Resource information
Many cities of developing countries are
experiencing rapid growth of motorized transportation. This
is leading to severe congestion, which, in turn, is reducing
productivity. Road accidents have been increasing. Transport
emissions have become a major contributor to severe air
pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The main cause of
these problems has been the increasing preference for
personal motor vehicles for commuting to work and getting
around the city. In many countries, urban development
practices have worked in favor of such preference, leading
to urban sprawl. Thus, remedial measures have to focus on
reversing the preference for such modes of travel, shifting
to public transport, cycling, or walking, and building and
retrofitting cities to minimize the need for private
automobiles. The objective of this guidance note is to
present a systematic, practical, and comprehensive approach
to dealing with the problems of urban transport. It outlines
a framework of possible interventions and demonstrates how
such interventions relate to the overall objectives of
improving mobility and energy efficiency as well as reducing
air pollution and road accidents. Thereafter, it highlights
a range of cross-cutting issues that need to be addressed
and also suggests steps to create an enabling environment to
move towards a sustainable urban transport system. Its
target audience is the city-level leadership and key
decision makers responsible for sustainable urban mobility.
