Travel in South Africa, and Southern Africa in general, is highly skewed by economic means. It is dominated by walking (often great distances on poor quality footpaths) and by public transport, primarily among the poor. In Johannesburg, the situation is exacerbated by the marginalisation created by historic spatial planning and the sprawling, low-density nature of the city. According to the City of Johannesburg’s Department of Transport, urbanisation and urban poverty require not only urban transport solutions but also low-cost modes of travel such as cycling. This strategy, known as “Non-Motorised Transport” or NMT, over recent years has gradually become a priority area at National, Provincial and Local Government levels, resulting in the City of Johannesburg’s Framework for NMT in 2009. Read more or join the discussion.
Submitted by Tariq Toffa — Mon, 11/04/2013 – 00:00
Desde mediados del siglo XX Cali ha experimentado un crecimiento muy significativo. La población que en 1951 era de 284.000 personas, pasó a 1.400.000 en 1991, y a 2.3200.000 en el 2013. El antiguo dentro histórico se ha visto rodeado por una sucesión de hasta 22 comunas en una extensión de 120.000 km2. La creciente necesidad de traslados dentro de la ciudad, y la ausencia de un sistema de transporte masivo, resultaron en un crecimiento explosivo en el número de vehículos circulando por la ciudad, y que en el último censo publicado, con datos del 2011, superaban ya el medio millón. Para acomodar todo este tráfico rodado, los sucesivos gobiernos municipales buscaron ampliar las calzadas y crearon vías rápidas, desplazando al peatón a un segundo lugar. Como consecuencia de todas estas dinámicas, Cali se convirtió en una ciudad sumamente congestionada, difícil y peligrosa para los peatones y ciclistas, y con un considerable déficit de espacios públicos. Leer más o discutir.
Cali’s growth since the mid-20th century has been exponential. Population went from 284,000 in 1951 to 1,400,000 in 1991, and then to 2,320,000 in 2013. The traditional city center became surrounded by 22 neighborhoods and a total urban extension of 120,000 km2. Increase in size meant an increase in transportation needs, and in the absence of a mass transportation system, the number of motorized vehicles grew to over 500,000 by 2011, the last year for which official records are available. In order to accommodate these vehicles, roads where expanded at the expense of sidewalks, and highways were built within the city. As a consequence, Cali became a difficult and dangerous city for pedestrians and cyclists, at the same time that traffic congestion has worsened. Read more or join the discussion.
Submitted by Jorge Bela — Mon, 11/04/2013 – 00:00
In 2004, an estimated 5,000 lives were lost from road crashes on Nigerian motorways. This number more than tripled in 2006, with an estimated 16,000 people killed as a result of road crashes. Low awareness of road safety among road users (pedestrians and motorists), and poor road conditions are some critical factors responsible for these avoidable fatalities. The city of Lagos is crawling with millions of people, the majority of whom travel on foot. Recently, there has been more emphasis on keeping city pedestrians safe from harm’s way by improving road safety rules and infrastructure. Read more or join the discussion.
Submitted by Wura — Mon, 11/04/2013 – 00:00
Apa yang terjadi ketika seseorang memutuskan naik sepeda di Jakarta? rata-rata mereka pasti akan mengeluh soal betapa parah polusi dan kemacetan di jalan, belum ditambah sepeda motor atau bis kota yang tidak mau mengalah dan memotong jalan dan mobil yang kian hari jumlahnya terus bertambah. Ditengah kekacauan kota Jakarta, ada angin segar dari pemerintah yang mulai menunjukkan keperpihakan terhadap para pemakai sepeda di Jakarta dengan membuat jalur sepeda pertama kalinya tahun 2011. Meski demikian masih banyak tantangan bagi Jakarta untuk menjadi kota yang ramah bagi pemakai sepeda. Baca lebih lanjut atau bergabung dalam diskusi.
What happens when a resident decides to ride a bike in Jakarta? On average, they would complain about pollution and congestion, motorcycles and city buses cutting lanes and refusing to share the road, and the endlessly increasing number of vehicles. Amid the chaos of the city, the government has recently begun to show partiality towards bicyclists in Jakarta, building bike lanes for the first time in 2011. Nevertheless, there are still many challenges for Jakarta to overcome in order to become a bike-friendly city. Read more or join the discussion.
