27 January 2012 | Alan Bouquet
Biofuel, Carbon, Transportation

 

Binhai Mass Transit system

Sustainable transport is a key aspect of a sustainable city. Those cities without adequate public transport are the ones with congested roads, polluted air and reduced productivity of its workforce. In fact 20-25% of carbon emissions come from transport. Creating a city from scratch would enable a mass transit system to be created to suit the needs of the city in its entirety, but unfortunately most cities have to build their systems in conjunction with those already present and a twenty-four hour living city.

There are many costs to a clogged transport system: huge amounts of time taken away from economically productive activity, family time, increased carbon emissions and pollution as well as damage to health. It is therefore essential that a sustainable city includes a sound transportation system, capable of effectively mobilising its inhabitants.

There are several examples around the world where cities have implemented a green solution for transport. The Delhi metro system is a rapidly expanding rail network that will dwarf the London Underground in 20 years. It is a completely new metro system which first opened in 2002 and now carries around two million passengers per day. It is also the first rail network in the world to earn carbon credits for the avoided emissions it creates. Over the next 20 years, hundreds more miles of track will be laid, hoping to further reduce congestion in a busy city of over 14 million people.

Curitiba in Brazil is another city that passes under the radar when it comes to its green sensibilities; however the city has one of the best transit systems in the world, with 80% of its citizens using the network of Buses in the city and spending well below the average rate on transport. As a result, the city has very low rates of air pollution.

Oslo is an example of a city that has focussed energy on bicycle use. The city has taken up the challenges of turning itself into an eco-city with zeal, creating eco-zones and pushing for the use of electric cars at every opportunity. It has a bike share program and encourages bike use with an excellent cycle path network.

But reducing carbon emissions doesn’t have to involve public transport. Car pooling and sharing is another way to reduce congestion and emissions in a simple way that does not necessarily require infrastructure changes. Some cities have taken it upon themselves to encourage car pooling, mostly as a means to reduce congestion, by creating car pooling lanes on busy roads. It doesn’t have to be as complicated as this however, with costs of fuel rising, ways to save money on commuting will become more inviting to travellers.

With the emphasis for the Rio+20 focussing on sustainable consumption, it will be up to the cities of the world to take on some of the ideas of these world leading green cities and spread sustainable transport around the world.
 

Image 1 Binhai Mass Transit | Unsonique | Wiki Commons