World Urban Forum

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• published a topic: Options for Improving Access to Modern Energy among the Urban Poor

  26 June 2012

• published a topic: Using Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) to Address Energy Poverty in Urban Areas of Developing Countries

  22 June 2012

• published a topic: Energy efficiency and occupants’ behaviour: allies or enemies?

  19 June 2012

• published a topic: Where does the energy saved with Energy Efficient Buildings go?

  14 June 2012

• published a topic: What role can Waste-to-Energy play in resolving our Urban Energy Problems?

  12 June 2012

• likes a comment: Why would we want to stop rural to urban migration? The problem is...

  5 June 2012

• "Hi, Two examples come to mind which may be useful: - in 1999, Bogotá took the decision to ban cars from streets on the first thursday of every february, and this measure was taken through a ..."

  5 June 2012 on Socio-Economic implications of Sustainable Cities on the Urban Poor.

• "Luis Felipe, can you give references to these findings? I think your statement is a bit difficult to believe since even public transport is a luxury for many women in developing cities, let alone a..."

  31 May 2012 on Gender in urban planning - transport

• "And where would the LEVs ride? On regular roads or on segregated ones? Would they share with normal bicycles? Lots of questions come to mind!"

  31 May 2012 on Street-space for non-motorized and light electric vehicles

• published a topic: Gender in urban planning - transport

  29 May 2012

• "Jinadu, Probably you are evaluating the problem thinking too much about specific technologies. Maybe we can also think about institutions and policies, are they adequate in Lagos? Would it be..."

  29 May 2012 on Modes Of Transportation Within A City

• "One instrument that is often used is to generate economic incentives or penalties for using one or another mode of transport. It could be that buying and using motorbikes would be very expensive,..."

  29 May 2012 on Changing the Menace of Motorbikes (Okada) in urban Centers, or should...

• "This is a nice topic, and one which needs a lot of work to achieve results. Though not from developing countries, the Project for Public Spaces has some useful information on how to move forward (see..."

  29 May 2012 on Quality of Public Spaces

• "Hi Piyush, please note that the Forum continues until WUF!!! We look forward to everyone's continued discussions!"

  25 May 2012 on What Makes a City Sustainable or is it just Sexy to use Sustainable !

• "Pradip, so would you at least be willing to compare India with other developing countries? I would say that all countries have things to learn from each other, regardless of their level of..."

  25 May 2012 on Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

• "Yes, I think the key issue that Piyush presented in this discussion is not so much about the definition of sustainability (which is definitely useful and adequate) but of the use that is being done..."

  25 May 2012 on What Makes a City Sustainable or is it just Sexy to use Sustainable !

• "The problem with the example from the Zona T is having reliable indicators, as may happen with many other areas where the best information that we have is someone saying "it's really beautiful". I..."

  24 May 2012 on Pedestrian zones/streets. A menace to retailers or a benefit for the...

• "Stefano, Thanks for this useful feedback. Can you please explain how P2P is different from a regular participatory planing approach as is already well-known? I would encourage you to provide links..."

  24 May 2012 on Mobility Solutions to reduce Urban Poverty

• "One option would be to modify the service in two ways: - Change the vehicles (probably a similar service could be provided by medium-speed electric-assisted vehicles - biketaxis)? - Develop a..."

  24 May 2012 on Changing the Menace of Motorbikes (Okada) in urban Centers, or should...

• "Hi Lilia, see Bernard's post on 10th may where he provides a link to an article by Julio Dávila with a critical analysis of the Medellin cablecar system. I think we should ask ourselves whether ..."

  23 May 2012 on Mobility Solutions to reduce Urban Poverty

• "It was Lewis Mumford around the 1930s. It's been that long since he said that and we havent't learned!"

  23 May 2012 on How many pants will we buy for our cities?

• "The carfree development document by Lloyd Wright (avalable from www.vivacities.org or www.sutp.org ) has a table (no 10, to be precise) with some useful data on what happened to sales, etc after..."

  23 May 2012 on Pedestrian zones/streets. A menace to retailers or a benefit for the...

• "Yes, also now it seems that the new buzz word is "low carbon"... probably it will have the same fate as "sustainable"?"

  22 May 2012 on What Makes a City Sustainable or is it just Sexy to use Sustainable !

• "Ayetimiyi, how would you curb rural-urban migration, and more importantly, why would you do so? Possibly it would be a better idea to plan cities properly to adapt to the fact of migration and use it..."

  22 May 2012 on what makes a stupid city?

• "The issue of motorbikes has become a crucial topic more recently, especially in Latin American cities where "the menace of motorbike taxis" has started fairly recently (in the last ten years). Asia..."

  22 May 2012 on Changing the Menace of Motorbikes (Okada) in urban Centers, or should...

• "As of last week, my favorite city is Thimphu (Bhutan), and hopefully it will continue to be if they take the right decisions in terms of transport and sustainability (which they seem to be). I..."

  22 May 2012 on Your favourite city

• likes a comment: I am a passionate walker! In Nairobi over 40% of the trips are done...

