03 September 2010
At the heart of sustainable development is transport. Worldwide the sector accounts for around a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, derived largely from cars and trucks. Cities and urban areas in Scotland, and the world, many of them growing massively, have to wake up to this reality and change direction, with urban planning and design that gives priority to sustainable transport. That way we make cities more competitive and liveable while helping to solve the problem of climate change.
ITDP, the Institute for Transport and Development Policy, “promoting equitable and sustainable transportation worldwide,” have produced a report Our Cities Ourselves: The Future of Transportation in Urban Life. It’s not a very appealing title – what on earth does “Our Cities Ourselves” mean? – but the contents are well worth a deck, a browse, and even more particularly, a read.
This publication shows how cities from New York to Nairobi can meet the challenges of rapid population growth and climate change while improving their competitiveness. The publication’s purpose is to reframe the issue of transport so that it is no longer seen as separate from, but rather integral to, urban design. According to one of the joint authors, “Cities of the twenty-first century should be lively cities, safe cities, sustainable cities and healthy cities. All of these qualities can be achieved if we embrace ten principles, which means putting people first.” So what are those ten principles?
The Ten Principles of Sustainable Transport
- Walk the walk: Create great pedestrian environments.
- Powered by people: Create a great environment for bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles.
- Get on the bus: Provide great, cost-effective public transport.
- Cruise control: Provide access for clean passenger vehicles at safe speeds and in significantly reduced numbers.
- Deliver the goods: Service the city in the cleanest and safest manner.
- Mix it up: Mix people and activities, buildings and spaces.
- Fill it in: Build dense, people and transit oriented urban districts that are desirable.
- Get real: Preserve and enhance the local, natural, cultural, social and historical assets.
- Connect the blocks: Make walking trips more direct, interesting and productive with small-size, permeable buildings and blocks.
- Make it last: Build for the long term. Sustainable cities bridge generations. They are memorable, malleable, built from quality materials, and well maintained.
Well I like most of that! Although this booklet is described as a must read for all those involved in city design and planning, it’s much too good, much too accessible and concise to be left to those professionals. It should be of interest to anyone with an interest in, and concern about. transport in our towns and cities. In 52 pages all the ten principles are explained and there are case studies from ten cities around the world. It is not too text-heavy, is sumptuously illustrated, with lots of good diagrams, and is one of the best things of its kind I’ve come across. I could go on but the best way to confirm (or not to confirm my words) is to download this report right here, right now: Our Cities Ourselves (11.18 MB)
(Note. there is a limited edition hard copy of this report available. Free. If you’re interested email: mobility@itdp.org)
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