Current transportation policies in developing countries, forces shaping these policies, and the implications of current policies forlow-income people, the environment, and economic development are discussed. Current policies favor rapid motorization of transport to the detriment of modal diversity and nonmotorized modes, such as bicycles, cycle-rickshaws, and pedestrians. Such policies, rather than fostering real development, accelerate global climate change, increase air pollution, and weaken petroleum-importing economies, while often increasing inequality, social conflict, and poverty. Economic efficiency is diminished by decreased diversity in urban transportationsystems, forcing people to conform to the few higher-cost ways of traveling offered rather than allow these movements to be made by themost appropriate and affordable means. The concept of sustainable transportation calls for a more holistic approach to policy and investment planning to achieve a diverse and balanced mix of transport modes and a sensible arrangement of land use that enables conservativeuse of energy and capital to fulfill mobility needs. Sustainable transportation strategies are those that can meet the basic mobility needs of all and be sustained into the foreseeable future without destruction of the planetary resource base. An overview of some of the key issues related to sustainable transportation is provided. This paper appears in transportation research record no. 1294, Nonmotorized transportation 1991 .
Samenvatting