- Settlements can be grouped by (site and situation and site and rank and service hierarchy).
1. Site - point where a village/town/hamlet/city is located. Factors such as local relief, soil, water supply and resources were critically important when choosing the site.
2. Situation - describes settlement in relation to surrounding features, eg: other settlements, rivers and communication. It is the situation which decides how it develops. Paris is an example of a town that has grown into a city. (located on an island in the River Seine) which could be defended and it was a major farming area and where several rivers converged.
Settlement function:
-relates to its economic and social development (its main activities).
-most large settlements are multifunctional (0.5 functions may be dominant).-original function may not be applicable eg: defence-functions may have changed (eg fishing to tourism) or (moving to high-tech industry).
1. Retail function - usually easily accessible eg: a main shopping area.
2. Industrial function - manufacturing = main employer Birmingham.
3. Ports - coasts (vital to international trade) and rivers - Liverpool, Southampton.
4. Cultural centres and university towns - education and religious purposes - Cambridge.
5. Resorts - holiday centres, facilities for temporary and permanent population. Bath
6. Administrative centres - centres of local government - Liverpool = administrative centre of Merseyside.
3 reasons for function change
1. Industrial change - decline in manufacturing - cheaper importations eg. Sheffield - retail decline - out of town shopping centres + supermarkets.
2. Change in planning policy - environment policy encouraged development of brownfield sites (derelict areas of farmer retail, industrial or residential function).
3. Social change - increased wealth and travel has led to a decline in tourism in many areas, and a tourism increase in others.
Urban growth and Land use
MEDCs Urbanisation = an increase in the proportion of people living in towns and cities.- large scale urbanisation occurred after industrialisation in the 19th century.- in the 20th century people moved to urban areas for:1. lack of urban resources - better paid jobs2. nearness to places of work - entertainment3. better housing - services and schools.
URBAN PROBLEMS IN DEVELOPED CITIES AND SOLUTIONS
Congestion: Many British cities still have street plans that were laid down hundred of years ago. The roads cannot cope with the ever increasing numbers of cars and other vehicles. This can cause massive congestion problems, especially at rush hour.
Solutions to the problems have included improving public transport (eg. the trams of Manchester); introducing park and ride schemes (eg. Oxford); pedestrianization (eg. Exeter and Oxford); encouraging people to share cars into work and building ring roads (eg. Watford).
In Athens (Greece) they have tried an extreme form of control by only allowing cars with odd numbers on their number plates into the city on one day, and then cars with even numbers the next day. Unfortunately this has led many people to own two cars, one with an odd number and one with an even one!
Lack of space: CBD's are limited in their outwards growth by the fact that the city encompasses them, and due to the fact that businesses want to locate as close to the centre as they possibly can. This has led to land prices rising to astronomical amounts. The only solution seen by most businesses is to build upwards, which is why CBD's can be characterised by the presence of skyscrapers.
Pollution: The major pollution seen in urban areas is air pollution, or smog. This pollution is mainly caused by the fumes given off by traffic and industry.
The most famous example of where this pollution haze can be seen is over LA, but most of the large cities of the world experience it too. Poor air quality can lead to an increase in the cases of asthma and bronchitis.
Air is not the only thing polluted in cities. Water can be badly polluted, and so has to be carefully treated before being drunk. It's a horrible thought, but most of the water that you drink in London has already been drunk by 7 other people.
Solutions to pollution problems include: banning heavy vehicles from CBD's; developing cleaner fuels, and providing more litter bins in CBDs.
Some cities have encouraged the growth of out-of-town shopping centres to help traffic, land price and pollution problems, by taking some of the focus away from the CBD. However this can also have the negative effect of causing the CBD to decline.
1. congestion - old fashioned street plans (can't cope with modern traffic).-improving public transport (trams in Manchester, park and ride in Oxford).-pedestrianization (Exeter and Oxford) - people and cars seperate.-car share - reduce car levels-ring roads - increase traffic outflow.-congestion charge - charging people to drive round certain parts of the city.
