Clusters: How they work

While the overall objectives and many of the supporting devices and tools that make up this project are international and hence quite general, the bottom line of the Kyoto Cities project is in fact very specific: doing what we can to encourage, support and help bring about significant changes in the transportation arrangements of individual cities. For this to be achieved, we need to find ways to create or link to tighter more focused groupings that can then get together to back and support specific remedial actions. To this end, we are giving our full attention to the concepts of 'supporting clusters' which we divide into three broad types:

Sectors
Regions
Cities

In each of these cases, it is our goal not to try to create new connecting networks but rather, where they already exist, to work with others who are in place and working to advance their own related agendas. At this early point (1 May 2005) we are still far from clear as to how the mechanics of this partitioned though still accessible internal networking are going to be achieved in each case, but we can at the very least set out the goals and overall organization that we have in mind.

The Sector Clusters

Thus far these are the sectors that are emerging, both in terms of the interests and work of the individual members of the International Council, and in that of the various partner and associated groups and programs:

Active transport (walking, cycling, etc.)
Children
Economics, finance
Education, learning
Environment and ecology issues
Governance, law,
Independent living
The IT, transport, environment interface
Land use, Public space programs
Media and communications
New technology systems (within 20 month window)
Policing, enforcement
Public health
Public transport, rail, bus, etc.
Street, Infrastructure modification
Taxis, carsharing, paratransit and other shared services
Transport, traffic planning, modeling and simulation
Transport Demand Management (TDM)
Women: issues and leadership

Let us take the concept of an Independent Living Cluster as an example. If the ultimate objective of the Kyoto Cities approach is a very broad reshaping of the mobility system in any place, what better time to bring in the spokesmen for those with mobility handicapped and access limitations than at the outset of the restructuring process. What we have learned over the years with painful and not always particularly successful experience with this in places in which the transportation arrangements are already in place, is that it is far easier to fit -- then to retrofit. For example.

The full list goes on of course, but the point here is that it is useful in this context if we find ways to efficiently link these people, groups, areas of expertise and points of view into linked and active clusters so that they can together bring their collective expertise, experience and contacts to work in support of both the overall program agenda, and for the specific city initiatives that are the ultimate goal of all this work.

Again an example may help make this clear. The Baltic region is an area which is undergoing massive pressures in its historical cities for transportation systems change and for which the available models are, unfortunately, dominated for the most part by old thinking (call it accommodating lots more cars in short). Clearly focused regional action and expertise is badly needed. Hence the Baltic Cluster.

Regional clusters

We are also finding it useful to do what we can to create links between individuals and groups in specific geographic areas. Here for instance are the main regions that we are trying to find ways to link efficiently within the overall communications and exchange efforts:

Africa
Asia/Pacific
Baltic region
Central/East Europe
Latin America/Caribbean
Near/Middle East
North America
Russian Federation
Small Island Developing States
West Europe

By doing our best to create working links and encourage exchanges within these regions, we are creating a little structure that can help us all to understand the special needs of each of these regions. And by making sure they are specifically targeted and in some ways followed and advanced as possible (though associated groups and networks).

City clusters and working groups

At this point we have as yet nothing concrete to report by way of specific 20/20 city projects. However we can mention that there are a certain number of first discussions forming up, including in: Cambridge (Mass), Hamilton (Ontario), Kitakyushu, London, Los Angeles, Paris, Philadelphia, Portland (OR), Toronto.

The basic "model" that we have in mind is to start by working hand in hand with one or more well placed activist or local government contacts in that city or general area, and then in iterations to see if we can work with them to build up a more or less informal working group as a first stage, which perhaps in time can then be developed into a "City of XXX Kyoto Challenge Consortium". But for more on this we need a bit more time to observe how this is actually going to work out in practice. Stay tuned!

For a rathe rgood idea of the kinds of groups who should be invogled in such a preparatory outreach effort, we invite you to check out the Local Implmentation Partners link.