Dhaka’s Transportation System: Overview and Challenges
Maruf Rahman (Hossain) [email protected], www.wbbtrust.org Situation in Dhaka
Myths Initiatives Facts Results
Cycle rickshaw is Rickshaw ban in Still 38.7% of trips Increased travel cause of some major roads are made by cost and time congestion including rickshaw Increasing cars intersection More then 3,00,000 Increasing No new rickshaw rickshaw are run in pollution, fuel licenses issued Dhaka consumption, after 1988 More then ten lakh congestion, social STP allocate only people are discrimination etc. 10 million USD for employed by NMT (Rickshaw rickshaw including bicycle) Save fuel and of total budget 5.2 control pollution billion USD STP didn’t mention what they will do for rickshaw or bicycle Situation in Dhaka
Myths Initiatives Facts Results
More people Build more roads, Citizens bound to Increase national buying cars is elevated buy car due to lack of expense for good for the expressway, high- adequate facility for building economy rise parking lot public transport, NMT infrastructure Provide more space and walking Increasing cars, for parking on road Only 1% citizens own congestion, and building car and 5% trip are pollution, fuel made by car consumption, Car loans, ads accidents and Parking facility with social low cost or without discrimination charge Car owners take advantage on all road Situation in Dhaka
Myths Initiatives Facts Results
It is not possible to Footpath cut in some Pedestrian take only Statistically walking expand footpaths area under model 70sqcm. rate is decreasing due to lack of space; project Pedestrian are People shift from accidents are caused STP allocates only 10 ignored in policy and walking to others by street level million USD for project mode crossings, the pedestrian of total Walking is major form Fewer pedestrians solution is foot-over budget 5.2 billion USD. of transport: 19% in means more bridges STP didn’t mention DCC and 37% in DMA congestion, often when and how for primary trips, part increased travel time, improve walking of most trips higher costs environment Pedestrian fatalities Constructed foot over increasing bridges Footpaths occupied Erase zebra crossing by car parking, from several area garbage, construction
materials and rubbish Situation in Dhaka
Myths Initiatives Facts Results Public No significant 28.5% trips are Condition of transport is initiative to made by bus in public not develop public DCC and 24.4% transport is convenient transport in DMA area deplorable due Working for to lack of construction priority/ BRT very attention slowly Try to build Metro Rail
Activities of WBB (Work for a Better Bangladesh)
• Research & publications •Networking • Communications/media • Capacity building • Advocacy Our demands and messages • Properly integrate the proposed BRT system with improved local transport, ensuring adequate and continuous FFT and pedestrian facilities. • Give pedestrians priority in all initiatives to improve transportation system. • Enact a range of measures to restrict the growth in cars, including limiting licenses, restrictions on imports, higher taxes on cars, etc. Some results of our work: walking
• Our campaign gains serious public attention • Some organizations, institutes, individuals now work on walking issue • Positive media coverage • Some experts and policy makers speak out about need to encourage, support pedestrians Can advocacy succeed? Broader results
• More people demand walking- friendly environment • Bans on cycle rickshaws have slowed • Press coverage of traffic congestion has changed dramatically • Statements about need to control cars • New/higher taxes on private cars • Initiative to improve railway The challenge: Could more groups internationally carry out advocacy campaigns to improve walking, cycling, rickshaw and public transport conditions, controlling private cars and promote pro-people urban policies? Can we share ideas & experiences?