2. Lack of space - CBD are encompassed by a city = restricted outward growth and businesses want to be as near to the centre as possible = v.high land prices.
Solutions - businesses build upwards reduce amount of actual ground space used.
3. Pollution - from cars and industry visualised as smog. Causes upturn in cases of asthma and bronchitis. (Air and water pollution).
Solutions - heavy vehicle ban (in CBD) - cleaner fuels - more litter bins - reducing potential water table contamination.
- Overall solution - encouraging growth of out-of-town retail centres as they:1. Reduce traffic, land price adn pollution levels in a CBDhowever they can:1. Cause the "doughnut" effect - shops in CBDs struggle to compete with the out-of-town shopping centres.
- chains open on the outside high street stores close on the inside.- leaves a "hollow" commercial area in the CBD.- economic vitality is sucked out of the CBD.
Case Study: Princesshay - Exeter's CBD - Regeneration
Regenerating Exeter’s City Centre – a case study of Princesshay
Describe the location of Exeter in a short "Twitter" style comment (using 140 characters or less) (link)
What do you think is meant by the term "urban redevelopment"? (link)
Explain the reasons why Exeter City Council decided to redevelop Princesshay. Based on the photographic evidence, do you agree with them? (link)
List some of the objections by local people to the Princesshay redevelopment. (link)
Define the following terms used in the resource:
Mixed land use
Conservation
Revitalize
Regeneration
Sustainable urban redevelopment
Do you think that Princesshay has revitalized the CBD of Exeter? Explain your answer using evidence from the virtual tour. (link)
Is Princesshay a good example of a sustainable redevelopment? How far does it address the three components of sustainability. (link)
6 reasons for counter-urbanisation (people LEAVING cities)
1. Growth in transport + communications mean that people no longer have to live where they work. Motorways = commuting, internet...=work from home.
2. Government policies: can encourage movement out of the cities (eg: setting up fast transport links to satellite towns and villages (congestion charges).
3. New business packs on out-of-town greenfield sites mean people, no longer have to travel into the city for work. (live on outskirts = nearer to work).
4. Pollution + traffic congestion in cities encourage people to want to live in rural areas.
5. More people move house when they retire.
6. Cities are so popular that the house prices are astronomical - people are moving away to find cheaper housing.
Click here for a link to a fantastic interactive burgess model where you can view characteristics, problems and solutions for each zone. Scroll down the homepage till you get to the interactive land use model. (With a big thanks to St. Ivo school for this resource)
THE RURAL URBAN FRINGE
Background: Changes iN land use
19th century
Before the 19th century, most towns in Britain were small in size and nucleated in shape. During the Industrial Revolution:
- factories and mills were erected on the nearest available land to the town centre.
- low-cost housing was built as close as possible to these places of work.
Towns, therefore, began to extend outwards into the surrounding countryside. Continued urban growth surrounded the early factories and houses, leaving them today with an inner city location.
Inter-war period (1920s and 1930s) The rapid outward growth of cities began with the introduction of public transport, and accelerated with the increased popularity of the private car. This outward growth, known as urban sprawl, led to the development of suburbia - that is, large estates consisting mainly of semi-detached houses and corresponding with Burgess's zone of medium-cost housing. Suburbia had areas of open space and its own shopping parades, but rarely any industry.
1960s to the 1980s Urban sprawl continued, with land on the urban fringe being used mainly for one or two types of housing:- Private estates with low density, high-quality housing. The more recent estates are likely to have large, detached houses with modern amenities both inside and out.- Outer city council estates which were created mainly in the 1960s as local councils cleared the worst of their inner city slums. Many of the evicted residents were moved to edge-of-city, former greenfield sites where accommodation was provided in either high-rise tower blocks, low-rise flats or single-storey terraces.
Land on the edges of urban areas was also used, at this time, for industrial and trading estates.
