Saving The Third World From Sprawl

The Institute for Transportation and Development Policy helps cities in the developing world address traffic and congestion with creative, cost-efficient solutions. Executive Director Walter Hook shares some strategies for the US as well.

2 minute read

January 11, 2007, 7:00 AM PST

By Christian Madera @http://www.twitter.com/cpmadera


"In developing countries, the people who own and operate cars tend to be a small minority; they tend to be the richest people in country, and they tend to be the decision-makers. In the developing country context, the notion of using scarce public roads and space to give priority to public-transit users, cyclists, pedestrians, open space, and meaningful interaction in the public realm has a class meaning. Dedicating urban public space and roads to private cars means turning over most of those public resources to the richest 10–20 percent."

"Any mayor or district that controls roads is making a choice about whether that public space should be dedicated to subsidized private parking or dedicated to a bike lane and a widened sidewalk with park benches and new trees along it. That is a choice. The width of the road that is dedicated to private cars is a choice. And then, whether to create a bus lane or to leave it a mixed traffic lane: that is a political choice. Whether to build 300 km of bike lanes or ignore cycling as a possibility: that is a political choice. Those are all political choices.

"Public space-how it is used and allocated-is not something that is, at the end of day, determined by abstract engineering principles. It is a choice made every day by politicians, who have, in this country, thought that our public space should be dedicated to moving private motor vehicles around, even if it's at the expense of human interaction. That being said, obviously shopkeepers and other people have some vested interest in parking. The process of reclaiming this public space has to be done in a participatory way where shopkeepers that want their streetscapes full of cars should have that option."

Thanks to Josh Stephens

Tuesday, January 9, 2007 in The Planning Report

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit