5 Issues America’s Mass Transit Activists Must Overcome

Half of this past semester in transportation geography has been devoted to the fascination of mass transit;  different approaches in various cities and its successes and failures in those cities.  The common problems facing Americas development of successful urban transit involve many issues that need to be addressed. While these are common to most areas not all cities experience these same issues.

1. Existing transit inadequacies resulting in a declining reputation of public transportation.  There is a social stigma attached to “those people” who ride the bus.  Poor scheduling spurs poor service.  Ridership declines along with any funding to sponsor it.
2. Pedestrian foot traffic is ignored as another means to decrease cars during rush hour.  Many dangers are associated from walking on foot in a city with one being the threat of injury from automobiles.  Current land use policies disperse residential areas from commercial areas decreasing the likelihood of walking to work.
3. Parking is a big issue resulting in inefficiency looking for adequate parking facilities.  This leads to more time in the car resulting in traffic jams.
4. Environmental Impacts: The environmentalist would like to do away with the automobile for the many pollutants it releases to the air, to the land, and visually/auditory.  Think about land value near a major freeway; the ones with sound barriers attempting to extinguish to roar of traffic.  These are typically lower cost homes as the land value diminishes through visual and auditory pollution.  Many community activists protest the addition of highways for this very reason; the burden on the quality of life.
5. Land Use patterns have an undeniable trend of construction on the periphery of cities rather than enforcing a smart growth philosophy.  Possible repercussions of peripheral construction actually results in the economic death of a downtown core as all activity is oriented to the periphery.

There are other issues to be overcome that will be addressed later on.  For now check out my post on Curitiba, Brazil and its success in the realm of public transportation and other public services.

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.