India has a long path ahead to achieve adequate road capacity. Photo by Bob Witlox.

Welcome to “Research Recap,” our series highlighting recent reports, studies and other findings in sustainable transportation policy and practice, in case you missed it.

India Road Network

The Indian Ministry of Road Transportation released its latest Basic Road Statistics Report, which details the complete state of the road transport network nationwide. In 2011, the latest year for  which data is available, India’s motor vehicle population grew by 10 percent, while its road network expanded by one third of that. Only 53.8 percent of the total road network is paved.

Emissions Reductions in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, a city notorious for its car culture and associated air pollution, has rolled back auto emissions to 1960s levels of pollution. In a report released by The Journal of Geophysical Research, car emissions in L.A. are down 98 percent since the 1960s, half of that reduction coming from the period between 2002-2010 alone.

Complete Streets Policy

Smart Growth America, an advocacy group that works to promote multi-purpose neighborhoods and streets, released its annual complete streets policy analysis for 2011, finding a marked increase in complete streets adoption nationwide with 146 local governments adopting new policies in 2011 alone. Its findings show that the states of Minnesota and Michigan have the most localities adding complete streets; Alaska and South Dakota have no complete streets policies to date.

American Walking Habits

The Centers for Disease Control released a report, indicating that Americans are walking 6.3 percent more, on average, for leisure and transportation purposes. The report presents an ironic contrast within the data: though more Americans are walking, the net time spent walking by survey respondents actually decreased.

Elderly Pedestrians

In a report released by the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, a nonprofit that seeks to reduce car  dependency in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey, elderly pedestrians are at an increased risk for fatal car crashes and incur fatal injury at more than twice the rate of younger pedestrians in the region’s most densely populated region, downstate New York.

China's oil demand will increase by roughly 60 percent before peaking in 2027. Photo by Mariana.

Welcome to “Research Recap,” our series highlighting recent reports, studies and other findings in sustainable transportation policy and practice, in case you missed it.

Global Oil Demand

Global demand for oil may peak before 2020 and fall back to 2010 levels by 2035, according to a new study. Completed as a multi-client project with participation from various global energy and technology companies, the study’s main findings are that peak oil demand may occur before 2020 at a level no greater than 4 percent above 2010 levels, and subsequently decrease to a level of 3 percent below 2010 levels by 2035. The study identifies the major contributors of this future scenario to be new technologies, global energy security policies, changes to geographic distributions of demand, and changes to the mix of refined energy products demanded by the market. Points of interest included in the study’s future scenario are China’s oil demand increasing by roughly 60 percent before peaking in 2027, and the world’s vehicle fleet increasing by 80 percent between 2010 and 2035.

The Cost of Crashes

The American Automotive Association (AAA) recently ran a study examining the financial costs of personal vehicle crashes. The study calculated that across the United States the cost of traffic crashes totals almost $300 billion. This is roughly three times AAA’s calculated cost of traffic congestion ($98 billion.) The study examined 2009 data collected from 99 U.S. metropolitan areas and adopted the Federal Highway Administration’s crash cost formula, which incorporates the costs of emergency and medical care, lost earnings and household productivity, property damage, lost quality of life, among other factors. In all the 99 metropolitan areas examined, it was found that the cost of crashes exceed the cost of traffic congestion. In the Baltimore, Md. region, for example, the calculated per capita cost of crashes is $1,627 and the per capita cost of traffic congestion is $810.

Predicting Walkability

A new report by Dr. S. Turner and S. Abley, “Predicting Walkability,” outlines new methodology for measuring the quality of pedestrian environments. The new guidelines were conceived by combining two preexisting methodologies: collecting people’s perceptions on walking environments found in NZTA’s Guide to Undertaking Community Street Reviews, and systematically assessing physical and operational street variables found in Walkability Research Tools – Variables Collection Methodology. The principle methodological products offered in the report are formulas to determine the quality of a walking environment when walking alongside that road and when crossing that road. As indicated in the Executive Summary of the report, the researchers’ motivations for the project were to fill in the measurability gaps for this under-examined transport mode.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed complete streets legislation into law this week, supporting safer streets for "New Yorkers of all ages and abilities." Photo by Emily Raw.

Welcome back to TheCityFix Picks, our series highlighting the newsy and noteworthy of the past week. Each Friday, we’ll run down the headlines falling under TheCityFix’s five themes: integrated transport, urban development and accessibility, air quality and climate change, health and road safety, and communications and marketing.

