The Eorupean Commission (EC) has launched a project, called CIVITAS - cleaner and better transport in cities, which stands for CIty-VITAlity-Sustainability.
"With the CIVITAS Initiative, the EC aims to generate a decisive breakthrough by supporting and evaluating the implementation of ambitious integrated sustainable urban transport strategies that should make a real difference for the welfare of the European citizen."Introduction
Started in 2002 (CIVITAS I) and reframed in 2005 (CITIVITAS II), the project now is in its third phase - CITIVAS Plus - where 25 cities in 5 demonstration projects funded by the EC are carrying out. Some of the key elements are outlined in the introduction. First, it is co-ordinated by local cities, meaning it is not another fastidious but inept plan cared only by those who have schemed it. Second, cities are in the heart of local public private partnerships. This is clearly an important point in the development of proper policies and plans. When the idea of city as the final outcome is not in the center of the partnership, it is not difficult to find that all relevant public units are eager to take credits while the private simply want to make more profits and build their own reputation. Third, political commitment is a basic requirement. Any kind of planning profession's first duty is to study the backgrounds, crunch the numbers, and generate a report of high quantitative and qualitative quality. The second duty deserves an equal strenuous attention. That is; planners need to convey and communicate ideas effectively with the policy-makers without whose commitment the projects are not likely to be politically viable. Last but not least, cities are by nature living 'Laboratories' for learning and evaluating. A complete list of measures and rich introductory information is here.
What is Important - Information Transparency on The Street
Among the many measures in the projects, I am interested in the transparency of transport information the most. There are at least three points explaining the importance of information transparency.
If properly provided, information accessibility can well improve transit users' physical accessibility
First of all, the access to traveler information should not be proprietary to motorists. The traditional imbalance of information accessibility and innovation between motorist and transit user groups marks the inappropriate distribution of right of ways and the differences between the two groups' social-economic characteristics in that mass transits are usually considered as a public service and their users are often viewed as owning less consumption power while motorists are by definition more willing to purchase something in exchange for their own convenience and comfortableness. However legitimate the reason could be, transport planners' job is to narrow down the information gap if we are to promote multimodal accessibility and boost the use of public transport. As a result, a cleverly-devised business partnership of public transport services between public units and private innovators is necessary to compensate that inherent differences. In short, If properly provided, information accessibility can well improve transit users' physical accessibility.
Personally, they simply don't know how bad their choice is, and how good their change is going to be
Next, the idea of bike counter on the street makes me impressed. Not only because it can collect the accumulated number of bikes passed and display it right on the street. What is really important here is that, by connecting an individual's green choice to the others' choices and by making explicit how well or how worse the local people are contributing to the area, environmental awareness is effectively created. In other words, traditionally one of the disincentives that people are unaware of or insensitive to the externalities they are creating when using private vehicles is the lack of information about their choices. All kinds of research and report are right there, compelling, but those researches lack the direct connection with the ordinary people. Personally, they simply don't know how bad their choice is, and how good their change is going to be. Without the direct connection to personal choice, the thing each individual will do is to wait for other people's change. There are many things we can count and inform the public, including the number of vehicles and accidents, the amount of emissions, historical comparative results or goal and vision set by local people. I've seen some emission calculators on the Net, but so far they still operate in a very passive way and people just cannot connect the result with their choice. Therefore, in some areas where the percentage of private vehicle is extremely high, I envision more transparency of information on the street, public one is preferred because it can create more sense of cohesion and cooperation. Those already established on the Net might want to make further advancement by some physical presence on the street.Marketing is important
The third one is creative and communicatively effective. In some of the projects, some local authorities put telescopes on the streets inside which people can see the future of the street, the town, or even the city. Marketing is important. It is a tool to get people involved and informed by telling them that with their help and understanding, the beautiful and sustainable future is right there waiting. It is much more effective and innovative than if the vision is only available on the Internet or some pamphlets.
Small Talk
In managing transportation demand, soft measures should be considered a priority since it can create the real sense of awareness we need for sustainable development. However, hard measures, such as congestion pricing, is necessary and justifiable for that it's the most appropriate funding sources for either maintaining existing road network or potential public transport projects. The logic is that for a long time, the real cost of driving has been significantly underestimated.
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