Are we Preaching only to the converted?

Transcription

1 Are we Preaching only to the converted?

2 The Background I m sure that in this room everyone knows about, understands and is committed to the Sustainable Transportation vision. We celebrate positive policy announcements from the Government with satisfaction, sometimes relief, assuming that now right things will happen.

3 The Ground Reality But it s a totally different world out there Just take a look at some of the headlines screaming for our attention in the local media

4 - Build more roads - even in the river-bed and on thickly forested hills. More flyovers and tunnels, because traffic is growing and that s a sign of progress. - Drive for more parking spaces in the city to accommodate this growing traffic..

5 - But there are also some positive messages though far and few between

6 Double-Speak - The city s Infrastructure is woefully inadequate. We need massive investments to stay competitive. - We will improve the Public Transport System. 200 new buses will be added soon. - Safe and adequate cycle tracks will be built, particularly for school children.

7 What Exactly is happening? Taken together, these mixed messages add to the complexity, leave the citizens confused, and expensive projects become vital for city s development. Those who question or oppose them are dubbed anti development.

8 A Reminder National Urban Transport Policy Report of the Working Group for the 11 th Five Year Plan on Urban Transport JNNURM Mission Statement Sensible recommendations from all above But is anyone Listening?

9 Translating Ideas into Action Components of T&T Vision Public Transport Non-motorized Transport Transport Demand Management

10 Citywide T&T plan For a sustainable and people friendly Traffic and Transportation Plan, all three components need to be in place (this is consistent with the three documents cited). 1. Public Transport 2. Non-Motorized Transport and 3. Traffic Demand Management (TDM)

11 A Hard Nut to Crack? If this (vision) is so clear, what is the obstacle? Is it difficult to understand? Is it inconvenient to implement? Why aren t these policies adopted by city Governments?

12 Parisar s Experience Gathering data, statistics, resource material to understand issues. Presentations to officials, elected representatives and NGOs Meetings and discussions with relevant official on specific issues (PMT, BRT, Cycle Tracks etc) Hand-holding (PMT)

13 Volunteering to prepare policy plans, policy documents Running campaigns with stakeholders (PMT) or media (Sakal)

14 From presentation on Sustainable T&T Trips by Mode

15 From presentation on Sustainable T&T Pune s growth since 1960 Motorized Vehicles Increased 106 times Population Increased 4 times Road surface Increased 6 times Use of public transport Decreased by 60% Fact: Mumbai has 5 times the population of Pune but Pune has more vehicles than Mumbai!!

16 From Poster Exhibition

17 From media campaign on sustainable T&T jointly with Sakal Newspaper

18 Apparently this is not enough Although these efforts have projected the Sustainable T&T Vision and forced the conventional paradigm on the back foot, decision makers continue to follow the path of - more roads, - more flyovers, - more parking and - more subsidies for personal auto vehicles, while merely paying lip service to Public Transport, NMT, TDM and Auto-vehicle-free areas. The Vicious Circle shown on the next slide is the inevitable result.

19 More roads, wider roads, flyovers, parking Increased Vehicle Use Latent demand Vicious Circle Increased Infrastructure Trying to solve traffic jams by building more roads is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline Enriqué Peñalosa

20 You can lead a Horse to Water but.. The real problem is not the absence of viable solutions there are many to choose from But what does one do when those in authority and power fail to act?

21 Lack of Political Will This is a perennial problem with most cities in India. Political will can be generated if the bureaucracy pushes the right T&T options. Unfortunately in majority of Indian cities, the bureaucracy doesn t seem to be doing much in this direction.

22 Can we learn from the Anti-Smoking Campaign? Governments around the world successfully mounted a campaign against smoking. In less than a couple of decades, smokers were banished to the status of lepers and although it has not eradicated the habit, smoking is no longer fashionable. Can we not work for similar changes in the T&T policy?

23 Can JNNURM funding drive this change? Massive funds driving change in cities. Urban Land Ceiling Act scrapped, Rent Act, and Octroi on way out. Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies targeted for major changes in financial systems and accountability as a precondition for grant of funding. Can sanction of JNNRUM funds drive appropriate changes in the T&T policy?

24 Some suggestions The central government is offering grants for T&T studies. It is also funding some transport related projects. If JNNURM funds are made conditional to implementing appropriate citywide T&T projects, and their progress reviewed from time to time, sustainable transportation initiatives will get a well deserved boost. Monitoring can be carried out independently to ensure proper compliance.

25 The Role of NGOs City based NGOs can play an important role in this initiative by helping in the Public Awareness and outreach programmes. Traditionally most local urban bodies would be ill-equipped to handle communication related campaigns.

26 Needs to be done with urgency Pace of urbanization and explosive growth of auto vehicles in most medium and large cities in our country demands that this problem should be taken up with utmost urgency. With the Tata Rs 1 lakh car round the corner and several more car makers ready to follow suite, transportation projects need to fall in place without any more delay.

27 Anti Public Transport Ads Acknowledgement: Todd Edelman This ad in Prague metro asks "Is it not time for a change?" The ad space is managed by Rencar, a division of JCDecaux.

28 This is a BMW Mini placed on top of an entrance to the C line metro in Prague. The text reads "Don't hide underground". JCDecaux's subsidiary Rencar is one of several companies responsible for adverts in Prague's public transport but it is not clear if they were involved in this.

29 Advert is by bank which provides financing for automobile purchases. Photo provided by Lloyd Wright from

30 Text: How much do you spend in transport? Get a new car for only EUR 100 per month - Photo provided by Oscar Diaz, ITDP

31 The caption: A strong want is a justifiable need. In the capital of the most powerful and prosperous nation!!!

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