Abstracts

Livable Streets for Pedestrians in Nairobi: The Challenge of Road Traffic Accidents

by Meleckidzedeck Khayesi

This paper examines the trend in pedestrian road traffic accident fatalities and injuries in Nairobi from 1977 to 1994. Pedestrians constituted the largest victim group of fatalities and injuries. This state of affairs is largely due to the neglect of pedestrian needs in transport planning and practice in Nairobi. The key to improving pedestrian safety in Nairobi lies in a re-orientation of transport policy from motor-vehicle fixation to pedestrian promotion. There is an urgent need for serious thought to be given to a meaningful pedestrianisation process in Nairobi.

Developing strategies to meet the transport needs of the urban poor in Ghana

by E.A. Kwakye, P.R. Fouracre, D. Ofosu-Dorte

An efficient and effective urban transport sector is a means to both promoting urban development and providing adequate access and mobility to the urban dweller. In this context, in 1993, the Government of Ghana initiated its first Urban Transport Project (UTP) with the express aims of increasing and sustaining the quality and efficiency of urban transport services and making their delivery more equitable across all income categories. This improved transport, resulting in increased mobility and access to employment, markets and other centres, as well as job opportunities is of prime importance because the accessibility of the poor to these facilities is a measure of their quality of life. This paper presents the transport development strategy which has been adopted under the country's first Urban Transport Project, and assesses what the likely impacts towards poverty alleviation will be.

Appropriate Transport and Rural Development: Economic Effects of an Integrated Rural Transport Project in Tanzania

by Niklas Sieber

Poor transport conditions are a substantial constraint for the increase of agricultural production in Sub-Saharan Africa. Conventional rural transport projects, which focus exclusively on motorised transport can only partly remove these restrictions. Therefore, an integrated transport approach is proposed, which takes into account non-motorised transport. A field study in Tanzania demonstrates that these interventions have at least the same magnitude of effects as rural road improvements. A system dynamics model shows that a succession of road improvements and non-motorised interventions constitutes an optimum scenario, which can be entirely financed by road pricing. This new approach towards rural transport necessitates an extension of conventional appraisal methodologies.

Solving Bangkok's Transport Woes: The Need to Ask the Right Questions

by Peter du Pont and Kristina Egan

Bangkok has a transport crisis with serious negative implications for health and welfare. Congestion is causing economic distress and technical solutions involving infrastructure development are being recommended by western consultants. The approach of government appears meddlesome due to institutional barriers, and the lack of regional land use planning and the absence of a transport strategy.

Heading for a New Transport Policy in Sweden

by Hans Silborn

Swedish policy makers see a need for a thorough re-evaluation of transport policy and its related governmental structures. The focus of investment will be shifted away from major infrastructure development to more modest measures such as improvements of existing routes. An important element will be improving road safety. Reduction of noxious emissions, especially greenhouse gases is seen as vitally important.

The Future of Air Travel and International Tourism

by Mayer Hillman

Governments' attitudes towards aviation is a useful indicator of the value which they place on planetary health. With air travel increasing and a resultant growing demand for infrastructure the environment is losing out. It is important that air operators pay the full external costs of their industry and that this sector of the economy contributes to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. This will require multilateral action to reconcile the dichotomy of promoting air travel and improving planetary health.

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