Review by Alan Armstrong-Wright

Alan Armstrong-Wright has over 40 years of experience in dealing with urban transport throughout the world. He started his career in the Hong Kong Public Works Department, where he was involved mainly with transport projects. From 1978 to 1982, he was the Hong Kong Commissioner for Transport. In that role he was also a director of three franchised bus companies. In 1982, he became the Urban Transport Advisor at the World Bank in Washington and for five years provided a lead role and advice on urban transport projects and policy. In his present role he continues to provide advice and technical assistance on transport projects for the World Bank, European Bank (EBRD), and various governments.

There are several very difficult, and in some cases unpopular, choices to be made in dealing with the vexed problems of traffic pollution and congestion. These choices will be almost impossible to implement unless they have the understanding and support of the travelling public. This book has been very effectively designed to do just that. The author's style is to be commended in providing a very clear and concise examination of the topic so that the issues can be easily understood by the public. For the same reasons, this slim book should also appeal to busy politicians who may not be experts in the subject, but who are, nonetheless, charged with "making informed choices".

The book commences with an insight into the dangerously high levels of air pollution found in cities, mainly attributed to road vehicles. It outlines the causes and occurrence of the six most common air pollutants found in cities. The section dealing with the effects of these on our health, with numerous examples, makes particularly alarming reading. How transport contributes to air pollution is well explained in layman's terms.

Clearly, in Indian cities, a high level of air pollution is created by the thousands of older model cars, two-stroke autorickshaws, scooters, motorcycles, and mopeds. Diesel-powered buses and lorries, particularly if poorly maintained, also greatly contribute to the problem.

The author rightly explains that the level of pollution in any city is due not only to the numbers of vehicles but also to the way they are driven. Frequent slowing, stopping and starting in congested traffic adds very significantly to the level of air pollution. In keeping with findings in cities around the world, the author explains why use of public transport must be encouraged and use of private transport discouraged. Some authorities would go further and say that use of private vehicles should be positively restrained!

The centre piece of the book is the development of seven basic strategies to reduce air pollution. These are illustrated by practical examples selected from around the world. This section recognizes that the dilemma is to reduce pollution while at the same time meeting the travel needs of a large population. Very briefly, the seven strategies are as follows.

1 Reduce the demand for travel
This strategy explains in detail the steps that need to be taken to encourage greater use of public transport by making it more attractive. The section also examines, but in far less detail, the opportunities for discouraging the use of private modes of transport. For example, there is only a very brief mention of road pricing. No matter how much public transport can be improved, it is unlikely to be able to compete effectively with the sheer convenience of unrestrained door-to-door private transport. So tough measures to restrain use of private transport need to be undertaken in parallel with improving public transport.

2 Manage travel demand more efficiently
This section rightly explains the need for good traffic management and the need to give priority to public transport.

3 Use fuels that do not contain polluting components
Here the author examines the benefits of modes such as walking, cycling and use of animal power. However, encouraging the use of horses, mules, and camels in large numbers in city streets does not seem such a good idea: the waste pollution problems would surely outweigh any benefits. (London was certainly a cleaner place after the demise of thousands of horse-drawn carriages at the turn of the last century!)

4 Use fuels that contain only traces of pollutants
The author points out that the use of low-sulphur diesel, which contains a fifth of the sulphur in the diesel used in India, would clearly reduce air pollution. The benefits of electric-powered vehicles and those powered by CNG (compressed natural gas) are also discussed.

5 Burn fuels more efficiently
This section advocates insistence on more stringent norms and provides interesting details of the likely effects of these in reducing air pollution in Delhi.

6 Trap the pollutants before they escape into the atmosphere
This strategy covers use of catalytic converters for petrol engines and devices to trap pollutants emitted by diesel-engined buses and trucks.

7 Prevent pollutants from spreading by use of barriers
This strategy is based on studies that show the extent to which trees trap particles likely to be a high health hazard. The author recognizes that face masks are a last resort, but with moped drivers inhaling seven times as much pollutants as motorists, they might well take note.

The final section of the book looks to the future and examines the use of information technology to provide road users with up-to-the minute data on traffic flow and advice on alternative routes.

The author recognizes the need for all these strategies to be integrated for better transport in cities. The lack of integration is not just a problem in Indian cities but occurs worldwide. The book ends with sound conclusions: focus on better transport; accord priority to buses; set performance objectives and promote equitable use of road space. The emphasis is that individuals should not only insist on the right to clean air but also need to be in a position to make informed judgement to add weight to collective public opinion. In this regard this book should be a great help by providing a clear and concise understanding of what needs to be done to reduce air pollution and traffic congestion.