Urban Transport in the Developing World
Elements of Urban Transport Sector
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Urban public transport:
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On-street systems (for buses, trolley-buses, trams)
Mixed on-street and off-street systems (bus lanes, bus
ways and light rail)
Off-street systems (metros and commuter rail)
The urban road system
Traffic management systems (for increasing the
efficiency of available road space)
Non-motorized transport systems (facilities for
pedestrians and people powered vehicles)
Urban transport institutions (planning, design,
finance, implementation, and enforcement)
Purpose
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Purpose of urban transport. Successful
urban transport systems ought to increase
commercial and labor market efficiency,
increase access to amenities, and make
changes in the scale and form of urban
agglomerations possible, all without undue
adverse effects on the environment.
Importance
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Importance of urban transport. The urban
sector in most developing countries accounts
for at least 50 percent of the gross national
product and in some countries over 70 %.
Cities in developing countries often devote 15
% to 25 % of their annual expenditures to their
transport systems, and sometimes much more.
Household expenditures on urban
transport. In developing countries it is
common to find that 5 % to 10 % of urban
household income is spent on transport. In
some cases the figure is 15% or more.
General Trends in Urban Transport
Sector
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Rapid growth of urban areas. Cities are major
engines of growth in most developing countries, and
urban populations are expanding at a high rate (more
than 6 percent annually or doubling in size in less than
12 years).
Very rapid increase in motorization. Urban motor
vehicle ownership and usage is growing even faster
than the urban population. Vehicle ownership growth
rates of 15-20% per year in developing countries is
not uncommon. This has been largely caused by
growing per capita incomes in urban areas.
General Trends in Urban Transport Sector
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Substantial increases in traffic congestion. Ownership
and usage of vehicles is growing much faster than the ability to
provide road space and alternative means of coping with the
problem. Severe traffic congestion, and its adverse side effects
on the urban economy, environment, and society are being felt
in many cities.
Relative decline of public transport usage and services.
The growing reliance on private vehicles has resulted in a
substantial decline in the share of total trips being provided by
urban public transport systems in many cities. Similarly, the
travel environment for pedestrians and people-powered
vehicles has rapidly declined. This trend is particularly
unfavorable for the urban poor as they are typically captive
riders and often dependent on public transit for access to
employment.
General Trends in Urban Transport Sector
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Shift from public to private sector provision of
services and facilities. The public sector is
increasingly relying on the private sector to provide
these facilities and services. It is estimated that at least
80% of all urban bus services provided around the world
are now privately owned and operated. Increasingly
cities are arranging for the private provision of urban
transport infrastructure. In short, cities are moving from
providers of transport infrastructure and services to
facilitators.
General Trends in Urban Transport
Sector
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Shift from new road construction to intensive
management of urban road networks and
improved public transit. Growing recognition that
cities cannot build enough road capacity to
accommodate the growth in travel demand by means of
the private vehicle.
While road networks will be required, especially in
rapidly growing cities, greater reliance is being placed on
(a) more intensive management of travel demand, (b)
traffic management techniques to increase the practical
capacity of available road space, and (c) improved urban
public transport systems.
General Trends in Urban Transport
Sector
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Rapid introduction of Intelligent Technology
Systems (ITS). recent development of improved
"intelligent technologies" (electronic toll collection
systems, centralized traffic control systems, automatic
vehicle location systems for public transport systems,
and other similar technologies) has resulted in better
utilizing urban transport facilities.
The costs of these technologies are rapidly declining
while their practical applications improve. This presents
an opportunity for those developing countries with
adequate financial and staff resources to "leapfrog"
forward in applying these technologies to urban
transport problems.
General Trends in Urban Transport Sector
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Potential for better acceptance and deployment of
demand management techniques.
Charge road users for the use of scarce road space, primarily as
a means of maximizing the use of urban roads during
congested periods, and secondarily as a means of securing
additional funds for transport investments.
Proposals have been repeatedly rejected due to their political
unpopularity. Up to the present these systems have been
deployed in city centers only in Singapore and three Norwegian
cities.
With the introduction of much improved electronic road pricing
technologies, the practical application of pricing may be ready
for acceptance and more widespread deployment.
Experience has shown that public acceptance of pricing
schemes can be substantially enhanced by earmarking the
funds that are collected expressly for additional urban transport
improvements.
Issues Requiring Attention
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Adverse Impacts of Rapid Growth in
Vehicle Ownership and Use
Inadequate Urban Transport Financial
Mechanisms
Inadequate Urban Transport Regulation
and Legislation
Weak and Fragmented Urban
Transportation Institutions
Shanghai Mass Transit
Singapore’s Mass Rapid Transit