2011 to honour public persons that have demonstrated exceptional vision and leadership, and thereby have made an exceptional impact and lasting contribution to transport -be it through a single, high-profile, high-impact initiative or through a sustained commitment over a long period of time that has resulted in major transport advances. Read more: http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2672 *********** Metrobus, Argentina?s first BRT system, launched in Buenos Aires The Metrobus inaugurated in early June this year in Buenos Aires is the first BRT corridor in Argentina and, according to the city's Mayor; it represents a significant progress on the development of urban transportation, allowing for the increased quality of life of more than 100,000 people. The system includes other standard features of BRT, including physically separated lanes that run in the middle of the street, elevated station platforms and countdown clocks. Read more: http://www.itdp.org/index.php/news/detail/metrobus_argentinas_first_brt_system_launches_in_buenos_aires/ *********** Ministry of Urban Development Promotes Cycling in Indian Cities India's Ministry of Urban Development held the first National Consultation Meeting in Delhi to promote cycling in Indian cities. About 40 delegates from government, academia, business consultancies and NGOs participated in the half-day workshop. They worked together to develop guidelines and provide input for developing future cycling projects. Read more: http://www.embarq.org/en/news/11/06/27/ministry-urban-development-promotes-cycling-indian-cities *********** Hangzhou green drive pedals ahead Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, is taking the national lead in the bicycle rental system. Launched by the city authorities in collaboration with Hangzhou Public Bicycle Transportation Service Development Co ltd in May 2008, ?the green drive now includes 60,600 bicycles for the 8.7 million residents?, said Han Linli from the company. Read more: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/usa/business/2011-06/16/content_12716949.htm *********** Across Europe, Irking Drivers Is Urban Policy While American cities are synchronizing green lights to improve traffic flow and offering apps to help drivers find parking, many European cities are doing the opposite: creating environments openly hostile to cars. The methods vary, but the mission is clear: to make car use expensive and just plain miserable enough to tilt drivers toward more environmentally friendly modes of transportation. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/27/science/earth/27traffic.html?_r=2&hp ********************** SUTP Disclaimer: On behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the GIZ through its sector project "Transport Policy Advisory Services" supports developing cities to reach their sustainable transport goals by providing technical assistance on transport projects and disseminating information regarding sustainable urban transport. This newsletter is a part of the activities of this project. The information in this newsletter has been carefully researched and diligently compiled. Nevertheless, GIZ does not accept any liability or give any guarantee for the validity, accuracy and completeness of the information provided. GIZ assumes no legal liabilities for damages, material or immaterial in kind, caused by the use or non-use of provided information or the use of erroneous or incomplete information, with the exception of proven intentional or grossly negligent conduct on the side of GIZ. GIZ reserves the right to modify, append, delete parts or the complete online content without prior notice, or to cancel any publication temporarily or permanently. The third party links are not under the control of GIZ and GIZ is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Links to the GIZ SUTP homepage are admissible if the GIZ SUTP website retrieved becomes the sole content of the browser window. *********** Contact us: Any further queries regarding this document can be addressed to sutp@sutp.org. All the documents mentioned here are available for download from the SUTP website: http://www.sutp.org ****************************************************************** Copyright (c) 2011 GIZ Sustainable Urban Transport Project. ****************************************************************** A HTML version of the newsletter is available from: http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/0311/NL-SUTP-MAY-JUN-11.html A PDF of the same can be downloaded from: http://www.sutp.org/newsletters/0311/NL-SUTP-MAY-JUN-11.pdf ****************************************************************** ------------- Sustainable Urban Transport Project (SUTP) E sutp@sutp.org I http://www.sutp.org From navdeep.asija at gmail.com Sat Jul 30 13:05:11 2011 From: navdeep.asija at gmail.com (Asija, Navdeep) Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 09:35:11 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Fazilka Dial-a-rickshaw project on MIT radar Message-ID: Chandigarh Fazilka, :: the newly-created district of Punjab, is making news on the international front. