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Chennai Celebrates Walking at the Sustainia Award Ceremony

Safe and wide footpaths in Chennai

4th February 2016 by admin

For the past several years, the city of Chennai has been taking bold, rational, and consistent steps towards a sustainable future. New footpaths are making walking more accessible for city residents. The Corporation introduced new capacity building programs for municipal engineers. A new Car Free Sunday initiative is engaging more residents to explore their city on foot. And the progressive non-motorised transport policy adopted by the city, which allocates 60% of transport funding for non-motorized transport, has inspired many national and international cities to adopt similar policies.

For this comprehensive approach to improving sustainable transport, the Corporation of Chennai has been recognized with the 2015 Sustainia Award, presented by the Danish think tank, Sustainia. The Sustainia Awards identify innovative and demonstrated sustainable solutions from across the world. Chennai’s Street Design Project was selected as the best solution of 2015 for transforming Chennai from a car-centric to a people-friendly city and addressing safety concerns and air pollution in one go.

The award was originally presented on December 6th at the Paris Climate Conference, and was received by ITDP CEO Clayton Lane on behalf of the city. Chennai officials were unable to attend the event, as they were responding to torrential rains that hit Chennai in early December 2015. ITDP has been one of the principal partners on the project. On January 23rd, the Corporation of Chennai, ITDP, the Chennai City Connect, and numerous partners came together to celebrate the success of the project.

“The city has set a new example in the country by prioritising people over cars with the adoption of the non-motorized transport policy,” said Saidai Duraisamy, the proud Mayor of Chennai, as he received the award from Clayton Lane.

(Left) The Mayor of Chennai receiving the award from Clayton Lane (Right) Clayton Lane receiving the Sustania award on behalf of Chennai at the Paris award ceremony.

These new policies are necessary to combat the decline in walking and cycling in the city in recent years. “The mode share of vehicles and two wheelers have rapidly increased. Although this is a sign of economic development, it is also a matter of concern due to the rising level of pollution and road accidents. We need to work towards becoming a safer, healthier city,” stated Vikram Kapur, former Commissioner of Chennai, during whose term many projects promoting non-motorised transport were initiated.

The heightened risk of air pollution was further stressed by B Chandra Mohan, Commissioner of Chennai, who added that pollution is a problem that can wait no longer. To this end, Clayton Lane emphasized the major impact sustainable transport can have, citing ITDP research showing how “a considerable switch to walking and cycling can reduce these emissions in half.”

The speakers highlighted that the street design process needs to be balanced and include the needs of all stakeholders who are an integral part of the cityscape.

Everyone needs to come together to build a walkable Chennai, and the event brought together people who contributed to the cause in various ways—architects who assisted the city in street design, community agencies, academic institutions, media partners and the traffic police—who were felicitated at the event.

While Chennai has taken the first steps towards developing a people centric city, the next challenge will be addressing the encroachment onto footpaths by parked vehicles, and the stakeholders gathered for the Sustania Award celebration took some time to discuss best practices in parking regulation and management. “Parking is like a magnet that attracts more cars. Providing more parking is not the solution to tackle this problem,” asserted Shreya Gadepalli, Regional Director, ITDP India, as she presented some of the myths associated with on-street and off-street parking along with progressive solutions.

The panel discussion saw active participation from Kavitha Selvaraj, C.R.Narayana Rao architects; Rajesh Gurumurthy from JLL India; Dr. Sumanthran, executive committee member of Chennai City Connect; Vikram Kapur; and Clayton Lane; who all agreed on the importance of enforcing and regulating parking.

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1 parking space occupies the same space as an affordable housing unit. What should we prioritize, parking or people?

Spurred on by the successes of the non-motorized transport movement, progress on new issues looks hopeful. With strong political will and a collaborative effort from different stakeholders and policy makers, Chennai looks all set to walk into a sustainable future.

