Chapter 11 Learning Guide_Ans.pdf

My Geographical Learning for CHAPTER 11 Sustainable Management of Transport Systems Name: ____________________ ( ) Class: Sec 2 ___ Instructions: Bring this guide along with...

My Geographical Learning for CHAPTER 11 Sustainable Management of Transport Systems Name: ____________________ ( ) Class: Sec 2 ___ Instructions: Bring this guide along with you for your geography lessons for Chapter 11 (Textbook Pages 116-148) 1 Lesson Objectives Describe the impact of transport systems on the environment. Describe the impact of transport systems on people. Explain the strategies taken to sustainably manage transport systems in Singapore and other countries. Evaluate the strategies taken to sustainably manage transport systems in Singapore and other countries. How do transport systems impact the environment in cities? Changes to the physical environment To develop transport systems, physical space is needed. Natural vegetation is cleared to get the required space. Road developments can divide forests into smaller fragments Thereby reducing the size of animal habitats and restricting their movement Animals are killed when trying to cross the busy road to the other side of the forest. Other problems include increased emissions and dust, noise pollution which disturb animals, soil erosion and runoff of sediments into rivers or canals. To manage this problem, wildlife corridors are created such as the Eco-Link@BKE. To develop transport systems, natural landforms such as slopes, mountains and river channels are modified. To construct the Downtown line station, part of Singapore River was temporarily diverted To construct Hong Kong International Airport, the peak of Chek Lap Kok island was reduced from100m to 7m above sea level The island was also expanded via reclamation to 4 times its original size 2  A carbon footprint is the measure of greenhouse gases emitted to Increased support human activities. carbon footprint A person’s carbon footprint increases when he makes use of motorised transport modes as fossil fuels are consumed. Even modes that are powered by electricity rely on fossil fuels to generate the electricity that powers them, e.g., electric cars and MRT trains. When fossil fuels are used, greenhouse gases are released to the atmosphere. Transport activities account for 25 to 30 percent of all greenhouse emissions. Increased carbon As cities expands, the carbon footprint from transport systems will footprint also increase E.g. One-way trip from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (TB, pg.126-127) How do transport systems impact the people in cities? Improved mobility for the elderly & persons with disabilities. Mobility refers to the ability of people and freight to move from place to place. Mobility is important because it allows people access to goods and services. It also facilitates social interactions that are necessary for our emotional well-being. Physical capabilities & health-related condition Elderly people Persons with disabilities (PWDs) More time and support Long term intellectual, physical or sensory impairments to move around Face barriers that hinder them from carrying out daily activities. that prevent them from have equal access to opportunities 3  The provision of age-friendly and barrier-free transport system enable the elderly and PWDs to improve their mobility. Age-friendly initiatives Barrier-free initiatives Extended pedestrian crossing time Wheelchair-accessible buses for the elderly Silver zones are areas within residential neighbourhoods with enhanced and customised road safety features for the elderly Three key considerations that determine the location of Silver Zones: High proportion of High accident rates Close proximity to involving senior amenities frequented by senior citizens pedestrians seniors Traffic congestion ‘Traffic occurs when road usage approaches or exceeds road capacity.’ Characteristics of traffic congestion: Slow travelling speeds Vehicular queues or build-up of vehicles Concentration of traffic congestion in the city The Central Business District (CBD) is the commercial centre where businesses are concentrated in the city. High traffic flow caused by high pedestrian and vehicular flow, especially during peak hours. o People go to work in the morning and go home in the evening. o Roads in or connected to the CBD are affected. ‘Peak hour refers to a part of the day during which traffic volume is the highest.’ 4 Impact of traffic congestion on people Physical and emotional well-being Stress on physical health o Loss of concentration o Falling asleep o Asthma and lung disease from pollution emitted by traffic. Stress on mental health o Stress, frustration and anxiety o Makes drivers more likely to get involved in fights and accidents. Impact of traffic congestion- air pollution Traffic congestion increases pollution in a city. o Increases carbon footprints and worsen air quality. ▪ Vehicles emit greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. ▪ Vehicles emit other harmful air pollutants (e.g. smog). ‘Smog is a combination of smoke and fog, caused by exhaust and particles from cars and factories.’ Health risks – air pollution Smog has several negative effects on the body: o Difficulty in breathing o Asthma o Eye irritation o Higher risk of lung cancer Health risks – noise pollution Noise pollution has several negative effects on people: o Sleep disturbance o Reduce work performance o Mental stress o Hearing impairment o Can trigger heart-related illnesses. Safety risks Transport accidents can negatively impact people: o Increase demand for healthcare and insurance due to serious injuries. 