1. Bangkok mass transit/highway project cancelled.
2. Malaysian Minister dismisses latex dust issue.
3. Vietnam highway update.
4. Gender and transport research program.
5. Sustran-discuss e-mail discussion list reminder.
6. Call for Urban Best Practices nominations.
7. Phuket built heritage threatened by road widening.
8. New central and eastern European road-fighting coalition.
9. New resources.
10. Events.
11. Quick facts.

1. BANGKOK MASS TRANSIT/HIGHWAY PROJECT CANCELLED

Citing massive cost overruns and delays the Thai government has cancelled Hopewell Holdings' Bangkok Elevated Road and Train System (BERTS). As of March, only 17.4 % of the first phase of the project had been completed. Hopewell Chairman and Managing Director, Gordon Wu, had told the Transport Minister on July 18 that the first phase would not be ready for the December 1998 Asian games as originally planned. The Government blamed Hopewell's failure to find sufficient financing while Wu blamed red tape within the many departments of the Thai administration. The collapse of property prices and the sharp devaluation of the Thai currency had been further blows to the project's prospects, especially as its viability depended upon the revenues from real estate developments around the system. The Government and Hopewell also disagree on how much has already been spent on the project. It is not yet clear if there is any hope for a new investors to take on the project later.
[Sources: various newspaper reports and 'Railway Gazette International', Sept. 1997, p.613]

2. MALAYSIAN MINISTER DISMISSES LATEX DUST ISSUE

Recent research has suggested that non-tailpipe particulate pollution from motor vehicles may be significant, including dust from brake, pads, tyres, etc. References (thanks to Todd Litman) include: Brock Williams, et al., "Latex Allergen in Respirable Particulate Air Pollution," Journal of Allergy Clinical Immunology, Vol. 95, 1995, pp. 88-95; and Seaton, et al., "Particulate Air Pollution and Acute Health Effects," The Lancet, Vol. 345, Jan. 21, 1995, pp. 176-178. Latex dust from vehicle tyres has been claimed to be particularly worrisome. However, the Malaysian Ministry of Primary Industries smells a conspiracy here. Malaysia is one of world's largest producers of natural rubber and rubber products. The Minister, Mr LIM Keng Yaik, was quoted recently as saying that claims that dust from natural rubber tyres could cause allergies and the ban on powdered latex gloves in some American states were "over-reactions of extreme absurdity." He said the allegations were aimed at driving Malaysian products out of the market. He acknowledged that allergic reactions could cause irritation to certain individuals but said, "we are extremely concerned with the sweeping conclusions made which are not supported by data."
[Source: The Star newspaper, 30 Sept. 1997, p.10].

3. VIETNAM HIGHWAY UPDATE

SUSTRAN News Flash #22 (1 May, 1997) mentioned the proposal for the Truong Son Road Highway to follow the war-time Ho Chi Minh trail along Vietnam's mountainous spine. Now it has been reported by AFP news service (citing the Vietnam News Agency) that just before leaving office last month, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet approved the masterplan to build the US$5.2 billion, 1,800 km long road by the year 2010. It was also reported that a "free" labour force of up to one million Vietnamese will be mobilised for construction. Locals will be asked to work for 10 days on the project or contribute money instead.

4. GENDER AND TRANSPORT RESEARCH PROGRAM

The International Forum for Rural Transport and Development is coordinating an international research program on gender and transport. The aim is to carry out gender analyses of the impact of transport and non-transport interventions that have helped overcome the access and mobility constraints of rural people. Eleven case studies have so far been identified in Asia and IFRTD hopes to have an initial meeting of researchers in Calcutta in November.
[Contact: IFRTD Secretariat, New Premier House, 150 Southampton Row, 2nd Floor, London WC1B 5AL, UK. Tel: +44 171 278 3670, Fax: +44 171 278 6880, e-mail: ifrtd@gn.apc.org, URL: http://www.gn.apc.org/ifrtd].

5. SUSTRAN-DISCUSS E-MAIL DISCUSSION LIST REMINDER

This is a reminder about the 'sustran-discuss' list for those who have not already tried it. It is an interactive forum (using e-mail) for news, announcements, asking questions and discussions on sustainable and people-centred transportation issues, especially in low and middle-income countries. At the moment about 140 people are subscribed. Topics of discussion since May have included: poverty alleviation and basic mobility; motorcycles in Asian cities; debate over public transport regulation; public transport profitability; pedal rickshaws in Indonesia. In addition, people ask questions or ask for help and there are frequent announcements of events and new resources.

There are TWO OPTIONS. You can join either the ORDINARY list or the DIGEST list. In the ordinary list you receive individual messages from the list. In the digest version, messages get compiled together into one long message every day or two.