Presentation on Parking Basics 

More pictures  of the Sustania event

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Chennai, Traffic reduction, Walking and Cycling

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InFocus: Building climate resilience through transport

15th January 2016 by admin

ITDP brings you news from around the world about sustainable transport and urban development. The past year was interesting, specially in India. Chennai’s NMT transformation, to Delhi’s odd-even car-restriction scheme, to Burdwan’s car-free days, change was in the air!

The Conference of Parties summit – popularly called COP21- held in Paris last December, saw the nations committing to maintain an increase in the world’s temperature at less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, ‘If we don’t hang together, assuredly, we shall hang separately”.

Transport accounts for a staggering 23 percent of energy-related CO2 emissions. There is NO WAY we can redress the situation without changing the way we travel.  A large-scale, planned movement towards non-motorised, and public, transportation seems the only practicable way out. Let us see what Indian cities have been trying out, lately :

[Read more…]

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Chennai, Delhi, Traffic reduction, Walking and Cycling

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Coimbatore’s car-free Sundays spark demand for better pedestrian facilities

23rd December 2015 by admin

Over the last four months, as more than one lakh citizens have stepped into the streets on car-free Sundays transforming the city’s thoroughfares into vibrant public spaces, Coimbatore residents have started strongly calling for better pedestrian facilities in the city. The dramatic success of Coimbatore’s car-free Sundays has proved that there is demand for pedestrian infrastructure, and has encouraged civic authorities to begin implementing more permanent changes on ground. As a first step, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has begun—redesigning and construction of city’s main roads with wider footpaths. In addition, the city plans to expand the car-free event to other areas such as Race Course Road.

Coimbatore’s car-free Sunday has been a huge success, and is bringing the city national attention. The comprehensive effort by CCMC was recently honored with the Best Project Award, Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) category, by India’s National Ministry of Urban Development. The national award was received by CCMC Commissioner K Vijayakarthikeyan at the Eighth Urban Mobility India Conference and Expo, 2015 held at New Delhi. Of the 40 cities that sent in entries, Coimbatore emerged the winner, recognizing both the success of the program and it’s potential to be replicated in cities across India

For decades, transport planning in India has focused on improving conditions for private vehicles at the expense of safe footpaths and cycling facilities. However, in most Indian cities at least a third of all daily trips are made by foot or cycle. In Coimbatore, rapid urbanisation is placing increasingly high pressure on the existing infrastructure. Until recently, the response to these pressures has been to widen roads and propose more flyovers, while the welfare of pedestrians and cyclists was often overlooked.

Fortunately, the success of car-free Sunday is transforming this paradigm. By creating a new platform for citizens to assert their right over the city’s public spaces, the program is sparking interest in better footpaths and safer streets. The initiative, which brought together other partners including Coimbatore City Police, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) and the Times of India, helped generate the political backing for a comprehensive programme of pedestrian improvements.

Recently, the Coimbatore Council approved redesigning 13 km of streets in the city with wide and continuous footpaths. Gathering architects for the design of these streets is already in progress, and ITDP India will continue to play a role in the process. The Corporation is also creating a network of greenways along the city’s water bodies. Work is in progress on walkways along Perur Lake, while the edges of Ukkadam-Valan Kulam lake are being cleaned and beautified. Besides the construction of new footpaths, the Corporation has also set a goal of building raised pedestrian crossings outside 80 schools and redesigning two intersections for improved safety by August 2016.

(Left) Existing and (Right) Proposed pedestrian facilities on DB Road, Coimbatore

Car-free Sundays in Coimbatore reclaim only 2km of streets from traffic. However, even this modest beginning has made citizens realise the joy of walking on their streets and empowering them to voice their demand for better pedestrian facilities. With national leaders taking notice and local leaders taking action, Coimbatore’s non motorised future now looks promising. The vision of reclaiming the city for its people—Namma Kovai Namakke—is becoming a reality.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Coimbatore, Sustainable Transport Policy, Walking and Cycling

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Chennai’s bold move to go car-free

Car-free Sundays in Chennai

5th November 2015 by admin

Chennai’s car-free Sundays at Elliot’s Beach Road saw citizens making the streets their own, with pedestrians and cyclists taking centre stage on streets that are otherwise filled with parked cars and traffic. From kids cycling and skating without the fear of cars to fitness enthusiasts training on wide streets, car-free Sundays in Chennai brought together citizens from all walks of life to transform streets into vibrant public spaces.

Where football and badminton attracted the young, spontaneous games of street cricket gave opportunities for families to unwind. Road art and storytelling sessions kept the kids engaged and were met with enthusiastic support from parents. Unexpected street performances lent an air of festivity to the event and had the crowd asking for more. But it was not all about celebrations. By bringing different social groups together, car-free Sundays have provided a platform to generate awareness about various issues in the city — one group chose to use the event to talk about cerebral palsy and the need for an inclusive society.

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Sounds of traffic were replaced with music at car-free Sundays

The first of these car-free Sundays was flagged off on 11 October 2015 by the Mayor, Saidai Duraisamy, who then joined the City Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner and city officials for a cycle ride along the street. “I love to bike. It is something that I am very passionate about. Given an opportunity, I would like to bike around the city,” said Vikram Kapur, Commissioner, Corporation of Chennai after cycling along the car-free streets.

Car-free Sundays were initiated in Chennai on 11 October.

Initiated by the Corporation of Chennai and the Chennai City Traffic Police, this campaign was  conceptualised by the Institute of Transportation and Development Policy and Chennai City Connect Foundation and presented by The Hindu. Called Namma Chennai Namakke (“Our Chennai Ourselves”), car-free Sundays form an important step in creating a paradigm shift in urban transport scenario in the city. By shifting focus away from cars and towards walking,cycling and public transport, the campaign continues to present an alternate vision of how Chennai can be — a happier, healthier and a more inclusive city. With local residents wanting to expand this initiative to other times of the week and with requests pouring in from citizens across the city to have this initiative in different neighbourhoods, Chennai looks set to pave the way for a car-free future.

Car-free days are held every Sunday, from 6:00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m., on Elliot’s Beach Road, Chennai. All are welcome. For more information, log on to https://www.facebook.com/NammaChennaiNamakke/

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Chennai, Walking and Cycling

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Car-free days transform Coimbatore — congested streets become parks for people

28th August 2015 by admin

 

Coimbatore spoke loud and clear! The people reclaimed their streets from automobiles, in the process reclaiming their quality of life. Sunday, 9 August 2015, saw over four thousand residents out bright and early for Coimbatore’s first car-free Sunday. People put DB Road and TV Swamy Road to good use, whether they were walking, cycling, playing badminton, jumping around on trampolines, or dribbling soccer balls. What stood out was the laughter and the palpable joy.

The Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) and Coimbatore City Police launched the car-free Sundays along with founding partners ITDP,  the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC), and presenting partner The Times of India. The events are part of Namma Kovai Namakke (Our Coimbatore for Ourselves), a campaign to create people friendly streets across Coimbatore.

“I didn’t realise how wide our roads are,” said Archana Patnaik, District Collector for Coimbatore, as she walked and cycled along the streets. Patnaik and other city officials met with residents and participated wholeheartedly in the activities.

 NKN - 150821 (3)

Citizens walk and cycle along car-free streets (left) while Coimbatore Municipal Commissioner, Dr. K. Vijayakarthikeyan, enjoys a game of cricket (right).

With a turnout of over 15,000 the next weekend and 19,000 in the third week, more and more of Coimbatore’s residents have begun participating, enjoying their Sundays like never before. The unprecedented public support for car-free Sundays has enthused CCMC and the Traffic Police, who are planning to expand the initiative to include other streets like Race Course Road.