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in US is studying its eco cab project, where a rickshaw arrives at your doorstep soon after you call up a call centre. Their objective: To see how the new experiment can help civic bodies offset the traditional car-centric development patterns that have handicapped many cities ? from Beijing to Bangalore. The project, titled ?Future of Urban Mobility?, has been given to MIT by the Singapore government to study solutions in regard to sustainable urban transport. What has excited MIT about the dial-a-rickshaw project in Fazilka is how intelligence systems (cellphone network) can be used with existing transportation modes to benefit townships. To study the project in detail, Albert Ching ? a research assistant in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT ? recently visited Fazilka. His specific mandate was to study the eco cab project in the township. Speaking to The Indian Express, Ching said preliminary study has revealed that intelligence infrastructure (mobile telephony) in India has developed much ahead of transport infrastructure. ?India has more than 700 million cellphones versus about 13 million cars. After visiting Fazilka, I learnt fully how their project works. They have five call centres ? one for each sub-zone. You dial the call centre in your area and within five to ten minutes, the rickshaw puller reaches you,? said Ching. The aspiring urban innovator said this is almost a revolution in terms of urban transport. ?It takes care of multiple issues like traffic congestion, air pollution, parking, road safety, etc,? he said. With the efforts of Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) ? a local NGO ? and the local administration, Fazilka now has car-free zones and pedestrian areas. Ching was told to study the Fazilka project by P Christopher Zegras, associate professor in Transportation and Urban Planning at MIT. ?The Fazilka experiment seems to offer an important demonstration of merging advanced mobile communications technology with sustainable mobility services. Such advances will be crucial to improving the quality of life in urban areas across the world in the 21st century ? offering affordable, reliable, convenient, job-creating, low-carbon mobility solutions,? Zegras told The Indian Express. The researchers studying the ?Future of Urban Mobility? project at MIT have found that a major problem being faced by developed countries like Singapore is their car-centric infrastructure. This has caused a high auto-dependence, with too many people choosing to use cars. ?Countries like Singapore can?t turn back the clock. But many other cities which have rickshaws in public transport can replicate the eco cab concept. Fazilka will be a case study for our project, to spread the word about how it can be done. If something good happens in Fazilka but nobody comes to know about it, it will be a big waste,? said Ching. GWAF Secretary Navdeep Asija said the township has five call centres for the eco cab project. The project will get a further boost with a new scheme introduced by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Sandeep Diwan, BSNL?s General Manager (Enterprise Business) said that for the first time in the country, the Nigam has given 900 pre-paid mobile connections under a closed user group. Within the group, users have free unlimited calling. With a dedicated series, the project will soon have nine call centres and greater access to rickshaw pullers. ?The eco cab project works best within a zone of 3 km. Bigger cities can create sub-zones to ensure success of the project,? said Asija. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dialarickshaw-project-on-mit-radar/824499/ HC flak for Haryana for not launching eco cabs Irked over non-filing of a response with regard to the steps taken for the launch of eco cabs, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the director of Haryana urban bodies department to be present before the court on the next date of hearing. A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ajay Tewari observed that the state?s response was not too serious towards the issue. The directions were passed during the resumed hearing of a PIL arising out of a suo motu notice taken by the high court on a news item published in The Indian Express. The court held that on March 25, the bench had asked the government to get in touch with Navdeep Asija ? running a Graduates Welfare Association in Fazilka ? to take his views into consideration on the issue of introducing eco rickshaws. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hc-flak-for-haryana-for-not-launching-eco-cabs/824505/ From eric.britton at ecoplan.org Sat Jul 30 14:38:50 2011 From: eric.britton at ecoplan.org (eric britton) Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 07:38:50 +0200 Subject: [sustran] Fazilka Dial-a-rickshaw project on MIT radar In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: <004b01cc4e7a$f7fa1480$e7ee3d80$@britton@ecoplan.org> _____________________________________________________ World Streets Make them yours This is a terrific, excellent world-level project Navdeep. I have been following some of the rumblings on it with my ear to the ground on this end of the planet, but your note of this morning clarifies and makes my mouth water. The mere fact of putting at the base of the project the one and only cardinal rule of real sustainable transport, i.e., you work with what you have. Brilliant!! All involved, including Chris and Albert, you and Sandeep and surely many others, are to be congratulated on their clear original thinking. Now let's see how it plays out. I would love to have an article(s) for World Streets on this, and then to follow up as things progress. What can I say? Wow! Thank you again, Eric 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 -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+editor=worldstreets.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+editor=worldstreets.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Asija, Navdeep Sent: Saturday, 30 July, 2011 06:05 To: undisclosed-recipients: Subject: [sustran] Fazilka Dial-a-rickshaw project on MIT radar Chandigarh Fazilka, :: the newly-created district of Punjab, is making news on the international front. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in US is studying its eco cab project, where a rickshaw arrives at your doorstep soon after you call up a call centre. Their objective: To see how the new experiment can help civic bodies offset the traditional car-centric development patterns that have handicapped many cities ? from Beijing to Bangalore. The project, titled ?Future of Urban Mobility?, has been given to MIT by the Singapore government to study solutions in regard to sustainable urban transport. What has excited MIT about the dial-a-rickshaw project in Fazilka is how intelligence systems (cellphone network) can be used with existing transportation modes to benefit townships. To study the project in detail, Albert Ching ? a research assistant in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at MIT ? recently visited Fazilka. His specific mandate was to study the eco cab project in the township. Speaking to The Indian Express, Ching said preliminary study has revealed that intelligence infrastructure (mobile telephony) in India has developed much ahead of transport infrastructure. ?India has more than 700 million cellphones versus about 13 million cars. After visiting Fazilka, I learnt fully how their project works. They have five call centres ? one for each sub-zone. You dial the call centre in your area and within five to ten minutes, the rickshaw puller reaches you,? said Ching. The aspiring urban innovator said this is almost a revolution in terms of urban transport. ?It takes care of multiple issues like traffic congestion, air pollution, parking, road safety, etc,? he said. With the efforts of Graduates Welfare Association Fazilka (GWAF) ? a local NGO ? and the local administration, Fazilka now has car-free zones and pedestrian areas. Ching was told to study the Fazilka project by P Christopher Zegras, associate professor in Transportation and Urban Planning at MIT. ?The Fazilka experiment seems to offer an important demonstration of merging advanced mobile communications technology with sustainable mobility services. Such advances will be crucial to improving the quality of life in urban areas across the world in the 21st century ? offering affordable, reliable, convenient, job-creating, low-carbon mobility solutions,? Zegras told The Indian Express. The researchers studying the ?Future of Urban Mobility? project at MIT have found that a major problem being faced by developed countries like Singapore is their car-centric infrastructure. This has caused a high auto-dependence, with too many people choosing to use cars. ?Countries like Singapore can?t turn back the clock. But many other cities which have rickshaws in public transport can replicate the eco cab concept. Fazilka will be a case study for our project, to spread the word about how it can be done. If something good happens in Fazilka but nobody comes to know about it, it will be a big waste,? said Ching. GWAF Secretary Navdeep Asija said the township has five call centres for the eco cab project. The project will get a further boost with a new scheme introduced by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). Sandeep Diwan, BSNL?s General Manager (Enterprise Business) said that for the first time in the country, the Nigam has given 900 pre-paid mobile connections under a closed user group. Within the group, users have free unlimited calling. With a dedicated series, the project will soon have nine call centres and greater access to rickshaw pullers. ?The eco cab project works best within a zone of 3 km. Bigger cities can create sub-zones to ensure success of the project,? said Asija. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/dialarickshaw-project-on-mit-radar/8 24499/ HC flak for Haryana for not launching eco cabs Irked over non-filing of a response with regard to the steps taken for the launch of eco cabs, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the director of Haryana urban bodies department to be present before the court on the next date of hearing. A division bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Ajay Tewari observed that the state?s response was not too serious towards the issue. The directions were passed during the resumed hearing of a PIL arising out of a suo motu notice taken by the high court on a news item published in The Indian Express. The court held that on March 25, the bench had asked the government to get in touch with Navdeep Asija ? running a Graduates Welfare Association in Fazilka ? to take his views into consideration on the issue of introducing eco rickshaws. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/hc-flak-for-haryana-for-not-launching-eco- cabs/824505/ -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: not available Type: image/jpeg Size: 35991 bytes Desc: not available Url : http://list.jca.apc.org/public/sustran-discuss/attachments/20110730/e3175cd7/attachment-0001.jpe From yanivbin at gmail.com Sun Jul 31 01:23:44 2011 From: yanivbin at gmail.com (Vinay Baindur) Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:53:44 +0530 Subject: [sustran] Eight corridors identified for BRTS in chennai Message-ID: among big cities in India is Bangalore different in decision making regarding the mobility of the majority While the BMTC the bus transport co makes it costlier for the poor to access mobility it is quite powerful and now has another 1000 buses likely to be added on but only one BRT proposed on the outer ring road. So buses and commuters are being made to play second fiddle to the Metro/ Mono and privat car circus on the roads. This does not make for sustainable access to poor people and therefore needs a big lobby and other cities seem to have planned along those lines which Bangalore has been reluctant to do Vinay Baindur Eight corridors identified for BRTS Ajai Sreevatsan T+ ? T- [image: The stretch between Pallavaram and St.Thomas Mount on GST Road is one of the eight corridors that are in line for a Bus Rapid Transit System. Photo: A.Muralitharan] The HIndu The stretch between Pallavaram and St.Thomas Mount on GST Road is one of the eight corridors that are in line for a Bus Rapid Transit System. Photo: A.Muralitharan Dedicated bus lanes on stretches of GST Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai recommended A report commissioned by the Transport Department to evolve a ?comprehensive bus mobility plan' for the city has strongly recommended the creation of dedicated bus lanes on stretches of Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road and Rajiv Gandhi Salai. A senior official of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) said that about eight corridors have been identified where building a Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) is feasible. Phase-I of the plan envisages a BRT network traversing the Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Thoraipakkam-Pallavaram Radial Road and the Grand Southern Trunk Road, where it would stretch up to St. Thomas Mount. The network would resemble the lower half of the alphabet ?A'. It would be about 50 to 60 km length. The report prepared by the Ahmedabad-based Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) observes that the average speed of MTC buses has dropped to just 6 kmph during rush hour. Cars and two wheelers are taking too much of road space, slowing public transport buses to a crawl. For example, on Rajiv Gandhi Salai, though private vehicles move less than a third of the passenger volume that flows through the road, they take up 64 per cent of the road space. To reverse the trend in favour of public transport buses, the report proposes a system modelled after the Ahmedabad BRT, with air-conditioned buses plying on dedicated lanes on either side of the median. ITDP Director Shreya Gadepalli says that buses are crucial since they transport such large numbers of people. ?Many areas in the western, southern and northern parts of the city are ideal for BRT corridors. There is already high demand for existing bus services and roads are wide enough,? she says. Transport Secretary Md. Nasimuddin said that the report is being studied and a final plan will be prepared after taking practical considerations into account. ?The proposal has to be concretised and the financial details are being worked out in coordination with the MTC.? The CMDA's Chennai Comprehensive Transportation Study envisages 84-km of BRT in the city by 2026. Keywords: Bus Rapid Transit System , CMDA , Metropolitan Transport Corporation , model Printable version | Jul 30, 2011 9:40:45 PM | http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Chennai/article2301584.ece