To subscribe to the sustran-discuss list, send a message to: majordomo@jca.ax.apc.org with the BODY of the message being: subscribe sustran-discuss

OR to subscribe to the DIGEST version of the list, send a message to majordomo@jca.ax.apc.org with the BODY of the message being: subscribe sustran-discuss-digest

6. CALL FOR URBAN BEST PRACTICES NOMINATIONS

The Best Practices Initiative began as a world-wide search for human settlements success stories as an action and planning tool for the June 1996 Habitat II conference. Best Practices are initiatives which have resulted in tangible improvements in the quality of life and the living environment of people in a sustainable way. There will be a new round of Awards for Excellence in Improving the Living Environment in 1998, valued at US$ 30,000. The submission process is open to ALL ACTORS FROM ALL GEOGRAPHIC REGIONS. A detailed list of criteria for a Best Practice and a comprehensive Reporting Format are available from the following addresses or on the Human Settlements website: http://www.hsd.ait.ac.th.

The deadline for First-Stage Submissions is 1 January 1998. Submissions may be sent to: UNCHS (Habitat), Best Practices Programme, P.O. Box 30030, Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: (254 2) 624328 Fax: (254 2) 624328/624266-7. Email: bestpractices@unchs.org. Submissions from the Asia and Pacific region may be sent to: Prof. Yap Kioe Sheng, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), P.O. Box 4, Klong Luang, Pathum Thani, 12120 Thailand. Fax: (662) 5246132. Email: yapks@ait.ac.th.

7. PHUKET BUILT HERITAGE THREATENED BY ROAD WIDENING

Phuket old town in southern Thailand has highly significant vernacular heritage with a concentration of 80 to 100 year-old shophouses built in a Chinese style blended with Portuguese influences. The character of the district is threatened by the 1990 designation of the area as a 'high density commercial zone' where narrow roads are to be widened. New buildings are required to be set back behind the current building line, in order to reserve land for future expropriation. This is creating an ugly bump-and-dent street facade. Heritage advocates object that the road widening proposal is in any case, extremely impractical. Since 1994 local people, NGOs and consultants have been successfully lobbying the municipal government to enact a conservation programme for the area.
[Source: AWPNUC Newsletter, Vol 4, No. 2, 1997. Asia & West Pacific Network for Urban Conservation, c/o Penang Heritage Trust, 19 Kelawei Road, 10250 Penang, Malaysia. Tel/Fax: +60 4 226 1358, E-mail: lubisksn@tm.net.my].

8. NEW CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN ROAD-FIGHTING COALITION

A new coalition of NGOs has emerged to oppose many of the new highway proposals in central and eastern Europe. The group is called 'Ecotendencee' (Environmental coalition opposing trans-European networks destroying environment and nature in central and eastern Europe {!!!} ). The group is holding a plenary meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia on 11-12 November. One of its main aims is to pass on experience of successful anti-road campaigning in western Europe to regions to the east.
[Contact: Ewout van der Weij; Mileaukontakt Oost-Europa, fax: +31 20 639 1379; source: T&E Bulletin, No. 61, August 1997, T&E, Bd de Waterloo 34, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium. Fax: +32 2 502 9909, e-mail: tande@knooppunt.be. NOTE: this is a NEW postal address for T&E].

9. NEW RESOURCES

a. "Annotated Bibliography on Rural Transport" (Edited by Niklas Sieber, 1997, International Forum for Rural Transport and Development, ISBN 1 85339 418 1). The Secretariat of IFRTD has compiled an excellent annotated bibliography of more than 120 of the most important documents on rural transport. It is organised into topics: rural transport infrastructure; intermediate means of transport; animal power; rural transport services; rural transport planning; financial and institutional issues; transport and development; gender and transport; miscellanea; and promotional material. It also includes information on where to get the documents, including unpublished material.
[Contact: IT Publications, 103-105 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4HH, UK. Tel: +44 171 436 9761, Fax: +44 171 436 2013, or the IFRTD Secretariat - see item on Gender and Transport above].

b. South Cycling Studies The Synthesis Report of the I-ce project "Cycling and Bicycle Theft" (or "Transporte en Bicicleta y Prevencion del Robo") by Geetam Tiwari and Rajeev Saraf of the Indian Institute of Technology is now available in English or Spanish. In the report major cycling issues have been defined based on local background studies: LEON, NICARAGUA. by Patricia Lindo and Ton Daggers; LIMA, PERU. by Carlos Cordero; DELHI, INDIA. by Rajeev Saraf and Geetam Tiwari; GUANGZHOU, CHINA. by Zhou He-long and Deng Xin-dong; ACCRA, GHANA. by Andrews Kwablah. A preliminary desk study is also available: PREVENTION OF BICYCLE THEFT, Dutch experiences and possibilities for application in Cities of the South, by Jaap Rijnsburger and Ton Daggers. Price for each report is US$15 including postage.
[Contact: Ton Daggers, fax: +31 30 2512208, E-mail: daggers@knoware.nl or Interface for Cycling Expertise, PO Box 2476, 3500 GL Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: I-ce@cycling.nl].

