Barbara Gruehl Kipke
Mobility Consultant

General Information Page

Fields of expertise:

Integrated sustainable transportation planning
International marketing of zero emission transport modes, emphasis on developing countries

Homepage

Who should peruse these pages:

• Transportation /Urban planners and students of transportation/urban planning
• Transportation Planning departments at the national and local levels
• Development aid organisations and financial institutions such as the World Bank, KFW in Germany etc.
• Transportation Consultants who have specialised on the so-called "developing countries"
• Private sector (informal and formal) Sustainable Transport Industry
• Sustainable Transport activists/advocacy groups
• Women's associations interested in transportation issues in developing countries

What you'll find here:

• This web-site is all about sustainable transport with a special emphasis on developing countries. In my view, sustainable transport includes pedestrians, cyclists, public transport users as well as animal-driven modes (mainly in rural areas) and similar "miscellaneous" modes. The above-mentioned modes are environmentally friendly, far more economical than motorised modes for shorter distances and suited for use by the majority of the population (ie. ecologically, economically and socially sustainable).
• I have to admit that you'll mainly find information on cycling and urban issues because that is where I have concentrated my efforts.
• You will find information concerning private sector initiatives because they are a natural lobby to promote their respective transport modes. This emphasis is also due to my business administration background...
• I am particularly sensitive to gender issues in transportation so they are included as far as information is available.

Where my expertise lies and what services I can offer:

I have already worked extensively in Africa, but would be just as interested in working on transportation issues in Asia or Latin America where actually less studies exist and sustainable transport modes risk being eradicated before their benefits have been analysed. I speak fluent English, French and German - my Spanish needs some brushing up, however.

From my background, I have more expertise in urban transport. I have recently gotten into rural transport issues as the new German IFRTD National Forum contact person.

My special areas of interest as a mobility/transportation consultant are:

• marketing of sustainable modes
• community participation
• gender issues
• youth as a target group
• pedestrian issues
• bicycle promotion
• promotion of small-scale sustainable transport enterprises (eg. bicycle hirers, bicycle repairers etc.)