The run-up to the launch of the car-free Sundays saw the residents and city officials come together to discuss how to to transform Coimbatore into a smart, vibrant city, one that offers safe, accessible, and comfortable public spaces to all. “I want Coimbatore to be the smartest city—not just a smart city—in  India,” remarked Dr. K. Vijayakarthikeyan, Commissioner, Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation, at a stakeholder meeting.

NKN - 150821 (4)

Municipal officials, traffic police, RAAC, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Coimbatore chapter, prominent citizens and the media participated in the stakeholder meeting to envision a Smart Coimbatore.

Car-free days are but the first step towards making Coimbatore a liveable city with safe and equitable public spaces.  Following the success of car-free Sundays, Coimbatore plans to upgrade footpaths along key streets in each of its five zones, including DB Road and TV Swamy Road. As one participant rightly said, reclaiming space for people makes it “not (only) a happy street, but a happy city.”

Car-free days are held every Sunday, from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., on DB Road and TV Swamy Road, Coimbatore. More streets will join the party soon! All are welcome. For more information, log on to https://www.facebook.com/NammaKovaiNamakke.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Coimbatore, Walking and Cycling

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InFocus: Innovative solutions to prioritise cycling

25th June 2015 by admin

ITDP brings you a monthly digest of sustainable transport and urban development news from around the world. From Delhi’s policy aimed at improving cycling infrastructure to London’s strategy to prioritise cyclists at intersections,  this month’s InFocus looks at the different components that contribute to creating cyclist-friendly cities.

“Today, even for 1-2 km we are forced to use motorbikes or cars… Therefore, promotion of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure is vital to reduce pollution as well as congestion.”

– LG Najeeb Jung, Delhi

Delhi adopts cycling policy to provide last-mile connectivity

In a bid to decongest the city and improve access to public transport, Delhi has adopted a cycling policy that will enable implementation of 100 km of shaded cycle tracks and pedestrian walkways. It also envisions the creation of a cycle sharing system with 2,500 cycles and 180 cycle stations spread over a 30 sq km of area of Dwarka. Times of India reports.

New York employs smart street design to build cycle lanes and reduce traffic delays

Adding cycling infrastructure doesn’t mean that traffic has to come to a stand still. To illustrate this, Citylab reports on how smart street design interventions like reduced lane widths, buffer areas, and dedicated bus lanes not only make streets safer, but also improve speeds.

London tests out new signal systems that prioritise cyclists

To reduce delays for cyclists, Transport for London has developed a new cyclist detection system that uses radar and thermal cameras. Traffic lights will be adjusted to enable cyclists to pass through junctions faster. BBCLondon reports.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: In Focus, Walking and Cycling

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Indian smart cities need a tenfold increase of mass rapid transit

10th June 2015 by admin

India is urbanising at an unprecedented rate. A third of the country’s population—an estimated 400 million people—now lives in cities. As they cope with this growth, cities are realising that traditional transport solutions like wider roads and flyovers will not provide a lasting solution to their transport problems.

As the national capital has shown, these solutions are only causing high levels of air pollution and unsafe roads while mobility remains poor for the vast majority, including car users. Smart cities need to embrace a radically different approach to urban mobility: one that focuses on more efficient, sustainable forms of mobility like public transport, walking, and cycling.

At roughly 400 km, India has 1 km of high quality rapid transit per million urban residents—a thirtieth of France, the present world leader. To keep pace with its urban growth, India needs a ten-fold increase of its mass rapid transit supply. At the present rates of building mass transit in India, it would take two generations to build enough rapid transit!

Interestingly, developing countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico have 4-5 times more rapid transit than India. These countries are also expanding their systems at significantly higher rates because they are creating surface systems like bus rapid transit (BRT) that are cheaper and quicker to implement. BRT systems feature dedicated median lanes for buses, allowing commuters to bypass congestion. They also provide features such as stepless boarding, off-board fare collection, and real-time passenger information to reduce delays and improve customer service.

Quick evolution of the Janmarg network

The Ahmedabad BRT system—known as Janmarg or “the People’s Way”—has revolutionised expectations about bus-based mass rapid transport in India. In a quick span of five years, Janmarg has expanded from a 12.5 km corridor to a network of 88 km of dedicated BRT corridors with 120 stations, providing connectivity across the entire city. Janmarg demonstrates that BRT can provide metro-quality service at a fraction of the cost.

Rapid transit, while important, is not enough. Many Indian cities have skeletal bus services or none at all. In their absence, people depend on intermediate public transport modes that are uncomfortable, unsafe, and highly polluting. The lack of reliable public transport is causing a shift to private two wheelers and cars. Hence, a formal bus-based public transport service is a necessity in all urban areas with a population of over two lakhs. In all, Indian cities will need over 4 lakh new city buses and minibuses by 2030.

In addition, streets must be redesigned to support walking and cycling—clean modes of transport that still play an important role in Indian cities. While more than a third of all the trips in most of our cities are made by foot or cycle, public transport trips too start and end on foot (or cycle)—making walking and cycling integral to India’s transport systems. Indian cities need to build 30,000 km of wide and accessible footpaths and 20,000 km of cycle tracks over the next decade.

Complete streets with wide footpaths, Chennai

In Chennai, the Corporation has proposed to create a safe and pleasant network of footpaths, cycle tracks and greenways through the entire city to arrest the current decline in walking and cycling. The first phase of the project has been implemented. Streets with wide carriageways and narrow footpaths have been replaced by wide, continuous and unhindered walking spaces, safe pedestrian crossings, protected cycle tracks, properly scaled carriageways, conveniently placed bus stops, and clearly designated on-street parking.

Investments promoting walking, cycling and public transport will not bear fruit unless Indian cities stop counterproductive car-centric investments like flyovers and elevated roads. No city in the world has solved its congestion problem by building more roads. Yet Indian cities are repeating the mistakes of developed countries. Rather, cities must control personal motor vehicle use through parking restrictions and market-based pricing.

Tackle congestion by limiting parking

Our cities should follow a simple mantra: build transit, add density, control parking. That is, cities should allow higher densities in areas where there is good connectivity to mass rapid transit while simultaneously limiting parking supply. Parking fees should be pegged to parking demand.

Ahmedabad’s Development Plan 2021 embraces this mantra. It encourages the use of public transport and promotes a compact city by allowing higher density commercial and residential activities along BRT corridors while removing minimum requirements for off-street parking in new buildings. All developments are allowed only two basements of free parking.

While these walking, cycling and public transport initiatives will require substantial funds, they will cost only a fifth as much as a car oriented future, with significantly better results for all. Sustainable transport will cut the outflow of foreign exchange for fossil fuel imports by 40 per cent, reduce air pollution by a third, and save tens of thousands of lives on our roads. Let’s invest in sustainable solutions that secure an equitable, liveable future for our cities.

This article was first published in BW Smart Cities.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Ahmedabad, Bus Rapid Transit, Chennai, National, Parking, Walking and Cycling

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InFocus: Replacing highways with parks

26th May 2015 by admin

ITDP brings you a monthly digest of sustainable transport and urban development news from around the world. From Paris’ plan to pedestrianise the banks of river Seine to Seoul’s proposal to convert a flyover into a park, this month’s InFocus looks at cities tackling pollution and congestion by erasing highways and replacing them with parks.

“It’s an urban project, something almost philosophical, which involves envisaging the city in an alternative way than through the use of cars.”

– Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris

Paris to pedestrianise a highway along the river Seine

The proposal looks at replacing a busy highway flanking the banks of river Seine with waterside gardens, children’s play areas, and grassy walkways. This project, estimated to cost over 55 crore rupees, is expected to lead to a 15 per cent drop in nitrogen dioxide levels as well as a reduction in noise pollution. The Guardian reports.