Integrated Transport

Turkish Transport Minister Gabib Soluk announced that the expected completion of the Kars-Tbilisi-Baku regional railway to connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan has been pushed back to 2012.

The Guangzhou bus rapid transit (BRT) system in China reduces CO2 emissions by 86,000 tons annually, indicates preliminary research findings from Institute for Transportation and Development Policy.

Despite near record ridership levels, 71 percent of the U.S.’s large transit systems have cut service since 2010 and roughly half have raised fares.

Winnipeg, Canada is developing a $1.15 million transportation master plan to be released to the public in September. It is scheduled to receive the city council’s vote in mid-October.

The Metropolitan Planning Council released a new proposal for Chicago’s bus rapid transit (BRT) system, calling for 10 bus routes totaling 95 miles.

Urban Development + Accessibility

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed complete streets legislation into law this week. “Complete Streets designs recognize measures that will make streets safer for New Yorkers of all ages and abilities,” Cuomo explained.

The success of Manhattan’s High Line park project has inspired other U.S. cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia and St. Louis, to explore similar redevelopments of their old railyards into public spaces.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published guidelines for states and Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs) on incorporating livability parameters into transportation plans.

Air Quality + Climate Change

The State of Maine passed historic legislation requiring overall oil consumption reductions of 30 percent from 2009 levels by 2030, and 50 percent by 2050.

U.S. CO2 emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels in 2010 was calculated to be 5,638 million metric tons, an increase of 3.9 percent from 2009—the highest yearly percentage increase since 1988.

A University of California, Riverside professor received a grant to build and test a device that attaches to cars and calculates the real-time particulate matter air concentrations of Southern California’s highways. About 9,000 California residents die prematurely each year from exposure to particulate matter.

CODA Holdings, a California-based lithium-ion battery system developer, signed a Letter of Intent with China’s Great Wall Motor Company Limited to develop new electric vehicles for distribution worldwide. Great Wall is reportedly China’s fastest growing and most profitable automotive producer.

Health + Road Safety

Southern California commuter train system Metrolink received about $50 million in federal and state funding to support a new positive train control safety system.

The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded $417.3 million to state highway projects targeting roadway safety, road and bridge maintenance, and overall livability.

New data revealed that 80 percent of vehicle-pedestrian crashes in Chicago are at crosswalks, many involving pedestrians crossing the street with the walk signal.

The “Belfast On The Move” transport initiative is underway in the Irish city, with plans for new bus lines, traffic flow adjustments and improved conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Communications + Marketing

The Village magazine released the Death Revealer iPhone application to increase awareness road safety awareness in Moscow. The application employs GPS and Google Maps technology to display all information and images regarding road traffic incidents for any particular Moscow location.

The U.S. Park Service co-organized the Parks for the People student design competition to create common design principles for the nation’s parks.

Saris Cycling Group and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin teamed up this summer to boost bicycling in Madison, Wis. by providing bicycle valet parking services at popular city events.

In an attempt to hinder potential riots, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) Chief Spokesperson Linton Johnson declared that it was his idea to temporarily disable station cell phone service.

Mexico City's Plan Verde (Green Plan), which commissioned Metrobus' fuel efficient buses, has set the city on course to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Photo by Abbaner Casmill.

Welcome back to TheCityFix Picks, our series highlighting the newsy and noteworthy of the past week. Each Friday, we’ll run down the headlines falling under TheCityFix’s five themes: integrated transport, urban development and accessibility, air quality and climate change, health and road safety, and communications and marketing.

Integrated Transport

The Hangzhou Public Transport Company reports robust bike sharing rates in the Chinese city, with around 200,000 daily bike rides and each bike being used roughly five times per day.

California senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein announced a $9.7 million grant for a bus rapid transit project (BRT) on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The BRT will feature dedicated bus lanes and is expected to reduce travel time along the boulevard by 25 percent.

Chinese and German ministers signed two joint declarations of cooperation to collaborate on work in the areas of sustainable mobility, energy efficiency and innovative transport technology.

