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THE CYCLE – REDUCE
KICK THE HABIT
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CITIES
Cities can make a significant contribution on their own account to reduc-
ing GHG emissions from transport. In fact, the same suggestions apply to
cities as to businesses.
City governments can also play a key role by making low-emission transport
more attractive to their citizens. Designing streets that are friendlier to pe-
destrians and cyclists than they are to four-wheeled vehicles will encourage
more people to leave their cars at home. Integrating public transport into a
seamless system which enables passengers to switch effortlessly from bus
to tram or train or metro will attract more users. Some cities have intro-
duced congestion charging systems, requiring drivers in the central area to
pay a fee: they include Singapore, Stockholm, Oslo, Milan and London.
Spatial planning is an important civic function which can help significant-
ly to cut energy use in urban transport. Cities can retain their focus and
sense of place if they plan for “densification” as opposed to Los Angeles-
style sprawl. By avoiding “sleeping cities” and planning mixed functions
in neighbourhoods, commuting can be minimized. This can save GHG
emissions, because energy consumption in cities is directly linked to the
number of inhabitants per square kilometre.
Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, is planning a new city, to be called
Masdar, which will rely entirely on solar energy, with a sustainable, zero-carbon,
zero-waste ecology. It will cover six square kilometres and house energy, sci-
ence and technology communities. Masdar has been planned as a high-density
city, with electric-powered vehicles providing public transport. The designers,
the British architectural firm Foster and Partners, say: “Rooted in a zero carbon
ambition, the city itself is car-free. With a maximum distance of 200 metres to
the nearest transport link and amenities, the compact network of streets en-
courages walking and is complemented by a personalized rapid transport sys-
tem. The shaded walkways and narrow streets will create a pedestrian-friendly
environment in the context of Abu Dhabi’s extreme climate. It also articulates
the tightly planned, compact nature of traditional walled cities.”
A Chinese city, Dongtan, hopes to be the world’s first sustainable city, with
all the buildings powered by renewable energy, and self-sufficient in water