  21 May 2012

• "I think the African context has the most impressive travel pattern examples, like the one mentioned in the cartoon you posted. Cities like Sao Paulo in Brazil or Mexico City also have very long..."

  21 May 2012 on Mobility Solutions to reduce Urban Poverty

• "Hi Sophie, Thanks for posting this issue. There is actually a lot of controversy about the usefulness of having electric vehicles sharing the same space with bicycles, since they are relatively of..."

  21 May 2012 on Street-space for non-motorized and light electric vehicles

• "I would add another question: if we don't like stupid cities, what do we want? Smarter cities? Or another type of cities? Wiser Cities? Slower Cities?"

  21 May 2012 on what makes a stupid city?

• likes a comment: High Tech Architecture can be employed to the warm humid...

  21 May 2012

• "Ms Quazi, how would you define the future city? Is it different from a sustainable city?"

  21 May 2012 on Basic concept of "Future city" initiative

• "Very nice suggestions, it is definitely a good idea to improve walking conditions in every city. Hopefully this can increase walking as Bahati suggests. There may be other policies and projects that..."

  21 May 2012 on Transformation of East African Concrete Jungle Cities to Green Jungle...

• published a topic: Technological solutions to transport

  20 May 2012

• "If I have to choose, I would say I'm an optimist because I really try to work a lot to change things. But I am inherently a pessimist when it comes to evaluating a city or project because that is how..."

  20 May 2012 on Optimists or Pessimists - Stock taking of sustainable cities dialog -...

• likes a topic: Invitation to give your vote on sustainable energy recommendations...

  18 May 2012

• "You may also find the following link useful: http://www.ecf.com/news/why-bother-with-30-kmh-zones-ecf-policy-talk/"

  18 May 2012 on 30 km/h Zones, do they really work?

• "Hi Jeff, this is a very useful question which few people have attended to. There is only one research publication I know of (in Spanish) which addresses the topic of gentrification due to BRT and..."

  18 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• "Just to complement what Cornie has shown (which is a great resource) I would also recommend the BRT planning guide which has 830 pages of detailed info: http://www.itdp.org/news/brt-guide/"

  18 May 2012 on Encourage Public Transport such as Bus to Reduce Emissions of...

• likes a comment: Hi Sunny - yes it does. There is an excellent initiative of cities in...

  18 May 2012

• "Since I developed the poll, I am guilty for not including that option! It was a complete dismissal from my side... but then I can't re-do the survey at this point! Coming surveys will be more..."

  18 May 2012 on Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

• likes a comment: Hi Sherif - great picture - what is the source of the picture - would...

  17 May 2012

• "Hi Brendan, There are some reports (in Spanish, though) about the BRT systems in Cali and Pereira which have analyzed to a certain extent the job displacement generated by BRT. In Pereira it was..."

  17 May 2012 on Encourage Public Transport such as Bus to Reduce Emissions of...

• "Thanks, Rebbeca! There is also the issue that developing cities normally have less resources and have to be more creative and resourceful to arrive at solutions. Would you agree?"

  16 May 2012 on Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

• "Thanks for your explanation. I would say having days in which buses are prioritized would be very useful, and hopefully this can become the norm rather than the exception! I think many African cities..."

  16 May 2012 on Encourage Public Transport such as Bus to Reduce Emissions of...

• likes a comment: Hi Clarence you are right. The politicians are people with power and...

  16 May 2012

• likes a comment: Thank you Carlos, we are talking about achieving a low carbon city...

  16 May 2012

• "There are two new issues that have arisen which could be included as part of the poll: - Developing cities should TEACH developed cities - Developing cities should teach each other. Any..."

  16 May 2012 on Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

• "Bayewu, thanks for your input. Can you please let us know how this comment relates to the issue at hand, or would you rather post it as an individual topic?"

  16 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• "Great contribution, thanks! What city are you coming from in Africa? Probably you've heard about some of the projects to improve public transport in Lagos, Cape Town, Johannesburg? They have..."

  15 May 2012 on Encourage Public Transport such as Bus to Reduce Emissions of...

• "These are great questions, and you're right that Olympics (and large events in general) have been a catalyst to various measures in transport, including the Beijing initial odd-even scheme which was..."

  15 May 2012 on Push and/or pull? (a chicken or egg question)

• "Great discussion! What should we learn from developed and developing countries? What should we leave behind? "

  15 May 2012 on Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

• likes a comment: Piyush - interesting point, Bus Rapid Transit is to a large extent a...

  14 May 2012

• "Angela, this issue is most interesting! May I suggest you open a new topic on gender issues to deepen on the discussion?"

  14 May 2012 on what makes a stupid city?

• likes a comment: The things that make my city (Mexico City) stupid are plenty: ...

  14 May 2012

• "Jackon, thank you for your contribution. Can you please elaborate a bit more on what you are proposing? What are the benefits, characteristics and challenges?"

  14 May 2012 on low cost apartments for low income eaners

• published a topic: Applying concepts from developed to developing countries

  14 May 2012

• published a topic: The role of infrastructure in improving transport

  14 May 2012

• likes a comment: i think we all are too much into PRT,MRT, and i know we are going to...