Mexico City is on course to meet its greenhouse gas reduction target of 7.7 million tons by 2012, in part due to the city’s Plan Verde (Green Plan), which targets various urban systems, including transport, energy, and air quality. Transportation is responsible for 44 percent of Mexico City’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Urban Development and Accessibility

The city of Philadelphia, Pa. announced its Pedestrian Plaza Program. The initiative will focus on converting underutilized street segments into public space.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) approved a new country strategy with Costa Rica amounting to roughly $1 billion in loans for the period of 2011 to 2014. The strategy focuses on work in the areas of transport, energy, and early childhood development and innovation.

IIT Delhi under the aegis of India’s Ministry of Urban Development will host the fifth Urban Mobility Conference in Delhi in December of this year. Those interested in including their urban transport research in the conference must submit abstracts by August 31.

Air Quality and Climate Change

A new study on Munich electric vehicle (EV) owners uncovered the interesting consensus of 88 percent of participants finding it more convenient to refuel their EV than a traditionally-fueled vehicle.

The UNEP’s Green Economy Report released the finding that investing 0.34 percent of the global GDP each year until 2050 in transportation sector development can reduce global oil usage by 80 percent.

Barcelona’s bicycle sharing scheme reduces roughly 9,000 tons of carbon dioxide pollution each year and saves about 12 lives, reports a new study from researchers at Barcelona’s Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology.

Health and Road Safety

A new report, “Distracted Driving: What Research Shows and What States Can Do” summarizes all research on distracted driving as of January 2011. Sadly, the report offers the conclusion that there is no present evidence that initiatives banning cell phone use while driving have been effective in enforcing the behavior.

Red light cameras at traffic intersections induce crash reductions of roughly 25 percent, according to a new study by the Texas Transportation Institute-Center for Transportation Safety (TTI-CTS).

Two-thirds of polled Americans rated themselves as either “excellent” or “very good” drivers in a new Allstate survey. In contrast to this self-confidence, the respondents reported that only 29 percent of their close friends fall into such superlative driving categories.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the six winners of its Connected Vehicle Technology Challenge. The challenge sought ideas on vehicle-to-vehicle dedicated short-range communications (DSRC).

Communications and Marketing

Zipcar’s 30-day Low Car Diet Challenge took off at the end of last month and will continue through August. The sustainable-transport spurring contest includes 36 contestants from cities across the United States and Canada.

The Alliance for Biking and Walking kicked off their 2011 People Powered Movement Photo Contest earlier this week. The object of the contest is to bolster the photo reserves of people walking and biking for use by advocacy organizations.

To compliment the state’s new complete streets law, Wisconsin is promoting respective multi-modal road usage with the “Share and Be Aware” program.

Vilnius, Lithuania Mayor Artūras Zuokas ran over a Mercedes car illegally parked in a bike lane with an armored tank in a publicity stunt earlier this week. The mayor identifies as an “avid cyclist” and has backed bringing a bike-share program to the city.

Dutch national bike advocacy organization the Dutch Cyclists Federation – Fietsersbond released a new music video-style commercial encouraging individuals to join the biking movement.

Japanese and U.S. companies team up on smart grid project in Maui, Hawaii. Photo by Marks Jonathan.

Welcome back to TheCityFix Picks, our series highlighting the newsy and noteworthy of the past week. Each Friday, we’ll run down the headlines falling under TheCityFix’s five themes: mobility, quality of life, environment, public space, and technology and innovation.

Mobility

Smartmatic signed a US$ 370 million deal to implement and operate the ticket collection and fleet management areas of Colombia’s new bus rapid transit (BRT) system. The BRT will service the district of Cartagena and its surrounding areas.

Central Florida lawmakers took steps towards creating complete streets by passing legislation calling for narrower road lanes, wider sidewalks and more buildings closer to road’s edge.

U.S. gas prices are forecasted to decrease during the summer months, with the explanation of shrinking public demand and increases in refinery inventories.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford will present his cycling plan next month, according to Councilor Denzil Minnan-Wong. The plan will include physically separated bike lanes.

Malaysia’s traffic congestion problem could be alleviated by implementing a BRT system, contra-flow bus lanes and comprehensive sidewalks, according to Muhammad Zulkarnain Hamzah of the Association for the Improvement of Mass Transit.

Quality of Life

Put on your helmets and roll-up those pant legs—today is the U.S. National Bike to Work Day! Bike commuting has increased nationwide by 44 percent over the past 10 years.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released a new report purporting the benefits of active transportation. Among the report’s most memorable findings is that “physical inactivity contributes to one in eight deaths annually among New Yorkers aged 30 and older.”

