Dhaka’s Transportation System: Overview and Challenges

Maruf Rahman (Hossain) [email protected], www.wbbtrust.org Situation in

Myths Initiatives Facts Results

Cycle is Rickshaw ban in Still 38.7% of trips Increased cause of some major are made by cost and time congestion including rickshaw Increasing 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 ) 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 due to lack of expense for good for the expressway, high- adequate facility for building economy rise parking lot public , NMT infrastructure Provide more space and Increasing cars, for parking on 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 cut in some take only Statistically walking expand 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 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 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 )

• 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 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, , rickshaw and public transport conditions, controlling private cars and promote pro-people urban policies? Can we share ideas & experiences?