  14 May 2012

• "For those interested, the Standard mentioned by Sherif is in http://www.itdp.org/index.php?/microsites/brt-standard/"

  13 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• likes a comment: At best i refer to the BRT experience as simple bus route improvement...

  13 May 2012

• likes a topic: what makes a stupid city?

  12 May 2012

• likes a comment: Love the framing of 'stupid cities' - thanks. I'd add that ...

  12 May 2012

• likes a comment: Thanks for egging me on to spill the beans on my own city Cornie.To...

  12 May 2012

• "Great! Other ideas are also welcome!"

  12 May 2012 on JAM FREE CITIES

• "Many things to learn from this! Do you think this "experiment of BRT" is really a BRT? Or maybe just an improved bus route? I think the issue of political changes is also very useful (but sometimes..."

  12 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• "Do you think that it has to do with the fact that normally it takes some time (years / decades?) to convert a term into something mainstream and then into generating actual impact? Probably..."

  12 May 2012 on What Makes a City Sustainable or is it just Sexy to use Sustainable !

• "Would any of you suggest other response options?"

  11 May 2012 on First Weekend Poll-Discussion: Metro's versus Busses to improve urban...

• "Yup, it was me the first time! I think bicycling DOES have a "speed limit functionality" already, which is our legs' ability to pedal. This is why I would say we don't need a regulation, unless we..."

  11 May 2012 on Should there be a speed limit on bicycling?

• "It would be very nice to start this discussion on travel demand management measures. If anyone can comment, there is always a question about whether one should do policies that restrict car property..."

  11 May 2012 on JAM FREE CITIES

• "I really like your input, Clarence. I think citizen participation is a very useful way to have better planning of a city and more infrastructure for cycling. Does anyone have examples of this? I..."

  11 May 2012 on What is the future of cycling?

• likes a comment: Hi Sunny, It is usual that rich and politically powerful people drive...

  11 May 2012

• "Thanks! Has any of this been introduced in your city?"

  10 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• likes a comment: The same is the case in many developing cities. Kuala Lumpur,...

  10 May 2012

• likes a comment: Hi Sunny - good question - what would you like to see happen in your...

  10 May 2012

• "While Sunny answers, I think ebikes will be part of the bicycle-like mode share inevitably, and the challenge will be in their proper regulation. The Dutch and German regulations are useful in that..."

  10 May 2012 on What is the future of cycling?

• "It's probably useful to distinguish between specific solutions to urban transport problems that are directed towards "economic reasons / motivations" and those which are policy-based projects. It's..."

  10 May 2012 on re:route - seducing urbanites to leave their car at home

• "Yes, it is interesting how there are some buzz words which start losing their meaning after a while. Should there be a new term for what we are searching in cities?"

  10 May 2012 on What Makes a City Sustainable or is it just Sexy to use Sustainable !

• likes a comment: What I'm trying to say is Public policies depend on an assessment of...

  10 May 2012

• "I would redirect the discussion towards the issue of urban poverty, which is not really related to PRT as you say - it is related to those who have started using cars. Also, I don't think congestion..."

  10 May 2012 on Mobility Solutions to reduce Urban Poverty

• "Thank you Hassaan for being provocative! I think the two key issues that make my city stupid are - lack of planning and - corruption. It all stems from there! Anyone else has view?"

  8 May 2012 on what makes a stupid city?

• "Yes, good comment. What other experiences have come out in your cities?"

  8 May 2012 on Push and/or pull? (a chicken or egg question)

• "Olá Alzira, é muito dificil poder receber informacoes em muitos linguagems, mas voce pode fazer uma traducao no google translate e pedir a um colega ou amigo que fez uma revisao... o forum tem um g..."

  8 May 2012 on Guidelines for Sustainable Cities e-Dialog

• "Thank you very much for this comment! Is there anyone in this forum who would like to give their inputs and opinions regarding the feasibility of a slow city?"

  8 May 2012 on Slow and sustainable cities

• "Hi, It would be useful also to evaluate the access and equity issues related to PRT and how other options are also valid (especially improving conditions for walking and cycling in many cities)...."

  8 May 2012 on Mobility Solutions to reduce Urban Poverty

• "Hi, it would be very useful if you can provide some references to this topic for everyone to learn in greater detail. I think few of us are aware of these issues."

  8 May 2012 on Sustainable Cities: Biophilic Cities People and Nature together

• "Hi Mariana, maybe you wanted to do different polls? Please check and I am happy to help in editing your questions. Since there are many topics coming up, I suggest you do one poll."

  8 May 2012 on Different costs:the same resources.

• "Thanks for your comment, Sherif. I think many of us have that question, so a good way to address this is thinking specifically in each of our cities how this could be achieved: I come from Bogotá ..."

  8 May 2012 on Classical Modernist Planning and the menace of Automobile Dependence...

• likes a topic: Guidelines for Sustainable Cities e-Dialog

  7 May 2012

• published a topic: Push and/or pull? (a chicken or egg question)

  4 May 2012