News
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Building on the work of EMBARQ, WRI introduces broader cities initiative to catalyze environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable urban areas
The newly launched WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities will build on the work of EMBARQ – the sustainable urban mobility stream of the Center – to create healthy, accessible, and environmentally-friendly communities. Photo by Christian Haugen/Flickr.
EMBARQ, the sustainable transport and urban development program of the World Resources Institute (WRI), is pleased to announce the launch of the WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities. The Center will increase WRI’s reach in developed and emerging cities, building on the work of the EMBARQ Network, which will continue to help cities make sustainable transport a reality.
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EMBARQ India pushes for the expansion of Gurgaon’s groundbreaking car-free Sunday
Gurgaon's Raahgiri Day – enjoyed by both the young and the young at heart – has been an unprecedented success. The car-free concept has gained momentum within Gurgaon and is now beginning to spread to other Indian cities. Photo by EMBARQ.
Since its inception in November 2013, Gurgaon, India’s Raahgiri Day has exploded in popularity. About 350,000 total people have already participated in the weekly event, with the numbers growing each week. The encouraging turnout every Sunday and numerous requests from citizens got authorities and founding members – EMBARQ India, IAmGurgaon, Pedalyatri, Duplays, and Heritage School – thinking about its expansion. Beginning February 3, 2014, the Raahgiri Day “loop” of car-free streets more than doubled, adding 6.5 km to the existing 4.8 km loop.
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Conference convenes experts in transport and traffic safety during Turkey’s Road Safety Week
EMBARQ Turkey organized the Traffic Safety in Urban Transport conference to highlight the unique challenges facing Turkey's cities as they look to stem the rising tide of traffic crashes in the country. Photo by FaceMePLS/Flickr.
With the number of motor vehicles in Turkey doubling in the past decade, road safety is a growing issue for the country. Arzu Tekir, Director of EMBARQ Turkey, underscores the magnitude of damage traffic fatalities cause around the world: "At a global scale, 1.3 million people die in traffic crashes annually.
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New Expresso DF Sul system to build a more sustainable, connected Brasília
A group students is taken on one of the trial runs of Brasília's new Expresso DF Sul bus rapid transit (BRT) system during the Day One of Operations week of activities. Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brazil.
In celebration of its 54th anniversary, Brazil’s capital city of Brasília is delivering a new high-capacity public transport system to the city, introducing 43 km (27 miles) of bus rapid transit (BRT). The new system, called Expresso DF Sul, will be Brasília’s first BRT system, and is designed to connect satellite cities to the city center (or the “Pilot Plan”).
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CONNECTKaro 2014 saw nearly 300 participants at Bangalore's ITC Gardenia hotel. On top of that, over 1,000 participants around the world tuned in to the live webcast at connectkaro.org. The event was truly collaborative, with attendees and panelists engaging in dialogue around the key themes of transit-oriented development (TOD), urban development and urbanization, traffic safety, non-motorized transport, and more. Photo by EMBARQ India.
EMBARQ India's second annual CONNECTKaro conference brought hundreds of stakeholders in sustainable transport and urban development into conversation with one another. The conference saw over 300 participants while thousands more joined sessions online. Through 15 sessions across two action packed days, CONNECTKaro brought together academics, students, bureaucrats, and practitioners on a common platform to discuss how to make Indian cities more livable and sustainable.
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EMBARQ Turkey joins the Traffic Safety Platform of Turkey as Coordinator for Urban Planning Transport
EMBARQ Turkey's partnership with the Traffic Safety Platform of Turkey (RSLab) will help to make Turkish cities safer for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists through sustainable transport and urban design. Photo by budgetplaces/Flickr.
Road traffic crashes currently contribute to 1.3 million deaths and 50 million injuries every year. The cost of these traffic accidents worldwide has reached $518 billion. If no action is taken, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that the number of fatalities arising from road traffic crashes will reach 1.9 million people by 2020.
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EMBARQ Brasil celebrates the launch of Belo Horizonte’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system
MOVE is Belo Horizonte's first bus rapid transit (BRT) system, and will serve 700,000 residents each day by the end of 2014. EMBARQ Brazil has worked with the city of Belo Horizonte since 2010 to build a safe, effective MOVE system. Photo by Luísa Zottis/EMBARQ Brazil.
Having launched on March 8, 2014, Belo Horizonte’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) system – called "MOVE" – has already had significant benefits for the city’s residents. Aiming to test its efficiency, a local press team traveled the same route by BRT and car and testified: MOVE is five times faster than the car.
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Medellín, Colombia will play host to the Seventh World Urban Forum, organized by UN-HABITAT. EMBARQ experts will hold a "Cities Safer by Design for All" networking event at the Forum. Photo by Mariana Gil/EMBARQ Brazil.
Cities already house half of the world’s population and are expected to add an additional 75 million people each year. The rapid growth of cities, especially in the developing world, presents enormous opportunities and challenges to ensure that growth is equitable and sustainable.
The upcoming World Urban Forum (WUF7), organized by UN-HABITAT, will address the ways cities can become more sustainable and livable for all residents.
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Among other new features, the new EMBARQ.org is mobile-friendly, allowing you to browse our work on sustainable transport and urban development on smartphones and tablets. Photo by Ada Cohn/Flickr.
You may notice that EMBARQ.org is sporting a bold, new look today. You guessed it, we've overhauled our website!
We've redesigned this site with you - the user - in mind, giving you better access to our range of publications, videos, projects, and other materials. Read on to learn more about how our new site lets you engage with our experts, explore our projects and publications, and better understand our impact.
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National and international experts discuss sustainable transport and urban development in India
CONNECTKaro 2014 will take place in Bangalore, India on March 10 -11, 2014. The conference convenes city and business leaders, transport experts, and government officials to explore ways to build more sustainable Indian cities. Photo by Peter Vandaput/Flickr.
Editor’s Note: Watch a live webcast: connectkaro.org/live