Sustainable development and urban transportation

Abstract

Paper presented at the 28th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 6 - 9 July 2009 "Sustainable Transport", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

Sustainable development is the main force in urban planning today. It has developed as the alternative to the modernist philosophy. This modernist paradigm has left us with massive inequalities and inefficiencies in human landscapes and threatening ecological disasters. Sustainable development on the other hand focuses on development rather than growth; it places human needs and equality before technology and efficiency. Sustainable development with sustainable urban transport are key solutions to our urban environmental, social and economic problems. Sustainable urban transport helps to improve our environment, health, quality of life, conserves our natural resources and is in line with the basic principles of sustainable development to bring about order, equality and sustainability in our society at all levels, the economy and environment. This report aims to highlight various challenges to sustainable development and sustainable transportation, both internationally and South African, and sheds a light on various policies and initiatives, proposed and in implementation, to achieve sustainability and efficiency in the urban transport system. The development of transport corridors together with sustainable public transport is one of the many options we can investigate to ensure an efficient and sustainable urban transport system.