Urban economics - Term Paper Example

? URBAN ECONOMICS SUBMITTED BY: INTRODUCTION Urbanization indicates the economic development of a country. Sustainable development is the need of thehour in all types of activities. Although the path of sustainability is a difficult one, yet it is approachable if pursued in an appropriate way. Sustainable transportation system ensures building of a society that acts as backbone, which supports economic growth through assisting people access their jobs and services easily. If the city is well-planned and laid out properly, urbanization will lessen the overall pollution levels and will preserve the surrounding areas, but unfortunately, most the cities set an example of haphazard development that has led to environmental degradation. This paper aims to examine the detrimental effects of transportation in enhancing global warming and ways to reduce it. The process of speedy urbanization due to growing population levels and their concentration in outsized cities have led to the sprawl of cities, as called by us “ urban sprawl”. These mega cities mark the most significant change brought about by human creatures. Cities form a network of linkages that expand ahead of their own boundaries causing environmental damages and their impacts outside urban areas. One of the most significant changes in natural environment is due to the urban transportation system. Increasing number of cars have provided immense facility to the individuals to access their jobs, educational institutes, shopping malls or any other place easily and on their own, but the flip side of this facility is the environmental damage brought about by the unsustainable transportation patterns. ROLE OF AUTOMOBILES IN GLOBAL WARMING Now days, automobiles are an essential part of daily life. They have shaped our culture and landscape. The industries that build cars serve as key part of the economy of the country. The automobile is not without its faults, but they often are concealed by the styling, performance and other features that make today’s vehicles so desirable. Still, when a product is so widely used, its faults can add up to massive unwanted side effects like global warming. Global warming is the most current environmental issue in many countries of the world. Motor vehicles play a major part in what scientists call the most serious environmental problem the world faces. The automobile’s main contribution comes from the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted as the engine burns fuel. The greenhouse gases are released from numerous sources that cause global warming. Any single contribution may seem small in proportion to the world total, but collectively it becomes a problem of vast scale. To address a problem of such vast scale requires international agreements and national policies. But making good on such commitments will require changes in how we manage every activity that contributes to the problem. The sources which contribute most to global warming should be identified in order to know that where and how much emission should be reduced. [1] The disproportionate impact of U.S. cars and light trucks An automobile which means personal motor vehicles, including light trucks such as pickups and vans emit roughly 10% of global (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels, which are the main form of greenhouse gas pollution. American automobiles have a disproportionate impact: U.S. cars are driven further each year and burn more fuel per mile than the international average. The United States has 5% of the world’s population and 30% of the world’s automobiles, but it contributes 45% of the world’s automotive (CO2) emissions. In 2004, U.S. cars and light trucks emitted 314 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent (MMTc). That equals the amount of carbon in a coal train 50,000 miles long—enough to stretch 17 times between New York and San Francisco. In fact, the amount of (CO2) emitted from oil used for transportation in the United States is similar to the amount from coal used to generate electricity. [1] SHIFTING FROM PRIVATE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT Private transport means a lot more number of automobiles on the road and a lot more emissions. That means the amount of green house gases are also increased especially (CO2). Shifting from private to public transport system has some benefits which are as follows: Benefits of Public Transport The advantages of using public transport are generally synonymous but wider than the advantages of using pooled transport (where people get together to undertake the same journey together, in the same vehicle). There are benefits for the greater good, such as environmental protection; and for personal gain such as increased safety. One of the major benefit is reduced damage to the environment. One bus emits far fewer fumes than twenty cars (especially if it uses LPG fuel). Train emissions of CO2 "per passenger/Km are, on average, approximately half that of travel by car”. Other than that, using public transportation reduces the use of fuel. "In 1999 UK road transport consumed 80 times as much energy as rail, while the distance travelled by road passengers and freight was only 15 times as much”. The buses and trains are safer than cars. You are 9 times more likely to die travelling by car than by rail. Another advantage is that, extra time has to be spent on the maintenance of personal vehicles that is reduced or is not involved in public transportation. Parking cars in cities is a major problem; in public transport need to find parking spaces at your destination is not a problem. In short, less damage to environment, better economy, reduced energy consumption and improved quality of life are the ultimate benefits of shifting from private transport to public transport. Some people hold that public transport acts to "provide a social service for the poor [but rail] passengers are in fact overwhelmingly middle-class". This is probably due to the massive benefits of making daily commutes in pooled transport, therefore meaning many businessmen and workers use it. “Britain's railways have prospered over the past 10 years. Passenger numbers have risen by 40%, and trains now carry more people than they have in 50 years.”