Recent developments - the 1990s An increasing number of land users see the rural-urban fringe as the ideal location for future development. This location is less congested, has easier access and provides cheaper land and a more attractive environment than places nearer the city centre. There is, however, an increase in the conflict between those who wish to see the economic development and extension of the urban area and those who wish to protect the rural environment which surrounds it.
Summary: Advantages of RUF:--less congested-easier access-cheaper land-more attractive environment
However, there is conflict between -1. Those who want to see economic development and urban extention.2. Those who want to protect the rural environment.
PROBLEMS at the RUF = Urban Sprawl = leads to:
1. Increased car dependence (greater travelling distance).
2. Increased traffic throughout urbanised areas = pollution and accidents.
3. Increased infrastructure costs (public transport, road maintenance, water...).
4. Creates "dormitary" towns: due to increased "commuter population".
5. Destruction of "Green" land engulfing more and more green space.
6. Increased segregation people move out to areas of the same socioeconomic status.
Summary - loss of quiet atmosphere (inner RUF)- habitat loss- greenfield land lost- traffic increases- socioeconomic segregation
Urban Sprawl leads to the growth of conurbations (where towns join together)
1. Outward growth of a city is left unchecked taking up more countryside.
2. A conurbation is formed when one city grows so large it encompasses surrounding towns farming one huge urban area.
WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?:
1. GREEN BELTs
Green belts were created by Act of Parliament in 1947. They were established 'to check the unrestricted sprawl of built-up areas; to safeguard the surrounding countryside from further encroachment and to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another'.
They form areas of land around large urban areas where the development of houses and other buildings is severely restricted and the open character of the countryside is preserved for farming and recreation. Planning permission would normally not be granted for most proposals for development but the planners are often under pressure to release the land from the green belt to create more housing, jobs and roads. Some planners are often under pressure to release land from the green belt to create more housing, jobs and roads. Some planners believe that a system of wedges leading from the urban area would be more practical than a complete circle of green around it. These wedges would allow growth to take place in certain controlled directions while at the same time maintaining green areas close to the urban area itself. At present green belts cover about 12% of England, the largest being around London. There are five green belts in Scotland, but none in Wales or Northern Ireland.
2. Build on Brown field sites
Brownfield sites are areas of land that have previously been used, such as old factories.
It is however expensive to build on these areas as they can be contaminated. However, by building on brownfield sites we are redeveloping derelict land and not building on greefield sites.
3. Urban Redevelopment
This is where areas that have been in decline are redeveloped into new uses (shopping centres, housing etc). Again, this allows areas of a town/city to be used and NOt the greenbelt land.
Organisations such as the National Trust and the Somerset Wildlife Trust protect the environment, including areas of land at the RUF. So, organisations are protecting and challenging planning applications that happen in the RUF.
Summary: Green Belts = Act of Parliament 1947- check unrestricted sprawl of urban areas; to safeguard surrounding countryside from further encroachment and to prevent conurbations from farming.
- conserve biodiversity = areas around urban areas where development is severely restricted.
- hard to get planning permission.- however planners are under pressure to release land from the greenbelt for jobs and housing and roads.
WHAT ARE THE CHARACTERISTICS, PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS IN THE INNER CITY?:
What is the Inner City?
The Inner City is the land-use zone which grew up around the city centre, it is also known as the twilight zone or zone of transition.When did the Inner City grow up?
Inner city areas grew up in the 19th century as towns grew rapidly due to industrialisation and the demand for workers in the industries that had grown up. Large numbers moved to the city for work and needed low cost housing close to work due to the lack of public or private transport. This led to the growth of factories and low-cost terraced housing around what is now the city centre.What were the characteristics of the Inner City?
