ABSTRACT
Transport justice and environmental justice in urban areas are closely linked to one another. Cities where a large percentage of the trips are made on foot, bicycles, or public transport are both environment-friendly and socially just. Analysis of secondary information and case studies from Kathmandu shows that the rapid growth of vehicle-centric transportation system and the lack of priority given to sustainable alternatives such as walking, cycling, and public vehicles has created environmental injustice in the form of inadequate access to affordable and reliable transport services. Moreover, urban populations especially the poor, women, children, elderly, people with disabilities and marginalized communities are exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution made worse by vehicular emissions. However, because vehicle ownership in Nepal is still fairly low, these injustices can be addressed if the government takes initiative to engage locals as well as other stakeholders in designing and implementing people-centric transport systems.
