Curitiba, Brazil Gets it Right!

I first saw this documentary in my transportation geography course and just had to share it.  The documentary observes the city’s public transit system and its widespread success.  While its innovations here are enough to inspire hope for a transportation solution Curitiba, Brazil has done much more for its people in social programs, parks, recreation, recycling, affordable housing options and enthusiasm and support for small business owners.  This city wins my heart as the worlds most successful city with its philosophy of being a city for the people NOT the automobile.

Above ground subway system. Light Rail in the center while 2 roads of one way traffic for effieciency surround it.

(The above video is only the trailer as there is not a free version to present)

Unlike the cities of North America public transportation via bus is the preferred mode of transportation for many reasons.  While congestion and traffic problems plague American cities our solution has been the construction of additional roadways to accommodate MORE traffic.  When you think about this it seems very counter intuitive.  MORE roadways = MORE traffic which contributes to the vicious cycle between supply and

demand also known as triple convergence.  If you build it they will come, ignoring any previous progress made with alternative modes of transport.

Curitiba has perfected a cost efficient design that reflects an above ground subway system (of buses not rail) with a design that encourages business and foot traffic in the city center while new development is created in a linear fashion along transit lines rather than around a centroid.

There is so much more that this city has done in the realms of energy, recycling, transportation, education, affordable housing, and providing public services and jobs to the under privelaged. Check out “A Convenient Truth” a documentary about Curitiba, Brazil.  This is truly a pioneering city that has created a model for other cities of the world.  In my opinion, more credit can be given to Brazil in the realms of environmental policy considering the efficiency and cleanliness of this city.

What obstacles does the United States face if it wants to amp up its public transportation?  See my post here on ostacles the U.S. faces.

BBC Box was a prime example of our Global Economy

By far my favorite news providers have to be the brits at BBC.  They’ve got it all from the content, predominantly non-biased views and easy to use interface that links you to more fun stories.  While saving news on Iran and Hamas’ stranglehold on Gaza for later, I came across a story that apparently has been big news for the past year in the UK but I have just now discovered.  As it turns out the BBC had sent a shipping container on a trip around the world with only a satellite tracker and small journalism team to write observations.  Basically we have a blown up version of the “where’s George?” experiment we can see on the occasional one dollar bill.  You log on to a website and see where it has been.  As a student of geography, I find this fascinating

The box arrives back in the UK

The box transported many different products to many locales.  A listing of which appears here along with other info about the journey.

If nothing more the BBC box provided an opportunity for the average citizen to observe something in  real time.  There’s just something cool about that.  When I was flying from Australia back to the U.S. the aircraft was equipped with gps tracking right in the arm of the chair.  I spent much of the 18 hour flight just looking where I was.  The box was also a glimpse at the global economy in real time and a real situation.  Something tangible, not a line plot of the stock exchange.  Trends were seen that mimicked the economy.  In periods of economic downturn a period of stagnation would occur; evidence of a highly globalized and interdependent world.  It would seem that we will always rise and fall together.

BBC story