c. "European Cycle Routes: a report on national and international developments" This report just published by Sustrans is on the development of long distance cycle routes in Europe, dealing also with the social and political background to their development. High-profile cycle projects help the public to take the bike seriously as a form of transport which can help overcome the environmental problems caused by over-reliance on the car. "Sustrans: Routes for People" is a UK-based organisation which designs and builds traffic-free routes for cyclists, walkers and people with disabilities. The UK National Cycle network is being created by Sustrans in partnership with Local Authorities and many other bodies. Please do not confuse Sustrans with us, the SUSTRAN Network. The similarity of names is coincidental. The report, along with other Sustrans technical publications, is available from http://www.sustrans.org.uk. It costs 10 pounds plus P&P.
[Contact: Philip Insall, 35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ, Fax:+44 117 929 4173, e-mail: sustrans@mail.sustrans.org.uk].

10. EVENTS

International Symposium 'Transport and Traffic Facilities for the Disabled', 2-5 December, Havana, Cuba. Deadline for abstracts was 30 Sept. 1997 but there may be some leeway.
[Contact Dr Humberto Valdes Rios, Apartado Postal 17029, Haban 17, Cuba. Fax: +53 7 338250. E-mail: iitransp@ceniai.inf.cu].

Urban Transportation in Sarawak: Issues and Challenges, 27-28 October 1997, Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia. Organised by the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI).
[Contact: Dr Daniel Chew, Sarawak Development Institute, Rumah Laksamana Muda, Jalan Rodway, 93000 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. Fax: +60 82 412 799, E-mail: sdi@po.jaring.my, URL: http://www.sarawak.com.my/sdi/].

Philippines Sustainable Transport Forum (STF) Conference, 6-7 November 1997, Manila. Organised by the STF, which is a national network of environmental groups, green transport advocates, academics, transport planners, consumer advocates and others.
[Contact: Ramon Fernan III, Cycling Advocates (CYCAD), 1563 Pasaje Rosario, Paco 1007 Manila, Philippines. Tel: +63 2 523-0106 (NOTE: this is new number), E-mail: cycad@epic.net].

UN-ESCAP Committee on Transport and Communications, Bangkok, 1-4 December 1997. This multilateral meeting accepts accredited NGOs as observers. The agenda includes: country reports on implementation of the Regional Action Programme of the New Delhi Action Plan on Infrastructure Development in Asia and the Pacific (country reports will be posted on the Web at http://www.un.org/depts/escap/); the Asian Highway network and the Trans-Asia Railway; environment and safety issues; private sector involvement in infrastructure; and promotion of user-friendly public transport for people with disabilities.
[Contact: Dr M. Rahmatullah, Director, Transport, Communications and Tourism Division, ESCAP, United Nations Building, Rajadamneon Nok Aveneue, Bangkok 10200, Thailand. Fax: +66 2 288 1371, E-mail: rahmatullah.unescap@un.org].

International Conference on Transport and Regional Development (CONTRA-98), 9 - 11 JUNE 1998, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Theme: the prospect of public and private partnership to enhance regional transportation in developing countries. Organised by the Indonesian Transport Society and Gadjah Mada University. Abstracts submission are due by November 15, 1997.
[Contact: CONTRA-98 Yogyakarta, c/o Dr. Danang Parikesit, Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, 55281 INDONESIA. Tel: +62 274 902246, 512796, Fax. +62 274 512796, Email: dan-dan@indo.net.id].

International Conference on Transportation into the Next Millennium, 9-11 September 1998, Singapore. Calling for abstracts by 15 Nov. 1997.
[Contact: Conference Secretariat, Centre for Continuing Education, Nanyang Technological University, Administration Annex #04-06, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798. Tel: +65 799 4723, Fax: +65 793 0997, E-mail: wwwcts@ntu.edu.sg, URL: http://www.ntu.edu.sg/cts/conference].

11. QUICK FACTS

About 3 to 4 million tonnes of oil enter the oceans each year. Oil spills the size of the Exxon Valdez disaster occur somewhere in the world on average once a year. Even so, 'non-accidental marine transport' (ballast discharge, washing of tanks, bilge pumping, etc) accounts for twice as much marine oil pollution as accidental spills. Land-based urban and industrial sources account for more than four times as much marine oil pollution as marine accidents. Car exhausts and car oil changes dumped down drains account for more oil entering the oceans than any other source. [Source: Greenpeace, 'The Environmental Impact of the Car', 1991, pp. 35-38].