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Are cities inevitably polluted, noisy, crime-ridden, unpleasant places to live?  Or is it possible to bring to cities much of what we love about the countryside:  friendly places where people interact outdoors, but with all the advantages that cities bring, of quality jobs, education, health care, and recreational opportunities?

Cities are meant to be places of maximum exchange with minimum travel.  By focusing on bringing things closer, rather than increasing travel opportunities, we can benefit from the advantages inherent in cities, without allowing transport to make our lives miserable.  It is possible to organize a city such that most transport is by foot, bicycle, and rickshaw; that long-distance trips occur by bus; and that footpaths and roads are used not only for travel, but also for play spaces for children and recreational areas for youth and adults.

We could breathe cleaner air, endure less noise, lose far fewer family members and friends to traffic accidents, reduce crime, increase neighborhood feelings and people's happiness, and at the same time reduce the chronic diseases that are killing us, and the motorized vehicle emissions that are destroying our environment. 

Roads for People is a people movement. Roads for People encourages everyone to work for positive change that will benefit our health, economies, and environment.  WBB Actively working with Roads for People Group.

Bangladesh is currently suffering under the attack of the private car.  While private cars are still only affordable by the rich, their use is increasing dramatically--an estimated 66 new cars on the streets of Dhaka each day in 2004.  As a result, traffic jams are also increasing considerably; people are suffering from noise and air pollution; deaths from road crashes are high and rising; and the majority of people are still unable to move about easily or safely.

In order to reduce the problem of traffic jams, to improve the urban environment, and to make our cities livable, WBB began the program Transport Policy in July 2004. Our work includes promoting FFT and public transport (particularly walking, cycling, and cycle rickshaws); helping the poor to purchase bicycles; and creating more safe places for children to play in Dhaka and other cities.  By supporting FFT and public transport, we will see a reduction in air pollution, noise pollution, and reliance on imported fuel and expensive imported vehicles.  Wise planning, which emphasizes the movement of people not cars, will reduce traffic jams while improving the environment and economy.  The design of cities is also important, as neighborhoods with a good mix of uses (work, play, residence, shopping) require less travel, and thus reduce the burden on the transport system.  After all, the goal is access not mobility.

Promotion of Trains

To help reduce the slaughter occurring daily on our roads and highways, and to reduce the cost of basic goods, WBB is promoting trains as a safer and more economical alternative to road travel for the transport of people and goods.  This includes conducting research into the current problems of the rail network and suggestions for improvement and investment, so that more passengers and goods will travel by rail rather than road, with consequent benefits to our safety, environment, and economy.