Re: Is the current 25-35 yr old generation soft under the belly?
Naabigh, I do not think one has to have gone to Karachi to reasonably conclude that walking and cycling is not as close to a near-death experience as it is portrayed.
Please take some time out to read this :
Urban Transportation Problems in Pakistan
A comprehensive review of many research reports/articles and policy documents identified the following urban transport related problems in Pakistani cities (Ali and Gazder 2010; Haider and Badami 2007; Imran 2009, 2010; NTRC 1991, 2001, 2009; Querishi et al. 2008; Russell and Anjum 1997; SMEDA 1999; Sohail 2000; TSDI 2001; Uddin and Ali 2007; Uddin et al. 2009; Uddin 2010; Uddin and Uddin 2010; URC 2001):
Rapid urbanisation (5% per annum in Karachi and over 3% per annum in other cities),economic growth (over 5% per annum) and motorisation (over 13% per annum).
Inadequate public transport and transit services in general and for women in particular, lack of female rider considerations in transit vehicle stocks.
Inadequate transport infrastructure networks, poorly designed and constructed roadways, and lack of or insufficient roadside drainage facilities for surface runoff.
Lack of consideration of pedestrian friendly facilities in transport infrastructure design (in view of 50‐60% non‐motorised trips in major cities).
Poor traffic management resulting in increased congestion, travel time, emissions, and wastage of fuel.
Degradation of air quality in cities especially particulate matter pollution which is 6‐ 10 times above World Health Organization (WHO) standards. This has led to increase in respiratory diseases, deteriorated public health, and increased health costs.
Inadequate road safety measures shown by increased road crashes and fatalities (19 fatalities per 10,000 vehicles per annum or over 5000 fatalities per year) involving a relatively large proportion of pedestrians and bike/motorcycle riders.
Increasing transport energy demand (importation of crude oil increased from 45.5% in 1990‐91 to 71.8% in 2003‐04; transport sector accounted for an average of 48.7% of total petroleum consumption between 1990 and 2004; petroleum demand increased by an average of 4.9% annually between 1990 and 2004).
Institutional barriers in urban and transport planning and operating agencies
**
Key Findings from 2007 MITS Stakeholders Workshop and Evidence of Traffic Management Performance**
Karachi MITS stakeholders’ group workshop (Uddin and Ali 2007) identified following categories of traffic problems. The following bullets summarize highlights of these problem areas andevidence from 2007‐2010 traffic management performance evaluation:
Road User Safety Problems ― These problems include: overcrowded transit buses and other vehicles (minivans, auto‐rickshaws, motorcycles), excessive vehicle speed, overloaded and speedy freight trucks, lack of safety restraints and enforcement of applicable laws, lack of traffic control devices, roadway design and parking management problems, and inadequate traffic law enforcement.
Evidence from 2007‐2010 traffic management performance evaluation in Karachi:
Construction of U‐turn lanes and overhead pedestrian crossings on several busy roads enhanced traffic flow and pedestrian safety. However, non‐existent or inadequate roadway drainage facilities along most roads and newly constructed signal‐free corridors make them inconvenient and hard to use by most travelling public during heavy rainy season.
Public Transport and Transit Problems ― These problems include: inadequate transit services, poor fleet conditions, and lack of innovative strategies to invest in public transport.
Evidence from 2007‐2010 traffic management performance evaluation in Karachi:
Increased use of CNG auto‐rickshaws is a good sign because it reduces CO2, other pollutants and noise. No improvement in other public transport, transit fleet and operation is evident by overcrowded transit buses and vans, even people hanging from doors and sitting on the roof during afternoon peak hours endangering their safety. Many of these vehicles are old with faulty brakes, worn tires, and high emissions due to insufficient and ineffective official vehicle inspection programs. There is lack of government investment in public transport infrastructure and services/vehicle fleet and regularization of private transit services.
Institutional and Infrastructure Issues ― These issues include: identifying the ‘right’ problems, setting priorities, effective use of resources, poor communication within or between agencies and public, lack of rational decision making, and coordination
with emergency service organisations.
*Key Findings from First International Conference on Sustainable
*
Transportation & Traffic Management, July 1‐3, 2010, Karachi The International conference on sustainable transport and traffic management (Rafeeqi et al. 2010) was organized by NED University in Karachi on July 1‐3, 2010 and attended by transport planning officials, researchers, and academia from around Pakistan. The participants discussed and unanimously identified the following traffic management and associated landuse and development issues facing Pakistani cities:
Mixed landuse and high population densities in the inner city attract people and traffic for work and commercial purposes. Due to lack of pedestrian/non‐motorised facilities and poor or non‐existing public transport/transit services, public transport relies heavily on privately owned and operated buses and other transport vehicles (van, car, motorcycle, taxi, auto‐rickshaw).
These modes of travel overcrowd the scarce road space and are responsible for increased number of crashes, severe congestion, wastage of fuel and energy, and alarming levels of air pollution.
The most neglected part of transport planning and practice is the social aspect. The concern is how to make transport friendly for women and other disadvantaged groups of the society. The proportion of number of women in Pakistan's labour force and enrolment in educational and technical training centres has increased significantly over the last two decades. However, safe and comfortable means of transportation to facilitate their mobility has neither increased nor improved. Women are facing significant physical and mental harassments in crowded and inadequate public transport system and transit buses in Pakistan.
In view of the large proportion of pedestrian traffic and walking trips in Pakistani cities, either there are limited or no provisions for pedestrian
friendly facilities. This is due to lack of understanding of the role of pedestrians in a multimodal transport system. As a result, there has been a
long period of absence of appropriate urban transport policies and under investments in pedestrian friendly road transport facilities in Pakistani cities.
This is just a bloody glimpse of the situation .... That's why I said , I would have a discussion with some one who have been to karachi lately ... So atleast we both know , what are we talking about
And I again say ... In a city with a population of *18000000 Approx . *You wont get more then 5,000 bicycles ..