* crowded areas with little open space
* high density housing (overcrowding)
* mainly terraced (some used to be back to back houses (back wall of one house being the back wall of another)) in long straight rows
* front doors opening straight on to the pavement
* no front or back gardens (just a small back yard)
* few amentities
* factories providing employment for residents
Advantages of living in the Old Inner Cities:
1. Houses were cheap to buy / rent
2. There was a strong community spirit
3. Houses were close to places of work
Problems in the Old Inner Cities
1. Housing - decayed terraces and in places poorly built tower blocks
2. Pollution - air, land and water pollution, graffiti and vandalism and derelict buildings (old factories etc.)
3. Lack of Open Space
4. Social Problems - high crime rates, above average concentrations of low-income citizens
5. Economic Problems - declining industry, povery and low income and increasing unemployment as factories closed.
The Inner city, with its low cost housing, has today become an area where people on low incomes, such as pensioners, single parent families, first time home buyers and the disabled, are forced to seek accommodation. It is also a place where ethnic groups, and especially recent arrivals, tend to concentrate.
Over the years most cities have attempted to improve living conditions either, initially, by bulldozing large area and building high-rise flats or, later by improving existing properties. However, although most inner city houses now have the basic amenities, the area still experiences cramped housing conditions together with high levels of poverty, unemployment and crime.
By the 1950s/60s, many inner cities were in series decline as the traditional industries has closed, resulting in high levels of unemployment and a subsequent spiral of decline (see diagram for explanation). Since the 1960s, the Inner City zone has been one of change (hence the terms twilight zone / zone of transition) with a number of schemes (urban renewal, urban regeneration and urban redevelopment) put in place to address the issues of decline and to improve the quality of life in these areas. (see next post for more details)
LONDON URBAN REDEVELOPMENT DOCKLANDS CASE STUDY
Click on this link for a detsiled case study revision post of the Docklands
Thousands used to work in and around the docks.
0.25 of the worlds trade came through the Docklands
Suffered extensive damage after the war.
In the 1960s many people lost their jobs due to technology.
By 1981 larger ships couldn't reach the port.
Very little activity in the late 1960s, early 1970s.
Due to the declining docklands there were very few jobs. Half the land was derelict. Many of the 19th century housing was in urgent need of repair. Transport was poorly developed. Lack of basic services. Very little leisure amenities and open space.
Sir Geoffrey Howe decided an enterprise zone should be created. He was Chancellor at the time.
1981 - LDDC was set up - London Docklands Development Corporation
Many new companies were attracted to the area due to low rent.
Improved links meant that central London could be reached in 10 minutes.
The Dockland Light Railway connects with Bank and Monument stations. The Jubilee underground gives improved access to London's mainline stations.
Over 20000 new homes. Many are former warehouses converted into luxury flats. The local council has also built low cost homing.
Trees have been planted to try and improve the quality of the environment.
London City Airport opened in 1987.
Example: The London Docklands
After the riots of the early 1980's a report by Lord Scarman proposed a new way of dealing with inner city troubles. It suggested that these areas should be subject to urban renewal (improving existing building) rather than redeveloping areas by knocking them down and starting again.
The London Docklands is the best known example of an inner city area that has been completely transformed in this way. The London Docklands Development Corporation was set up to renew the area.
Some of the things that have happened there in the past 20 years include:
- The gentrification of old buildings. This basically means keeping the outside of old warehouses and gutting the insides. Often these are then refurbished to become very expensive riverside flats.
- The Docklands Light Railway and Jubilee Line extension have increased access to the docklands area, whilst the City Airport has allowed quick transfer to places throughout Europe.
Inner-city overview
Most inner cities of large urban areas once had industry located there, however this has almost totally moved out. The Victorian terraces built to house the factory workers remain in many inner cities, however in some they have been replaced by huge tower blocks.
Although seemingly the solution to the problems produced by the terraces, the tower blocks also caused a wide range of social problems. Recently inner city planning has centered around rejuvenating the area in alternative ways, to try to encourage the growth of these declining areas.
The two examples below give an idea of some of the schemes that have been attempted in British inner city areas.
Example: Birmingham
Birmingham is a very good example of where, in the 1960s, the local authority tried to rejuvenate the inner city areas by knocking down vast areas of Victorian terraces, replacing them with large tower blocks.
