Blog Posts: transit-oriented development (TOD)

A new WRI working paper finds that though cities are hotspots for opportunity, many urbanites find it increasingly difficult to access these benefits, rendering jobs, healthcare and education increasingly out of reach for millions of people.

Mobility is a gateway to opportunity, and transportation can make cities more wonderful, livable and equitable. WRI Vice President Lawrence MacDonald is joined by Robin Chase and Harriet Tregoning to talk about the New Urban Mobility alliance (NUMO) and how they are building better cities for all.

Like many other big, developing cities, South Africa's largest city struggles with spatial inequality, where good jobs and affordable housing are mismatched. To bridge the gap, they've turned to a new planning paradigm called transit-oriented development.

Shorter blocks, narrower lanes, chicanes, roundabouts, speed humps and raised crossings can make roads safer.

New taxes and fees shouldn't just raise revenue. They can do more than that: they can make cities more livable and transport more sustainable.

Fifteen of the world's leading transport and technology companies—including, Lyft, Uber, Didi and more—have aligned themselves with the Shared Mobility Principles. They share a vision for urban mobility that puts people first.

When ride-hailing, car- and bike-sharing and other innovative services are effectively combined with existing public transport options, their potential becomes "truly transformative," according to WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities director Anirudhha Dasgupta.

By focusing incentivizes to encourage cooperation, China was able to capture a strategic market: electric buses. India could do the same for electric bikes.

Brazil has what may seem like a fortunate problem: public finance is too readily available for transport projects, and this can undercut the market and crowd out private investment. A successful example of private investment in public transport is Sao Paulo's Linha 4, which integrates disparate transit systems and improves access to jobs.

While India's cities continue to invest in road expansions, a handful of businesses are taking steps to reduce car dependence. The result is less car congestion and improved productivity.