Local governments are estimated to have lost a total of $6.44 million due to irregularities, while Treasury Agricultural Ownership Agency (AWRSP) losses amounted to $5.44 million. The city of Wroclaw lost some $2.3 million and Lodz around $3.34 million in zoning fees that should have been levied but were not. Typically, private intermediaries who’s ownership…
Author: Nneka Njoku
Letter from the Executive Director: Does it make sense for China to motorize? • Africa’s Public Transit Renaissance • Greenwash and Waxing: A report on the Earth Summit and the resulting “Plan of Action” • Nowa Huta: What’s in store for the world’s largest brownfield? • The Sound of China’s Bicycle Industry? One Hand Clapping…
On June 13th, 2002, the Kenyan government announced the elimination of bicycle import duties. The decision comes on the heels of a rise in petrol prices, and should give a significant boost to bike sales and use. The International Technology Development Group (ITDG) in Kenya was a key force behind the decision. The lower bike…
Lima’s New Direction As the nation of Peru itself enjoys a new democratic beginning, a new sustainable transport initiative dawns in Lima. The proposed “Public Transport Improvement Programme”, will be a US$ 9 million Global Environment Facility (GEF) initiative under the supervision of the World Bank. Unlike the GEF’s previous emphasis on technology, the Lima…
A more recent study by the Center for Science and Environment updated the estimate to one person dying every 53 minutes due to air pollution. In a commendable attempt to reduce this air pollution, the Indian Supreme Court ruled on July 28, 1998 that all eight-year-old buses and pre-1990 three wheelers and taxis would have…
In conjunction with the Central London pricing scheme, the Mayor introduced 200 new buses to be added to the current transportation system, adding 10,000 extra seats. The program, expected to begin on February 17, 2003, will charge 5 pounds for cars to enter the capitol’s inner ring road. More will be charged for heavy goods…
As part of ITDP’s efforts to accelerate the “civilizing” of out-of-town retail, Yaakov Garb recently spoke at a major regional conference in Vienna on the Future of Retail in Central and Eastern Europe and Russia. He summarized some of the international findings on the impact of out-of-town retail, including on city center shops, and presented…
In 2001, a French government-sponsored study concluded, unsurprisingly, that a French-built light rail system was the answer to Panama City’s traffic woes. The study dismissed bus rapid transit as being inadequate for Panama City’s capacity needs, claiming busways are only capable of moving 6,000 passengers per hour per direction, while Panama City needs to move…
In December 2001, Mayor Carlos Diaz Redondo initiated the pedestrianization experiment, hoping to rid the narrow, colonial-era streets of congestion, noise, and toxic air emissions. During the experiment, auto access was still allowed for residents and emergency vehicles, and for truck deliveries from 4:00 in the morning until 11:00 in the morning. Non-motorized deliveries are…