The Vulnerable User Bill was officially signed into law by Washington State’s governor, Chris Gregoire. The law’s penalties include fines of up to $5,000 to those who seriously injure or kill “a more vulnerable road user.”

Bicycle illumination, and consequently bicycle safety, was improved by a recently developed bicycle lighting system,  Project Aura. The system consists of lights that attach to wheel rims, making bikes visible at night from any perspective.

Environment

U.K. Transport Minister Norman Baker announced a new carbon calculator tool for use in aiding the development of local transport projects.

The body heat of commuters will be captured and transferred to the heating of buildings through a new system in Paris and Stockholm.

Converting agricultural waste into biofuel could satisfy 59 percent of India’s transport gasoline demands, asserts a new study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Japanese and the U.S. companies are teaming up on a smart grid project for the Hawaiian island of Maui. Hitachi, the electronics and IT group, will serve as the project leader.

Public Space

A recent conference in Barcelona, titled, “What’s the Place for Public Space in our Cities?” explored the arena of public spaces.

Farmingthecity.net, an interactive website showcasing urban farming projects, was launched by the European urban research institute CITIES. The project aims to encourage the development of local urban food systems.

Farmers’ markets in Prague have blossomed, growing from zero to 20 markets that feature local farmers’ produce within the past 12 months.

Technology and Innovation

General Motors is revving up production of its all-electric Chevy Volt, planning to increase production from 16,000 units this year to 60,000 units in 2012.

St. Albert Transit became one of the first Canadian transit agencies to offer real-time bus arrival information. In the United States, LA Metro launched its real-time bus information system this week, as well.

Fiat’s 875cc TwinAir engine was honored with a number of awards including Green Engine of the Year, Best New Engine of the Year and the International Engine of the Year.

A myriad of EV-industry experts convened in the first edition of the “Charging Forward: Electric Vehicle Survey“ to assess the factors impacting the success of EVs in the short-, mid-, and long-term.

Chiltern Railways of the U.K. launched the first fully mobile ticketing platform, allowing rail users to use mobile devices to buy, download and even scan tickets. “This innovation in ticketing is a first within the rail industry,” said Thomas Ableman, marketing director of Chiltern Railways.

Walkable streets correspond with higher property values, according to a new study. Photo by ehpien.

Welcome to “Research Recap,” our series highlighting recent reports, studies and other findings in sustainable transportation policy and practice, in case you missed it.

Walkable Streets

In a new study aimed at determining the value of walkability, researchers at Reed College found that homes located on walkable streets have higher market value, on average. Such a connection was especially strong when walkability intersected with high amounts of greenery in the streets in question. Being able to tangibly value walkability holds consequence when advocating for “complete streets” policy.

Seat Belt Laws on Driver Behavior

Contrary to previous beliefs, more stringent seat belt laws correspond with less reckless driving, a new study by Yong-Kyun Bae of Hood College shows. The study examined individual-level accident data from a collection of U.S. states and uncovered that stricter seat belt laws relate to fewer accidents.

Hybrid School Buses

Ford Motor Company donated $50,000 as part of its Ford College Community Challenge Grant series to a Georgia Institute of Technology student-team project on converting existing school buses into hydrolic hybrids. The updated buses aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions and save transportation money. The project is reportedly nearing completion.

Urban Development Technologies

With ambitions to become Europe’s largest sustainable development center, Cisco and Living PlanIT recently announced their partnership to work on developing business models for city management, incorporating networking technology and emphasizing sustainable urban living. The team’s center for both technological innovation and research and development is PlanIT Valley, near Parendes in Northern Portugal. Cisco’s involvement in the project chiefly focuses on information technology, communications design and architecture.

Green-Driving Motivations

When purchasing environmentally friendly cars, saving money is a larger consideration than saving the environment, reports a new survey of U.K. motorists by AutoTrader. Seventy-three percent of surveyed motorists reported considering to go green to save money on fuel expenses, while 41 percent reported considering to go green because of environmental interests. As of May 10, the average U.K. price for unleaded gasoline was 137.21p per liter (US$8.56 per gallon).

Car-to-Car Communications

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Dallas will be the first of five site-cities for experiments in their Connected Vehicle Drive Clinics program. The program is developing vehicle technology enabling cars to communicate with one another on the road, as well as communicate with roadway infrastructure. The technology will ultimately provide drivers with safety warnings against crashes and other hazards.