The collection of links and articles providing information on theoretical aspect of carfree issue.
http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/support/Global%20Oil%20Depletion
Changing the Way we Share our Streets
Here is a report from Portsmouth, UK, Britain’s first city where speed is limited at 30km/h. This initial report on the results of reducing the speed limit on most streets to 30km/h shows significant reductions in accidents and casualties.
http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk/portsmouth.htm
Biofuels Reports: Separating the Good from the Bad and the Ugly
The worst biofuels can emit 2000% more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels, while the best can genuinely cut down on emissions. Those are two conclusions of a new United Nations report, one of several papers published in the last month that reaffirm that only certain biofuels can be environmentally beneficial – and only then if produced in certain ways.
Automobility and Freedom: Conflicts and Resolutions
Very interesting articles destroying the myth presenting cars are as object of freedom.
http://www.planetizen.com/node/41688
Non-Drivers Pay for American Roads
Analyzing Federal Highway Administration data dating back to 1957, the dawn of the Interstate system, Subsidyscope researchers found that non-users of the highway system contributed $70 billion for nationwide road construction and maintenance in 2007. In 1982, by contrast, highway contributions from non-users totaled just $35 billion (in 2007 dollars).
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010807.html
US Streets Are Dangerous for Pedestrian
The report, Dangerous By Design: Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods), ranks the 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas for pedestrians in the US. The report, by Transportation for America and the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership, says states simply aren’t spending enough to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/11/pedestrian-fatalities-report/
How to Ease Women´s Fear of Transportation
The Mineta Transportation Institute at San Jose State University has released a report that explores the safety needs of women who use transit, the extent to which transit agencies are meeting these needs, and programs and practices in the United States and abroad that address women’s concerns about safe travel.
http://transweb.sjsu.edu/mtiportal/research/publications/documents/Sideris.pdf
Traffic Noise Kills
A recent Swedish study of 30,000 people in the province of Skåne has confirmed what many other studies have suggested: that the noise generated by traffic causes higher blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease, strokes and blood clots. It states that between 200-500 people in Denmark die every year because of traffic noise.
Essential Evidence – The Benefits of Cycling and Walking
A leading source of information outlining the benefits of walking and cycling to public health from Dr. Adrian Davis from Active Bristol, UK. This evidence is especially useful for helping to strengthen active travel campaigns.
http://www.acttravelwise.org/news/1358
Cyclists Cause Less Than 10% of Bike/Car Accidents
While convalescing after being hit by a truck, Dr. Chris Cavacuiti of the University of Toronto had some time to study the statistics of accidents between cyclists and drivers.
After studying Toronto police collision reports, he got to conclude that collisions have far more to do with aggressive driving than aggressive cycling.
Is Germany Changing its Transport Usage?
A study on mobility in Germany from 2002-2008, which shows a huge increase in the number of journeys people take without a car, and it seems that more and more Germans are opting to use sustainable transportation.
http://www.x-rail.net/render.asp?o=7168#1
Bicycle Ambulance Project in Zambia
In 2008 Transaid began a bicycle drawn ambulance project in Eastern Zambia. The project had three aims: improving access to healthcare in rural areas, construction and maintenance of bicycle ambulances, and to best practise solutions for endorsement by international organisations. This paper presents useful literature and reviews the outcomes of the project.
http://www.ifrtd.org/new/res/transaid_bicycleambulance_may09.pdf
Future Scenarios for Perth, Australia
Research report commissioned by the Western Australian Department of Planning/Department of Transport. This report compares four different scenarios of urban growth and public transport infrastructure and service priorities within a 25-year time frame in the city of Perth, where population is expected to grow by more than 40%.
www.abp.unimelb.edu.au/gamut/pdf/perth-snamuts-future-scenarios-19june09.pdf
Car Free Development and New Street Design
This is a handy resource on carfree developments and new street design from Sustainable Urban Transport Project. The document provides an overview of the latest available literature and includes links to a wide range of related organisations and projects.
http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_docman&Itemid=54&lang=uk
Efficiency – Equity – Clarity
This report “Are Vehicle Travel Reduction Targets Justified? Evaluating Mobility Management Objectives Such As Targets To Reduce VMT And Increase Use Of Alternative Modes” from the Victoria Transport Policy Institute investigates whether transportation policies should include mobility management objectives, such as targets to reduce vehicle travel and encourage use of alternative modes.
http://www.vtpi.org/vmt_red.pdf
Travelling by bike in Denmark
Useful information if you are thinking of traveling in Denmark, and an excellent example of how to promote vacation cycling, if you are interested in doing that.
http://www.e-pages.dk/visitdenmark/223/
Global Status Report on Road Safety
Report on Traffic Accidents by the World Health Organisation (WHO) called “Global Status Report on Road Safety” shows that road traffic injuries remain an important public health problem, particularly for low and middle-income countries. Roughly 1.3 million people die each year on the world’s roads, and the report highlights the need for more attention to be given to road safety programmes.
http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_safety_status/2009/en/
Sustainable Urban Transport in Developing Countries
Sustainable Urban Transport Project has published “Sustainable Urban Transport: A Sourcebook for Policy-makers in Developing Countries”. It has been adapted especially for the South Asian context and serves as a toolkit for policy-makers and city governments adopting sustainable transport solutions.
http://www.sutp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1568&Itemid=1&lang=uk
The Bicycle Lifestyle Guide
Designed by Cyclists Inciting Change through Live Exchange (CICLE), this booklet provides many cycling interesting tips and ideas to “Get you inspired – to give you a glimpse of just how cool life on a bicycle can be”.
Good Practice Guidelines: Delivering Travel Plans through the Planning Process
Published by the UK Department for Transport and Communities and Local Government. Travel plans are an important tool for developing and promoting sustainable travel – e.g. walking, cycling, public transport, and help to reduce single occupancy car use. The new document guidelines will be valuable to those who work in either transport or planning who will find the detailed information, good practice and case studies helpful.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/sustainable/travelplans/tpp/
Public Transport Offers Better Value for Money than Usually Stated
These are the findings from a focus report by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) on the assessment of the benefits of public transport. It highlights seven main areas where public transport benefits are not currently considered or measured (such as economic vitality, reliability and health benefits) and claims for an extension of traditional appraisal criteria.
http://www.uitp.org/news/pics/pdf/PR_UITP_Focus_final.pdf
Cycling on the Rise
Spicycles began in 2006 as a project from Velo Mondial, aiming to study how to increase the modal share of cycling. The project’s final brochure ‘Cycling on the rise’ outlines the experience of several European cities (Barcelona, Berlin, Bucharest, Goteborg, Ploiesti and Rome) through these various themes: bike sharing, communication and awareness, planning for cycling, and building local partnerships.
http://spicycles.velo.info/Portals/0/Deliverables/SpicyclesFinal_Booklet_small.pdf
Carfree Street Events: New York Experience and Guide
A new report from Transportation Alternatives details the results of several successful carfree street events in New York, US. The report also includes some advice of what is needed to make these events work. Certainly worth a read for anyone interested in organising carfree events.
http://www.transalt.org/files/newsroom/reports/2009/walk_in_my_street.pdf
Characteristics of Bus Rapid Transit for Decision Making
This report describes the physical, operational, cost, performance and potential benefits of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems. Its intended audience includes urban transportation professionals and officials involved in developing and evaluating high performance public transport systems. This report is the updated version of 2004 report. Read more at:
http://www.nbrti.org/CBRT.html
Cycling in the Netherlands
This fine publication published by the Dutch Ministry of Transport outlines the important role cycling has as daily transport in and around cities. It covers everything from bicycle policy to recreational cycling with excellent examples throughout. Certainly worth a read:
http://www.fietsberaad.nl/library/repository/bestanden/CyclingintheNetherlands2009.pdf
EU Support to the Car Industry
It is a bit discouraging to read the European Commission report entitled “Responding to the crisis in the European automotive industry”. It suggests to strengthen the “car 21” process (started in 2005 with a round table involving Member States, automotive industry and trade unions, but no NGO’s) and to adopt measures like improving access to credits, developing innovation or boosting demand. The European Investment Bank is expected to approve 3.8 billion Euros worth of automotive sector projects in March and other projects
should emerge soon. According to the Commission, “The European automotive industry has a strong future. Its export performance shows it can make the right products for a global market that will continue to grow.” I’m not sure if you’ll be encouraged to read more, but in case you are, you can find the complete communication at:
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/automotive/pagesbackground/competitiveness/com_2009_0104.pdf
Public Investments Should Focus on Alternatives to Cars
This is the conclusion of the report form the Victoria Transport Policy Institute entitled “Smart Transportation Economic Stimulation: Infrastructure Investments That Support Strategic Planning Objectives Provide True Economic Development”. It demonstrates how investments in alternatives mode of transport (walking, cycling and public transport) are economically more sustainable in the long-term, while subsidies for automobiles can mostly stimulate short-term employment and economic activity. The ecological benefits
and health benefits are obvious, but it is also good to know more about economic benefits of alternatives to cars. You can consult this report at:
http://www.vtpi.org/econ_stim.pdf
Analysis of State Spending Economic Recovery Transportation Money
Friends of the Earth have published their analysis of how 19 different American States intends to spend their infrastructure money in the report entitled: “The Path to Economic Recovery is not a Road; A State by State Analysis of Transportation Projects for the Economic Stimulus”.
http://www.foe.org/pdf/States_Stimulus_Report.pdf
Policy Makers Must Address Transport demand in Europe
The European Environment Agency has published a new report entitled “Beyond transport policy – exploring and managing the external drivers of transport demand”. The report urges policy makers to adopt measures in order to control the growth of transport, especially air traffic. It also underlines the importance of increased awareness for European citizens. Hence, it calls for measures such as better food labelling (with the environmental print of transport “from farm to fork”), the use of wiser urban planning to reduce distances between schools and residential areas, and the informing of European citizens about the carbon footprint of their everyday commutes and holiday journeys.
http://reports.eea.europa.eu/technical_report_2008_12/en
EU to Exceed Air Pollutant Limit due to Growth in Road Transport
Only 11 EU Member-States are planning to respect their targets of emissions for the four air pollutants set by the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive). The rest can go on giving eloquent speeches about “sustainable development”… According to the European Environment Agency, this is partly due to the fast growth of road transport.
http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/eu-to-exceed-air-pollutant-limit-due-to-growth-in-road-transport