Submitted by widya anggraini — Mon, 11/04/2013 – 00:00
Event: VERGE São Paulo
12–13 November, 2013 
São Paulo, Brazil
Bringing together innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to explore the opportunities for radical efficiencies created through technology advancements in energy, buildings and transportation. Topics to be addressed include: New Energy Systems, Smarter Logistics, Resilient Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Next-Gen Buildings, and Food-Energy-Water Nexus. Learn more.
Segundo a Confederação Nacional da Indústria, mais de um terço da população brasileira acima de 16 anos (mais de 50 milhões) não possui conta bancária nem acesso a serviços financeiros de empréstimo e poupança. A maioria daquela população afetada tem baixa renda e pouca escolaridade. Tereza Campello, a Ministra de Desenvolvimento Social tem explicado varias vezes que “ao contrário do que se pensava, os desafios da inclusão financeira não são de distância, de acesso a rede, ou de falta de correspondentes bancários. Na realidade, a população está desinformada com relação ao seus direitos”. Campello também explicou que “muitas pessoas acham que para abrir uma conta corrente é preciso um depósito mínimo, evidenciando seu desconhecimento sobre a rede bancaria”. Leia mais o discutir.
The Brazilian National Industry Federation estimates that more than a third of the country’s population over the age of 16 (around 50 million people) doesn’t have a bank account and has no access to credit and saving services. The most affected are low-income populations, who have low levels of literacy and education. Tereza Campello, the Social Development Minister, has explained on various occasions that “against all odds, financial inclusion challenges are less related to distance, access to banking services, and lack of bank branches in remote areas, and much more related to the lack of adequate information about people’s rights.” Campello also added that “many low-income populations don’t have adequate information, as they think that opening a bank account requires a complex bureaucratic process and a minimum deposit. They feel that they cannot meet minimum requirements.” Read more or join the discussion.
Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 10/28/2013 – 00:00
Di Bulan Oktober ini, Pemerintah DKI Jakarta memulai pembangunan dua sistem transportasi massal berbasis rel, yaitu MRT dan Monorail. Gubernur Jakarta Joko Widodo meresmikan pembangunan awal stasiun kereta transportasi massal cepat (MRT) di kawasan Dukuh Atas, Jakarta Pusat, pada hari Kamis 10 Oktober 2013. Jalur MRT ini merupakan tahap pertama yang akan menghubungkan kawasan Bundaran Hotel Indonesia, Blok M hingga Lebak Bulus. Rencananya pemerintah Jakarta akan membangun proyek MRT lanjutan yang menghubungkan berbagai wilayah di Jakarta. Baca lebih lanjut.
Submitted by Nanda Ratna — Thu, 10/24/2013 – 15:10
Event: International Water Summit
20–22 January 2014 Abu Dhabi, UAE
The International Water Summit (IWS) is a unique global platform for promoting water sustainability in arid regions. IWS brings together world leaders, field experts, academia luminaries and business innovators to accelerate the development of new sustainable strategies and technologies. Learn more.
Event: World Future Energy Summit
20–22 January 2014 Abu Dhabi, UAE
Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company, and staged at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the WFES Conference attracts world leaders, international policy makers, industry experts, investors from the public and private sector and media, who gather in Abu Dhabi to discuss practical and sustainable solutions to future energy challenges. Learn more.
Event: World Infrastructure Summit
12–14 November 2013 Amsterdam, Netherlands
2013 has seen a swathe of activity from institutional investors looking to finance deals, bonds too are making headway and the products, platforms and procurement developments signify a shift in mindset. With top-notch key speakers – such as Columbia’s National Infrastructure Agency President Andrade Moreno; John McCarthy, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority’s Global Head of Infrastructure; and many more – the World Infrastructure Summit 2013 will provide the platform and space to further drive forward developments that will kick-start deal-flow and the delivery of vital infrastructure. Learn more.