News
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New publication serves as a practical guide for helping Brazilian cities develop mobility plans
Cycling in Rio de Janeiro. Photo by Benoit Colin.
In 2012, President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil passed legislation that required cities with more than 20,000 residents to incorporate urban mobility planning in their greater development plans in order to receive federal development funding. Known as the National Policy on Urban Mobility, this legislation established principles, guidelines and tools to guide cities in creating urban mobility plans.
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Officials exchanged insights and ideas, identified potential new programs
Two cyclists in Caddebostan, Istanbul, Turkey. Credit: Benoit Colin/WRI.
Bike share has become one of the fastest growing trends in urban transport over the past ten years. From 2004 to 2014, the number of cities with bike share systems increased from 11 to 855. With nine cities already operating bike share systems, Turkey is showing substantial interest in moving toward more sustainable urban mobility.
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Online platform BRTData.org now features 402 mapped BRT corridors and bus lanes
Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brasil
August, 2015 marks an important milestone for BRTData.org—an online database that tracks bus rapid transit (BRT) systems worldwide: the number of mapped BRT systems and corridors passed 400.
BRT is expanding globally. Currently, there are 195 cities with bus priority systems, serving approximately 32.4 million people served every day. With the platform’s latest update, the tool registered three new corridors, including Brampton, Canada and Cordoba, Argentina, bringing the total to 402 corridors and systems.
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Partnership helps the city government develop new policies and activities
Solar panels in Mexico City. Photo Credit: EMBARQ México
City leaders worldwide are increasingly prioritizing energy efficiency, given the growing global demand for energy and the pressing need for climate adaptation. In Mexico City, residential and commercial buildings account for more than 20 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions, making building efficiency a vital component of the city’s sustainable development strategy. Leading by example, the local government is assessing options to retrofit its public buildings to decrease energy use.
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A week-long case study revealed lessons for sustainable urban development in Brazil
The Busway, a bus service in the UK. Photo credit: Maria Fernanda Cavalcanti/EMBARQ Brasil
To stay competitive on a global level, London reinvents itself every day. Through the London Infrastructure Plan 2050, the Greater London Authority (GLA) is responsible for ensuring that this happens. The GLA implements low-carbon reforms in transport, energy, and waste management, using urban planning to address population growth in the metropolitan area.
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A bi-annual workshop from WRI India Sustainable Cities convened experts, emphasized the need for quality transport services
Transport in Gurgaon, India. Photo Credit: Peter Makholm/Flickr (slightly modified from the original)
“When we plan a city, the plans are usually restricted to land-use. But we need to move beyond land-use. What’s more important is how to move people” –Vikas Gupta, Municipal Commissioner of Gurgaon, India
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Partners are helping the city target energy emissions and make neighborhoods more sustainable
Bicycling in Chengdu, China. Photo Credit: Martha de Jong-Lantink/Flickr (original was slightly modified)
Research worldwide has shown that residential energy consumption is a major contributor of carbon emissions. However, China is working to break the mold. Earlier this year, China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued the Low Carbon Community Pilot Development Guidelines, which contains guidelines that push cities to curb their carbon emissions in residential areas.
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A new initiative encourages public participation, bringing together local voices
BIG bus network by the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC). Photo Credit: Benoit Colin.
The success of neighborhood planning often hinges on community engagement. Recognizing this, WRI India Sustainable Cities launched a collaborative initiative on May 7, 2015 called Citizens for the City with partner organizations United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Centre for Public Problem Solving, BBMP, BPAC and United Way of Bengaluru.
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Release: Report Provides Urban Design Recommendations for Healthier Cities, Fewer Traffic Fatalities
Guide for urban planners and policymakers details specific design elements with examples from Tokyo, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, New York, Paris and more.
Intersection in São Paulo. Photo Credit: Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brasil
WASHINGTON (JULY 23, 2015)— A new report, Cities Safer by Design, offers practical guidance for designing safer streets and communities that can reduce traffic fatalities and improve people’s lives. More than 1.3 million people are killed in traffic crashes worldwide, making traffic fatalities one of the leading causes of death in cities, especially in developing countries. Children, elderly, and poor people are particularly vulnerable.
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A new report examines past success, outlines recommendations for future progress
Cyclists in Turkey. Photo Credit: Serkan Aygören
Motorized vehicle emissions are a primary cause of air pollution and have some of the most adverse impacts on public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), exposure to heavy traffic—even living near a major road—is associated poor health outcomes and high mortality rates. In 2012, outdoor air pollution caused 3.7 million premature deaths worldwide, 88 percent of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
