“India is in love with the car without realizing that the private automobile can’t possibly move the number of people that need to get around in the space available.”
“…what Gorton can provide to a place like India is first-hand American knowledge of what not to do.”
“‘Anything that makes it harder to drive, more expensive to drive, more inconvenient to drive is a good policy. Anything that makes it easier to walk, to cycle or take transit is a good policy. It is that simple. It is all you need to know,’ says Gorton”
“His grouse against automobiles goes beyond the obvious concerns over pollution and congestion. He is concerned with the intangible fallout of living on a street that is crowded by cars and has little space to walk.”
“Gorton focused specifically on India, commenting that ‘India is at a turning point in its history – as it develops, it needs to focus on how transportation technology can complement other initiatives.’”
“Gorton, who was in the city on Tuesday to address a gathering at the IIT-M Research Park, says Chennai still has good chance of being a well-planned city that gives enough space to people rather than cars.”
“He also added that traffic undermines the liveability of the city. Many countries have realised this, and limit driving by putting in place stringent parking norms.”
“He cited several studies, one of which showed that human relationships fared better in neighbourhoods with less traffic than in areas with heavy automobile populations.”
“‘If we want to give our children a better future, we have to rely more on efficient public transport and cleaner modes such as bicycling and invest in parks and open spaces,’ he said.”