IS CLEAN AIR OF SMALLER CITIES PROTECTED?

ABSTRACT

Asia Regional Coordinator, International Forum for Rural Transport and Development Steps should be taken to prevent the good air quality of provincial cities and rural transport hubs before it is too late. In big cities, pollution and lack of safety measures from increased motorization is affecting non-motorised transport users and pedestrians who are usually the poor. Enforcement of clean air regulations in the big cities only will mean that this problem will be ‘exported’ to the provincial cities and rural hubs. Resulting mechanically unsound motor vehicles will flood these cities where there are no adequate facilities for vehicle maintenance. If provincial cities are to prevent this happening, and still provide mobility and access to poor people in the city and in surrounding areas the city needs to: (i) Impose similar regulations on clean air, but also; (ii) Encourage alternative, non-polluting means of transport. Bicycles and other NMTs are also often more affordable by poor people; (iii) This can be done by providing proper infrastructure with appropriate application of traffic planning; (iv) Involve the civil society in the enforcement; and (v) Conduct effective public awareness programmes through media. Examples of encouraging NMT and "pollution free" para-transit modes; main story from Sri Lanka – Kurunegala (Bicycle promotion and city traffic plans), where there is no proper national regulatory systems. Bangladesh & India (Regulations to use CNG in two-stroke Para-transit modes and in Nepal trying out electric modes.