5  o Loss of lives and physical disabilities from serious accidents o Damage to both personal and public properties. Personal safety o Increase risks of crimes such as theft and outrage of modesty on public transport National security concerns o Terminals may become targets of terrorist attacks. How do transport systems be sustainably managed? Laws & policies on transport Managing people’s demand o Car-lite policies ▪ by discouraging private vehicle ownership such as issuing Certificate of Entitlement (COE) ▪ by encouraging people to commute by walking, cycling and taking public transport Law & policies - Managing road usage Road pricing o Road prices are adjusted from time to time. o Drivers pay more during peak hours. o Road pricing discourages drivers from using certain roads. o In Singapore, road pricing is done via Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) o ERP rates for driving into the Central Business District (CBD) is the highest. o Challenges ▪ Traffic is diverted elsewhere. ▪ Regulations have to be tightly enforced to ensure effectiveness. Road pricing - Example: Stockholm Pricing System o Applies to vehicles entering and leaving the CBD. o Cameras at control points capture trips made by vehicles. o Bill is sent to vehicle owner. o Result: ▪ Traffic volume fell by approximately 20% during peak hours. ▪ Traffic delays decreased by 30 to 35 per cent. 6 Integrated land use & transport planning Land use planning refers to where and how land should be used. Land use planning is important in shaping: o the demand for travel and the distance needed to travel for employment opportunities. o E.g. when business parks, commercial centres are planned near residential areas, the need for long distance travel is reduced. Transport planning refers to the process of forecasting the operation, provision and management of infrastructure and services for present and future needs. Good planning ensures that transport facilities and services are able to move people and goods in a safe, affordable, convenient and environmentally friendly manner. Singapore’s Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) Long term plan to develop a transport network that is convenient, well-connected and fast. It also looks at developing inclusive infrastructure, promoting gracious behaviours and enabling safer journey by public transport. By 2040, develop “20-minute towns” and “45-minute city” rides using public, active and shared modes of transport. o Journeys to neighbourhood centres & across the city to be completed within 20 and 45 minutes during peak periods. Integrated land use & transport planning Integrating land use and transport plans requires: o close coordination and communication between different stakeholders o So that there is balance in social, economic and transport needs. o Large amount of time and investment in infrastructure design & development o E.g. designing and developing pedestrian & bicycle infrastructure to encourage active mobility. ▪ Wide shaded paths with attractive building facades and shopfronts within pedestrian shed to provide comfortable walking experiences. Provision of a range of mobility options for different groups of people The mobility of people can be limited by: o Physical capability o Health-related conditions o Transport costs o Transport system design o Availability of transport modes Poorly designed infrastructure can cause individuals like: o The elderly o Wheelchair users 7  o PWDs To isolate themselves because of the inconvenience of travelling The provision of barrier-free transport is therefore important in developing inclusive transport systems that cater to diverse mobility needs. However, there are challenges in catering to diverse mobility needs: o It is costly to build barrier-free facilities. o It requires more space to build barrier-free facilities. Research & Development in Transport Creating a sustainable transport system through: o The use of green building materials and techniques to construct transport infrastructure. o The use of IT & mobile applications to improve mobility. ▪ Real-time traffic information on travel time, cost & possible routes to undertake. o Information on bus arrival times, availability of seats & wheelchair facilities on public transport to be made available to all commuters. o With such information, commuters can better plan their journeys saving costs & time. Creating a sustainable transport system through: o The use of Electric Vehicles (EVs) ▪ Smaller carbon footprints ▪ Less noise pollution o Challenges ▪ More expensive than conventional vehicles o The use of Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) ▪ Use a suite of sensors to detect other vehicles & pedestrians. ▪ Potentially prevent road accidents & improve road safety. ▪ Consume less energy therefore less emission. o Challenges ▪ Huge amount of time and investment ▪ Safety & cybersecurity issues Conclusion Each management strategy has its benefits & challenges. Cities should consider their unique situations and adopt a combination of strategies to manage their transport system sustainably. Cities should also review these strategies regularly so that they can adapt to the changing environment and future challenges. 8