Urban Transport Strategy to Combat Climate

Change in PRC

Jitendra (Jitu) Shah

ADB, RSDD
February 2010
The views expressed in this paper are the views of the author(s) and
do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian
Development Bank (ADB), or its Board of Directors or the
governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the source,
originality, accuracy, completeness or reliability of any statement,
information, data, finding, interpretation, advice, opinion, or view
presented, nor does it make any representation concerning the same.
 A lot has been done to improve transport, local,
regional, and global pollution in PRC

1. Ambitious Passenger car fuel economy standards that is now

being expanded to Heavy-duty vehicles this year
2. Most number of planned and constructed BRTs in
the world. (e.g. Guangzhou BRT http://www.gzbrt.org/en/gz-
brt.asp
3. Vice Premier announcement on low carbon and environment-
friendly transport system http://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-
01/16/content_19249491.htm
4. Billion dollars investment on inter-city railways
5. Protocol prioritizing public transport (2 years ago)
http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/article-71817.html

BUT.. growing fast and copying western model has consequences

Mal-Asia: Asian Cities and PRC Cities Soo
Motorization rate exceeding infrastructure capacity

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PRC – Trip Mode Share – changing quickly

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Source: CAI-Asia China
 Air Quality in Chinese Cities – PM10

WHO PM10 (2005) Guideline – 20 µg/m3

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Source: CAI-Asia China
 Beijing Olympics: Proof that AQM can work. But!

Beijing: PM10  monthly level (2001‐2008)
0.3
PM10 concentration  (mg/m3)

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Min and Max (2001‐2007) 2001‐2007 average 2008

API source: (http://datacenter.mep.gov.cn/TestRunQian/air/airMain.jsp) 

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Source: CAI-Asia China
PRC CO2 Emissions By Sector
(Can You See Transport?) source Lee Schipper
 Changing Gear: Public Participation in Urban
Transport Projects

Obstacles for Effective Public Participation in PRC

• Public participation is not institutionalized in China
• Information gaps for effective public participation (Bias -
people don’t know and planner know what to do and needs)
• The discretion in project design and implementation is guarded
for technical for political reasons (design and implementation
are considered as highly technical)
• Public participation may reduce discretionary power in project
design and implementation

Source: S. Mehndiratta World Bank

 Impacts: Listening to Public’s Concerns

• Widespread perception that inadequate attention has been paid

to the needs of pedestrians
• Condition of local village and tertiary roads is very poor while
conditions of the trunk road system are better
• Unsafe road crossings as a major concern
• Revelation of unsafe and inconvenient cycling conditions
because of lack of MV/ NMV separation
• Low quality of bus service- Long wait at bus station,
Expensive bus fares, Bus service time needs to be extended
• Poor traffic management - cars parked illegally on sidewalks,
bicycle paths, encroachment by small business on sidewalks.
• Understand and address the needs of the vulnerable
Source: S. Mehndiratta World Bank
 Impacts: Improved Project Design

• The project design made more responsive to the needs

• [Before] original project - new urban developments and road expansions
• [After] Emphases shift to Secondary road improvements; Traffic management,
separation of MV/NMV; Stronger attention to sidewalks and pedestrian’s needs
• Involvement of the disabled during implementation
• Responding to public, increased welfare with low-cost measures
• Invest in the new public toilet
• Include benches, trash bins, and trees as part of the street infrastructure
• Isolate MV from NMV to guarantee driving safety
• Emphasize the design and construction of drainage system
• Strictly restrict passing of overloaded vehicles
• Increasing investment on urban greening
• Set up street lights in some street section
• Set up traffic signal lights in some intersect of the street
Source: S. Mehndiratta World Bank
 Summary: Urban Transport Planning Institutions
and Decision makers need to respond to:
1. Motorization has become the driver trumping other concerns, Over-reliance
on “technology” – humans not in picture with “Unintended” Consequences
2. Urban Air Pollution from vehicles replacing that from coal. The problem will
get more complex in the future (e.g. fine PM, Ozone, Toxic VOC, etc.)
3. Congestion is threat to productivity, well being, quality of life and tourism
4. Local concerns must be identified and addressed through consultation
5. Keeping Walking and Bicycling Culture Safe and Promoting it further
6. If all of the above is done in PRC cities, Urban Transport
contribution to GHG will also be taken care as co-benefit
Asia - CO2 Emissions from Road Transport

Source: 2008. ADB, CAI-Asia, and Segment Y Ltd

Reducing Emissions: Study on E-Bikes in China

• E-bike emissions per passenger km compared with:

• Bus with 50 passengers: 15% less CO2, but more PM and SO2
• Motorcycles: less CO2, but more SO2
• Cars: less CO2 and less air pollutants (PM, SO2, CO, HC, NOx)

• Reasons for higher SO2 emissions is coal-fired power plants

• E- bikes can result in increased lead emissions –lead acid batteries, however
lithium ion battery technology can prevent this

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Beijing, China

Photo: Cornie Huizenga

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SCHIPPER ADB June 2008
SCHIPPER ADB June 2008
SCHIPPER ADB June 2008
 GHG In China
Not an Crucial Policy Driver:
Little Concrete Action on GHG from Transport
• Wasted fuel, extra air pollution from bad traffic
• Less than 15% of urban trips in cars, yet cities stuffed
• Coal for oil could become China’s GHG nightmare
Some Motion on Fuel Quality and Fuel Economy
• Increased stringency on fuel quality and emissions
• China fuel economy standards, real concern about oil
• Moves on fuel taxes likely next step -- revenue
Lip Service to the Real Threat – Urban Immobility
• More vehicle use, congestion, accidents
• Higher health and accident risks
• Policy changes needed soon
Quality of Life in Cities is the Motivation
To Save
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Its Cities, China Must Slow Motorization
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 Conclusions:
What Can You Do in Your City
Sustainable Land Uses and Development
• Develop and follow orderly land development plan
• Keep homes, jobs, recreation and shopping close
• Coordinate growth with transit oriented development
Sustainable Transport – a Balanced System
• Priority to collective transport, and protection for feet and pedals
• Link feet, pedals, two wheels with collective transport
• Make all modes face their REAL costs to your city
Sustainable Energy, Low Pollution and CO2
• Step up inspections and tests of vehicles
• Move public transport to cleanest fuels and modes
• Tax dirtiest modes and fuels

Avoiding the Multiple Problems of Too Many Cars

Is Much Easier than Fixing them When its too late!
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