[2] Passenger travel aside, there are also benefits for increasing the rail network in general. Train tracks use up less space than roads, are more easily concealable so cause less visual disruption, and with increased rail coverage comes increased cargo. "Carrying cargo by rail results in an 80% cut in (CO2) emissions per Kilogram carried compared to road haulage" and can replace 50 lorry movements. This is a massive environmental and commercial saving. The cost to the environment is somewhat that affects everyone. Economic concerns state that investment should be low, for a greener future and prosperity. An initial cost will prevent massive costs later because it is easy to reduce emissions at source rather than combating pollution. However, there are few disadvantages or shortcomings of using public transport, like Open transport does not afford the same level of personal space or protection as a private care (especially psychologically).It is also organized around fixed timetables, meaning that it is not always the practical way to travel due to conflicting arrangements. Some people may not be able to carry luggage over public transport, but on many occasions private transport is easier. MEASURES TO PROMOTE PUBLIC TRANPORT Several measures can be adopted to encourage the shift of private car owners to public transportation. Many economic, political, social and planning changes can contribute to increase the use of bus transit system rather than individuals driving their own cars. Economic measures includes, market incentives that can be given on using cleaner transportation and fuel technology, to encourage people to buy it. Other measures could also work, like deducting high tax on keeping personal vehicles and a shift in emphasis from taxation based on ownership to emission-related and use based vehicle taxes could discourage the use of personal vehicles. Road charges could also be applied to rapidly increasing road freight to encourage greater efficiency. Public transportation can be encouraged by keeping the price of public transport in the range that is acceptable to all. The government should not subsidize fuel, as it increases its use by private car owners and encourage them keeping their own cars. Appropriate zoning policies are needed to encourage urban development that minimizes the need to travel reduces urban sprawl and allows provision of efficient public transportation. Making Public transportation safer and comfortable would make it more convenient to people to use it. The vehicles insurance company can also contribute in discouraging private transportation by keeping insurance charges in a way that are directly proportional to vehicle miles traveled, known as the Pay as You Drive (PAYD) system, would be a deterrent to private vehicle travel. Government should adopt air quality goals and stringent control requirements in form of standard limits and target levels for emission and fuel composition should be kept to meet goals. The government can also play a vital role by promoting development and deployment of hybrid electric vehicles as well as fuel cell vehicles, because they are environment friendly vehicles. Other preventive measures may include, limiting access of cars in city centers by parking restrictions and charges as it will be efficient in restoring traffic. The traffic management along with government can establish more car free zones and impose greater traffic control by extending and improving public transport networks. There should be “carpool lanes” and “bus lanes” that can only be used by vehicles that are carrying more than one person. This would allow carpoolers to cut traffic in order to get to their destination. Other rewards of carpooling might include healthcare subsidies. The employers can subsidize the mass transit fees for their employees. This could be effective, for example, in areas with bus systems for which the employers would give bus passes to their employees. As public transportation is often disliked by consumer, technologies can be put in place to make public transportation more tempting. One approach would require that the price of private vehicle travel be increased. Such an increase could include high parking fees, tolls, registration fees, gasoline taxes, and insurance fees proportional to the distance driven. Government can also stop allocating funds that are aimed at building car oriented roads and highways in cities. Rather, these funds can be used by the cities to build more walking and biking paths and bike racks. Compact urban planning should be preferred to decrease the distance needs to be travelled. The urban areas can set vehicle quotas and require permits. One such quota system could involve allowing vehicles with even numbered license plates to drive in central, congested urban areas on certain days and vehicles with odd numbered plates on other days. Integrated urban land use and transport planning is a potentially effective approach for significant modifying demand for travel in the long-term, especially in favor of public transport and can improve the accessibility to jobs, shops and other facilities without the need to travel by car.Appropriate design of roads, intersections and traffic control systems can also eliminate bottle necks and accommodate public transportation and smooth traffic flow at moderate costs. There is a dire need to create awareness among people about the detrimental effects of individual car and dismantling negative stigmas that pervade society’s perception of public transportation use, to reduce its use in our society. Certain campaigns could be launched to promote walking, cycling and public transportation.[4][5][6] CONCLUSION From all the above information it is concluded that increased number of cars and other automobiles will increase the emissions especially (CO2). Carbon dioxide is main green house gas responsible for global warming. Therefore it is recommended that private transport system should be converted to public transport system. The changes are required at social, economic and political level to save the environment, energy consumption, have better economy and improved quality of life. In order to combat environmental pollution/ global warming, the number of vehicles must be reduced that will lead to reduced (CO2) emission. We can achieve this by mass transit systems and well maintained public transport system. REFERENCES 1. DeCicco and Fung. 2006. Global Warming on the Road: The Climate Impact of America’s Automobiles, Environmental Defence, pg 1-4. http://environment.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=environment&cdn=newsissues&tm=5172&f=11&su=p284.9.336.ip_p504.1.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/5301_Globalwarmingontheroad.pdf 2. Crabtree, Vexen. 2007. Public Transport is good. The Advantages of Pooled Transport. http://www.vexen.co.uk/notes/public_transport.html 3. Larry West. 2008. Public Transportation: Fast Track to Fewer Emissions and Energy Independence.http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivingdesign/a/public_transit.htm 4. Fiaz,A. Christopher S.W , Michael P.W. Air pollution from motor vehicles: standards and technologies for controlling emissions(1996),Washington D.C: The World Bank 5. Organization for economic co-operation and development- environmental outlook(2001) France: OECD publication services 6. Badami, M.Environmental Policy-Making in a Difficult Context: Motorized Two-Wheeled Vehicle Emissions in India. Energy Policy.32(16),(2004) 1861-1877 Read More