Urban Development

This week’s lecture was about urban development and city developments.  Jaime Lerner, an aritect and former mayor of Curitiba quoted a “city is a not a problem, its a solution.”  Lerner is famous for the 1965 Curitiba Master Plan which implemented the Bus Rapid Transit, a system where buses have their own lanes on major streets.  They Aritects and city planners have a pessimistic approach about cities since they are too big and lack financial resources.  He said every city needs a design and coresponsibility from everyone.  There are two important factors when it comes to development of cities, 1. mobility and 2. sustainability.  Wherever an indivudual travels to, the bus rate is constant and Curitiba has restricted vehicular entries in their downtown/city center. 

The reason why vehicles are restricted in the city center is to preserve their history and to also mitigate carbon emissions, a major contributor by cars.  He compared cars to mother in laws, where we need them but cant stand them.  During his era of mayorship, his bus stops were innovative as they were colored and tube shaped, easier indications that they were bus stops.  Another reason why he restricted vehicles from entering the city center was the massive population influx occuring during Lerner’s office years.         

Creativity and innovation is what Lerner emphasized as he built parks in areas vulnerable from floods.  Certain barrios and ghetto neighborhoods got cleaner because he taught children how to separate their trash.  He attempted and succeed to some degree urban developing, equally developing all areas of the city including poverty and run down.  Curitiba’s public transportation is not subsidized by the government.