Carlos,

One issue I will have to "defend" policymakers in general is our
biggest paranoia today in cities around the world, "personal safety".
There are issues with robbery in public transport and people with
"something to lose" are the ones who value the their personal safety
the most and are willing to pay the price to use a private automobile.

My question is, how to overcome this feeling of insecurity? How to
reassure to policymakers the importance of this "first step" to use
public transport? Despite all personal feelings against it.

The safety issue against pick pockets and armed robbery in public
transport (mostly buses deal with this issue) is a big "enemy" to the
general use of sustainable mobility in big Brazilian cities. Recently
in Rio there have been cases of armed robbery in a special bus service
(used by "wealthy" people) that charges 2 times the regular bus fare.
When those news reach the general public, it helps to "pave the way"
to more automobile use. How to fight against the feeling of personal
insecurity and also, how to reach out people who can compromise
anything in order to feel safe in their cars?

Hope we can come with some ideas to reassure policymakers and the
general public that public transport is safe.

best regards,


--
João Guilherme Lacerda
-----------------------------------------
Associação Transporte Ativo
www.ta.org.br


On 8/15/06, Carlos F. Pardo SUTP <carlos.pardo@...> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> The mere experience of taking a policymaker through one poor person's
> transport itinerary from his home to his job (which sometimes will take 2
> hours or more) may make him aware of the fact that there should be something
> done about it. After that first (and impressive ride), he/she may be
> motivated to leave the car for a couple of days a month. Then a couple of
> days a week, then every day of the week. If you arrive at this last step,
> you have an ally. But, you need to get to that point progressively, just as
> Darwin explained it.
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
>
> Carlos F. Pardo
> Coordinador de Proyecto
> GTZ - Proyecto de Transporte Sostenible (SUTP, SUTP-LAC)
> Cl 125bis # 41-28 of 404
> Bogotá D.C., Colombia
> Tel: +57 (1) 215 7812
>
> Fax: +57 (1) 236 2309
> Mobile: +57 (3) 15 296 0662
> e-mail: carlos.pardo@...
> Página: www.sutp.org