Introduction

Sustainable transport is a major concern in connection with urban development worldwide, not least in the Asia-Pacific region (UN ESCAP 2016). The Asia-Pacific region has witnessed rapid population growth and urbanization. In 2016, 48.7 per cent of the region’s 4.3 billion population lived in urban areas. Projecting forward, more than half of the region’s population will be urban residents by 2018 with the total regional urban population expected to reach 3.2 billion by 2050. The fleet of motor vehicles is also growing steadily in the region’s cities. This rapid growth and increased urbanization will continue to stress urban transport systems and infrastructure leading to congestion, accidents and more consumption of fossil fuels and correspondingly raise greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Quality of life issues like loss of productivity and health also suffer as a follow-on impact. Given the increasing demand for urban mobility due to rapid urbanization and rural-urban migration, Asian countries and cities need to initiate integrated policies and make investment in improved urban public transport systems and services.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Sustainable Cities and Communities