Seoul to transform a flyover into a public park

Originally used for vehicule traffic, the 70s-era Seoul Station Overpass is now being converted into an urban park. The proposed project, to be completed in 2017, will include native plants, tea shops, and a street library. Citylab reports.

A large number of cities have discovered the benefits of highway removal

From San Francisco to Madrid, removing highways and replacing with parks has helped reduce pollution, increase property values, and provide a better quality of life for citizens. Gizmodo documents six such projects that have benefitted their cities. The ‘Life and Death of Urban Highways’ presents alternatives to building new urban highways.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: In Focus, Walking and Cycling

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InFocus: Reclaiming streets for people

17th April 2015 by admin

ITDP brings you a monthly digest of sustainable transport and urban development news from around the world. From Equal Streets in Mumbai to Raahgiri Day in Delhi, this month’s InFocus looks at car-free Sundays and how they have helped garner support for walking and cycling while creating places that can be enjoyed by all.

Less than a tenth of trips in Indian cities are made by cars, yet our streets are already choked with traffic and pollution. To address these concerns, a growing number of cities have started reclaiming streets for people. They have embraced the idea of car-free Sundays, transforming streets into vibrant spaces that actively support social life and using them as a platform to promote walking and cycling.

“Why don’t we make Sunday, cycle day? I am saying that only one day a week, don’t use fuel-driven vehicles.”

PM bats for Cycle Sundays

Emphasising that rising consumerism was the root of the climate crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested how making lifestyle changes like using cycles at least once a week can help save energy and counter the threat of climate change. Times of India reports.

Mumbai embraces Equal Streets to be healthier, happier

To reclaim public space swallowed by motorists, Mumbai pedestrianises 6.5 km of streets every Sunday morning to facilitate walking, cycling, and a host of other activities. The Guardian reports.

Delhi uses car-free days to build support for walking and cycling

Locally known as Raahgiri Day, car-free days in Delhi have helped spur long-term change in favour of sustainable transport. Project for Public Spaces presents the details.

Bogotá’s Cyclovía shows an alternative vision of streets

With over 100 km of streets closed for residents to walk, cycle, run, skate and simply have fun, Bogotá, Columbia reclaims its streets for people every Sunday. Streetfilms presents the details.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: In Focus, Walking and Cycling

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Social Innovations for the Future: Transport in Smart Cities

Rainbow BRT in pune region

30th November 2014 by admin

India is urbanising at an unprecedented rate. A third of the country’s population—an estimated 380 million people—now lives in its cities. As they cope with this growth, cities are realising that traditional solutions like wider roads and flyovers will not provide a lasting solution to their transport problems. Instead, smart cities the world over are turning toward mass rapid transit systems to provide high quality, efficient mobility. These efforts are the focus of the latest episode of NDTV’s special feature, “Social Innovations for the Future.” The programme explores ways that India’s best practice mass rapid transit solutions—Ahmedabad’s Janmarg BRT system and the Delhi metro—are helping to tackle congestion, reduce pollution, and improve safety.

“The best cities of the world typically have over 40 per cent of all trips by public transport” observes Shreya Gadepalli, Regional Director with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) in the interview, calling for greater investment in public transport to ensure efficient, dependable, and accessible-to-all service. ITDP estimates that a smart city needs 30-35 km of rapid transit, 200-500 city buses and 80 km of walking and cycling infrastructure for every million urban residents. These infrastructure improvements should be paired with demand management practices, especially parking management, to control the use of personal motor vehicles. As India strives to create smart cities, budget allocations must give priority to walking, cycling, and public transport over personal motor vehicles.

This special feature also includes thoughts of Mr. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister of Urban Development, Government of India; Mr. Jagan Shah, Director of the National Institute of Urban Affairs; and Mr. O. P. Agarwal, Director General of the Institute of Urban Transport (India).

Filed Under: news Tagged With: Bus Rapid Transit, Delhi, Public Transport, Walking and Cycling

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