We would like to commend the Working Group preparing the Draft Decision on Transport.  We feel it has taken many of our concerns into serious consideration and would like to express our appreciation.

We have some specific recommendations regarding the text which we have circulated in a paper that is available for distribution.

We would like to see the text recognize the importance of having transport planning evolve away from an approach which bases infrastructure planning and investment decisions on the needs of accommodating and facilitating motor vehicle TRAFFIC, TOWARDS BASING THESE DECISIONS ON THE MOST EFFICIENT AND SUSTAINABLE METHOD OF MEETING HOUSEHOLD MOBILITY NEEDS.  THIS DIFFERENCE OF APPROACH IS CRITICAL TO BETTER ADDRESSING THE DISPROPORTIONATE MOBILITY BURDEN FREQUENTLY BORN BY WOMEN.

FURTHER, WHILE ACCESS TO BASIC MOBILITY IS CRITICAL TO ALLEVIATING POVERTY, INFRASTRUCTURE PROVISION ALONE IS SELDOM AN EFFECTIVE MEANS OF ALLEVIATING POVERTY OR AMELIORATING REGIONAL INEQUALITY.  ONLY APPROACHES WHICH DIRECTLY IMPROVE MEANS OF TRANSPORT CURRENTLY USED BY THE POOR (PRIMARILY NON-MOTORIZED MODES, PARATRANSIT, AND BUS SERVICES) CAN BE CONVINCINGLY DEMONSTRATED TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY.

We are not sure if the ‘transfer of technology is the critical factor in addressing the transport emissions problem, and rather feel it is a matter of FACILITATING THE DISSEMINATION of cleaner technologies APPROPRIATE TO A DEVELOPING COUNTRY CONTEXT.

We feel INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS COULD USE TRANSPORT SECTOR FUNDING TO PROMOTE TRAFFIC DEMAND MANAGEMENT AND THE PRIORITIZATION OF COLLECTIVE AND NON-MOTORIZED MEANS OF TRANSPORT IN THE TRAFFIC SYSTEM, FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLES OF CURITIBA, QUITO, BOGOTA, AND KUNMING.

a. We greatly appreciate the comments on regional cooperation and are hoping that this language could be made somewhat more specific, suggesting the development of  STANDARDS, and/or measures RELATING TO VEHICLE EMISSIONS, FUEL SPECIFICATIONS, VEHICLE SAFETY, SAFE INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN.
 

GENERAL COMMMENTS ON THE SUMMARY OF COMMENTS

Many delegates mentioned that the lack of funds for transport systems is a fundamental problem for developing countries inhibiting the efficiency and sustainability of their transport systems.  Many call for financial support and the promotion of “Mass Transit” as a partial solution to the problems.   Comments have also been made regarding the importance of ‘low cost international transport’ as critical to poverty alleviation.

While it is true that funding is generally a problem, many developed an developing countries invest in high cost projects such as metros or higher technology alternative fuel vehicles, at the expense of low cost measures to prioritize buses and collective transport vehicles in the traffic system, simple maintenance and modernization of the basic bus and  tram fleets, and improvement of conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, all of which are much more important and are not expensive and do not require international financing.

Studies also indicate that reducing the costs of motorized transport and international transport are highly indirect measures for alleviating poverty, or at best the effects are highly indirect.  Far more important to poverty alleviation are targeted interventions which facilitate direct ownership of low cost forms of mobility, such as bicycles, wheelbarrows, animal carts, etc, and reduce the cost and improve the quality of paratransit or buses.  Investments into road infrastructure frequently do little to alleviate poverty in a context where the poor lack access to the vehicles to operate on them.