2004: Initial program sketching and discussions

• Over the year various New Mobility projects and contacts began to converge toward the idea of articulating a very short range very high profile targeting program for radical transport improvement and reshaping - which eventually took the form of initial drafts of the so-called 20/20 approach. From the outset the concept of open, joint program design and extensive international peer group support were regarded as central program elements.
• (Chief among these projects were (a) the rather critical peer group review of the Sustainable Mobility report of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, (b) the success of the group in nominating the Mayor and City of London for the World Technology Prize for Environment for 2004, and (c) the forming up of a Principle Voices of Sustainable Mobility media project. To this lot we should add the growing consensus in our World Carshare Consortium that carsharing per se needs to be developed as but one integrated, synergistic part of a broader new mobility strategy in each city.)
• 19-25 Sept. New Moblity Week in Toronto was given over to discussions of a 20/20 program for the city with a very broad base of local and regional groups. While no immediate decision was made about implementing such a project immediately in the city, it was agreed that when further progress was made with in developing the concept and the supporting materials, that this matter was to be taken up by the City Council in Plenary.

Autumn/Winter 2004/5: Laying the base

• Decision to link program to Kyoto failure to bring transportation and specifically transport in cities in particular into the policy and performance targets.
• Outreach discussions and networking to begin to outline an international collaborative project building on our earlier successful experience in this area.
• Creation of initial draft website, and work on a multi-level communications toolset to support higher level of international interactivity both for program structuring and later for specific interactions an d support of city projects.
• Gradual creation of International Advisory Council, bringing together a first founding group of some two dozen distinguished individuals representing a broad spread of nationalities and backgrounds that need to be involved in the solution process.
• Identification and contacting of all known international organizations and programs working in this area, with personal invitations for exchange and eventual collaboration (see Key Actors, Partners, Resources)

First half of 2005: Work now under way.

• 16 February. Formal launch of program and website in "beta" form -- intended to provide a concrete platform for discussions with a steadily expanding network of experts, groups working in related areas and eventually cities that might be interested to know more about how this approach might be put to work for them.

• International network and associates initiate city search and intitial conversations.

• Seek financing for:
  • Continuing Kyoto Cities program and its support infrastructure for first two years
  • Flexible and fast funding for initial meetings and preparatory ground laying projects for specific city implementations
  • Preparatory studies and "blueprint" plans for poorer cities (in developing countries and with stress on cities in the EU Accession Countries).
  • Partial funding for international exchanges trainee programs, and short term expert advisory missions.
  • Major international conference and workshop for 2006/7 (see below)

Mid-2005 and beyond:

• First City Challenge programs start to be designed and brought on line
• Results reported through the Kyoto Cities network.
• Etc.

2006/7:

• We look forward to a high profile week-long international conference and workshop (and if possibly an appropriately dignified awards ceremony), bringing together the first group of pioneer cities who have already initiated their own programs, to compare results, review techniques, etc.