CURITIBA
Pre-reflection
The reason for Curitiba’s successful urban plan can be attributed to Jaime Lerner. Having been once the mayor of Curitiba as well as the governor of the state of Parana, Lerner believed people matter more than economics when designing a city. It was the first to establish a citywide recycling service in the 1980s, and recycles 2/3 of its waste. A program called the green exchange was also enacted that gives incentives to low income areas to dispose of waste properly. The city relies on an integrated transport system that has dedicated lanes to only its bi-articulated buses and is organized into four different travel lines that are all efficiently connected. Curitiba has the lowest rate of air pollution in all of Brazil. Buildings were built vertically with added floors to preserve surrounding green space. Lerner also accomplished the construction and reorganization of an outdoor pedestrian mall in a 72-hour time span. The importance of the education of the people of this city is greatly stressed and specialized libraries that vary in content depending on where it is located within the city, is the core of each neighborhood.
Curitiba is the greatest example of systemic sustainability and what happens when a city is planned correctly. It is also an impressive model for cities with financial shortfalls. The bus system is efficient and simplistic and is less expensive than a subway system. Commuter traffic has decreased dramatically because people have been given reasons to take the bus instead of driving their own vehicles. Riverbanks were transformed into parks, which solved the flooding problem a way in which to also preserve usable green space. Vacant buildings are recycled to combat the creation of unplanned slums. The citywide recycling service has positively impacted the residence in this city in more ways than one. It has created jobs, is much more balanced with the environment and at the same cost as the old landfill system that was previously used. Through recycling and the green exchange, one is able to turn in recyclables and receive bus tokens and surplus food that would have otherwise had gone to waste. The residences of the low-income areas bring their waste to a designated location, which has also stopped the need for widening the road to accommodate the collection truck. Each service provided by the city compliments another to further the ultimate goal of sustainability. Urban planning has always been an interest of mine, and for the past 3 months I was given the opportunity to work alongside a Trenton nonprofit organization called Isles Inc., and who’s goal is the creation of self reliant communities. One focus, the creation of green spaces and the positive impact it makes on people. The emphasis that Curitiba has given to green spaces in an urban environment is not only groundbreaking but also something I truly appreciate and am excited to see on our visit.
The reason for Curitiba’s successful urban plan can be attributed to Jaime Lerner. Having been once the mayor of Curitiba as well as the governor of the state of Parana, Lerner believed people matter more than economics when designing a city. It was the first to establish a citywide recycling service in the 1980s, and recycles 2/3 of its waste. A program called the green exchange was also enacted that gives incentives to low income areas to dispose of waste properly. The city relies on an integrated transport system that has dedicated lanes to only its bi-articulated buses and is organized into four different travel lines that are all efficiently connected. Curitiba has the lowest rate of air pollution in all of Brazil. Buildings were built vertically with added floors to preserve surrounding green space. Lerner also accomplished the construction and reorganization of an outdoor pedestrian mall in a 72-hour time span. The importance of the education of the people of this city is greatly stressed and specialized libraries that vary in content depending on where it is located within the city, is the core of each neighborhood.
Curitiba is the greatest example of systemic sustainability and what happens when a city is planned correctly. It is also an impressive model for cities with financial shortfalls. The bus system is efficient and simplistic and is less expensive than a subway system. Commuter traffic has decreased dramatically because people have been given reasons to take the bus instead of driving their own vehicles. Riverbanks were transformed into parks, which solved the flooding problem a way in which to also preserve usable green space. Vacant buildings are recycled to combat the creation of unplanned slums. The citywide recycling service has positively impacted the residence in this city in more ways than one. It has created jobs, is much more balanced with the environment and at the same cost as the old landfill system that was previously used. Through recycling and the green exchange, one is able to turn in recyclables and receive bus tokens and surplus food that would have otherwise had gone to waste. The residences of the low-income areas bring their waste to a designated location, which has also stopped the need for widening the road to accommodate the collection truck. Each service provided by the city compliments another to further the ultimate goal of sustainability. Urban planning has always been an interest of mine, and for the past 3 months I was given the opportunity to work alongside a Trenton nonprofit organization called Isles Inc., and who’s goal is the creation of self reliant communities. One focus, the creation of green spaces and the positive impact it makes on people. The emphasis that Curitiba has given to green spaces in an urban environment is not only groundbreaking but also something I truly appreciate and am excited to see on our visit.