Who We Are

Fighting poverty, pollution, and oil dependence

Founded in 1985, the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) has become a leading organization in the promotion of environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects worldwide.

ITDP was created by sustainable transport advocates in the U.S. to counteract the export to developing countries of costly and environmentally damaging models of dependence on the private automobile.

In its first ten years, ITDP successfully advocated for the redirection of lending activity by the World Bank and other multi-lateral institutions away from an exclusive focus on road projects and toward more multi-modal transport solutions.

In more recent years, we have focused on working with municipalities and non-governmental organizations in developing countries to implement projects that show how air pollution, carbon emissions, traffic congestion and accidents can be reduced, or how the basic mobility of the poor can be improved.

Our program areas

ITDP primarily focuses on work in the following program areas:

• Developing high-quality, low-cost mass transit
• Planning and advocacy for cycling and walking
• Strengthening the bicycle and rickshaw industries

ITDP is also playing an increasingly critical role in several emerging areas:

• Revitalizing city centers
• Bridging distances: transport for healthcare
• Managing traffic demand

Our projects build local knowledge and skills while generating greater public awareness of viable sustainable transport solutions.

They are also used to leverage additional resources from international development institutions, inspire these institutions to change their own priorities, encourage private sector participation, and encourage more participatory and transparent decision-making.

Making an impact

Some of our most important achievements include:

The implementation of the TransJakarta, Asia's first full-featured Bus Rapid Transit system. Since its opening, TransJakarta has expanded to seven corridors and over 20% of TransJakarta passengers have switched from using private cars. Carbon dioxide emissions alone are being reduced at the rate of 20,000 metric tons a year.

Daily ridership is expected to reach 300,000 as the system expands to ten corridors by early 2008. ITDP is also providing technical assistance for new BRT systems in China, India, South Africa, Tanzania and Senegal.

The modernization of cycle rickshaws in India. In collaboration with local experts, ITDP developed design innovations that made India's traditional cycle rickshaw lighter, more comfortable, and easier to handle.

The improved design increased the earning power of cycle rickshaw operators and drew passengers away from highly polluting, motorized rickshaws. Today, over 300,000 modernized cycle rickshaws are operating in nine of India's major cities.

The creation of the California Bike Project -- an innovative effort to dramatically improve the quality of bicycles and the status of cycling in Africa. Working with a network of over 35 independent African retailers, we've distributed over 7,000 new, higher-quality bicycles to low-income workers, health care staff, and students.

We've organized over 25 bike safety workshops for schools, free public bike rides, and Car-Free Days, drawing over 17,000 participants.

ITDP prioritizes its involvement in projects based on the level of demonstrated local commitment to successful implementation, the availability of financial resources, and the potential benefits of the project, including the degree to which the project will demonstrate solutions to others.

We are currently most active in Indonesia, India, China, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia.