Papers by Rutul Joshi
Increasing population and urbanization is creating a steadily increasing demand for transportatio... more Increasing population and urbanization is creating a steadily increasing demand for transportation in the cities of many developing countries, coinciding with rapid economic growth leading to increasing demand for higher standards of living and faster and more efficient modes of transportation. The decisions made today regarding transport infrastructure will affect long-term travel behavior, with corresponding impacts on the economy, society, and the environment, the last impact being one of the most important in times of steadily rising environmental concern. The successful experiences of Curitiba in Brazil and Bogotá in Colombia have served as a source of inspiration for other cities in Latin America and elsewhere. In 1973 Curitiba became the first city in the world to introduce an integrated land use and transport infrastructure approach with an integrated transport network based on bus rapid transit (BRT). The BRT systems of Curitiba and Bogotá have subsequently been adopted all over the world with some variations. Implementation of two recent BRTs, Mexico City and Ahmedabad in India, are examined in this paper.
This report was produced as part of a project titled 'Local (Low-Carbon) Accessibility Planni... more This report was produced as part of a project titled 'Local (Low-Carbon) Accessibility Planning in Indian Cities‘ at the Centre for Urban Equity (CUE), CEPT University, Ahmedabad during the time period June 2013-June 2014. The project received funding from the Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation (SSEF), New Delhi.The project aims at evolving a methodology for preparation of local area plans that is based on rational and informed decision-making while being adequately representative of local aspirations.
Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, 2015
Increasing population and urbanization is creating a steadily increasing demand for transportatio... more Increasing population and urbanization is creating a steadily increasing demand for transportation in the cities of many developing countries, coinciding with rapid economic growth leading to increasing demand for higher standards of living and faster and more efficient modes of transportation. The decisions made today regarding transport infrastructure will affect long-term travel behavior, with corresponding impacts on the economy, society, and the environment, the last impact being one of the most important in times of steadily rising environmental concern. The successful experiences of Curitiba in Brazil and Bogotá in Colombia have served as a source of inspiration for other cities in Latin America and elsewhere. In 1973 Curitiba became the first city in the world to introduce an integrated land use and transport infrastructure approach with an integrated transport network based on bus rapid transit (BRT). The BRT systems of Curitiba and Bogotá have subsequently been adopted all over the world with some variations. Implementation of two recent BRTs, Mexico City and Ahmedabad in India, are examined in this paper.
Invisible Cyclists and Disappearing Cycles: The Challenges of Cycling Policies in Indian Cities
Cycles are fast disappearing from the urban landscape, popular culture, and everyday life in Indi... more Cycles are fast disappearing from the urban landscape, popular culture, and everyday life in India. The marginalization of cycling is seen in the backdrop of an emerging automobile culture linked with rising incomes, post-liberalization and skewed notions of modernity. The continued dominance of motorized modes seeks to claim a larger share of road space mirroring the social power structure. The majority of urban cyclists in India are low-income workers or school-going children. Despite the emergence of a subculture of recreational cycling among higher-income groups, everyday cycling confronts social bias and neglect in urban policies and public projects. The rhetoric of sustainability and equity in the National Urban Transport Policy 2006 and pro-cycling initia- tives in “best practice” transit projects are subverted by not building adequate enabling infrastructure. This article presents an overview of contentious issues related to cycling in Indian cities by examining the politics of inclusion and exclusion in urban policies.
Report: Low-carbon mobility and the challanges of social inclusion: The bus rapid transit case studies in India
T his study assesses the current status and the progress of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems i... more T his study assesses the current status and the progress of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in five Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, where detailed study has been undertaken. The main purpose of this study is to understand how these cities in particular, and urban India in general, is transiting to the relatively low-cost and lowcarbon transport such as the BRT. The BRT efforts in Pune, Delhi, Jaipur and Indore are discussed on the basis of the planning context, transport characteristics, users' opinions and assessment of the BRT project components like technical design, operations, safety and institutional framework. Broadly, it is found that Delhi and Pune have not been able to expand their initial 'pilot' BRT corridors given the lack of institutional initiatives, adversities and controversies created by the popular media and the urban middle-class. Jaipur is struggling between the metro rail aspirations and the lack of clarity in BRT implementation, whereas the BRT corridors in Indore are mired with land acquisition issues and confusion about whether to build open or closed BRT systems. The struggle to build the BRT systems in these Indian cities increases exponentially because of the lack of ownership of the BRT system by the planning and implementing agencies coupled with the reluctance of private vehicle owners to share the road space with public transport. Even after having support in the form of the national urban transport policy and financial support from the National Urban Renewal Mission, the Indian cities are struggling to plan or implement the BRT projects and this puts a grave question mark on the capacity and sincerity of the Indian cities in implementing the BRT system.
Teaching Documents by Rutul Joshi
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Papers by Rutul Joshi
Teaching Documents by Rutul Joshi