A new form of commuter transport: Parry Associates has come up with some fresh ideas on light rail technology, designed specifically to respond to the challenge of urban transport in Africa.(Company Focus)(JPM Parry & Associates Ltd.)

Publication: African Review of Business and Technology

Publication Date: 01-SEP-06

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COPYRIGHT 2006 Alain Charles Publishing Ltd.

ONE OF THE world's biggest transport challenges lies in the growing cities of the developing world, not least in Africa, where poor transport hampers livelihoods and damages lives. An explosion in motor vehicle use, coupled with poor roads and infrastructure, have wrought economic, social, environmental and physical damage across urban areas.

There is a parallel between today's developing world cities and the slums of Europe a hundred and more years ago. What enabled workers to live further from their workplaces and eased chronic overcrowding, appalling living conditions and devastating health problems? Affordable public transport.

The tram systems of European cities brought affordable transport to the greater population, removing the need to live cramped against the factories. They enabled urban population densities to be eased and so brought about huge improvements in living...

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