The terraces were seen to be old fasioned, with poor living standards. Often they lacked things that we would take for granted, like central heating, and had inadequate kitchen and bathroom facilities. The local authority decided that the way to combat the problems would be to knock down all the old terraces and completely start again. Many other cities around Britain did the same thing.
However the tower blocks brought with them a whole range of new problems that are listed below:
1. The buildings were poorly built and soon began to need costly repairs. They had poor facilities and few green areas.2. There was no sense of community for the people who lived there, leading to increased crime, vandalism and graffiti. All these things combined to make the area a dangerous one. Many areas of tower blocks were centres for drug traders and other criminal gangs.3. The standard of living was poor, with illness and overcrowding a regular occurrence.4. Most people would not choose to live in this type of housing so it was inhabited by the poorly paid, unemployed or new arrived immigrants. This led to social tensions and in the early 1980sOld Inner City Area:The Industrial Revolution of the 19th century led to the growth of towns. The rapid influx of workers into these towns meant a big and immediate demand for cheap housing, and so builders constructed as many houses as possible in a small area, resulting in high density housing with an ovecrowded population. The houses were built in long, straight rows and in terraces. In those days of non planning, few amenities were provided either in the house or around it.
Inner City Redevelopment:When in the 1950s and 1960s vast areas of inner cities were cleared by bulldozers, many of the displaced inhabitants either moved to council estates near the city boundary, or were rehoused in huge high rise town blocks which were created on the sites of old terraced houses. Although these high rise buildings contained most modern amenities, the apartments had to be reached by lifts which led to narrow, dark corridors. Also, despite the areas of greenery between the flats, there was still a very high housing desnity.
Suburbia:The rapid outward growth of cities began with the introduction of public transport, and accelerated with the popularity of the private car. This outward growth led to the construciton of numerous private suburbs.
The houses built in the outer suburbs before the WW2 are characterised by their front and back gardens. Usually they have garages and are semi detached with bay windows. The more recent estates have housing which differs in both style and type, but they remain well planned and spacious.
Outer City Council Estates:As local councils cleared the worst of the slums from their inner city areas in the 1950s and 1960s, many residents were rehoused on large council estates on the fringes of the city. Attempts were made to vary the type and size of accommodation:- High rise tower blocks, often 10-12 storeys high.- Low rise tower blocks, usually 3-5 storeys high. These were built nearer the city boundaries, where there was more open space.- Single storey terraces with some gardens and car parking space.
Inner Cities - decline and decay
Most inner city areas developed along with industry in the 19th century. As industry grew, so too did the demand for workers. As an increase number of people moved from rural areas to the towns for work, they needed low cost houses in which to live. At that time, without either public or private transport, people also wanted to live as cose as possible to their place of work. Despite difficult conditions, local inhabitants often created a strong community spirit. However, many of the early advantages of living and working in an inner city have long since become disadvantages. inner city areas in Liverpool, Bristol and London all experienced serious rioting.
19th century houses were built as close together as possible creating a high density. Most were built in terraces with some, especially in industrial, cities, being back to back. By the 1960s, when many of the houses lacked basic amenities, large scale 'slum' clearances often led to the erection of high rise flats. Unfortunately high rise flats created as many social problems as they solved. Today it is still possible to find areas of older terraced housing or high rise buildings, although many houses have been abandoned, boarded up and vandalised, while some of the high rise flats have already been pulled down.
Inner cities were characterised by large factories built on land near to the city centre and adjacent to canals and railways. Many of these have been forced to close either due to a lack of space for expansion and modernisation, or due to the narrow, congested roads. Some factories, like the terraced housing, have been left empty. Others have been pulled down leaving large areas of derelict land - land ideal for the dumping of rubbish. Little has been done to turn these waste sites into recreational open spaces.
BURGESS MODEL
Age - as towns developed outwards, the oldest buildings were near to the city centres and the newest ones in the outskirts.
Accessibility - the CBD, where the main routes from the suburbs and surrounding towns meet, has been the easiest place to reach from all parts of the city, although this ease is now often reduced by increased congestion.
Wealth of all inhabitants - the poorer members of the community tend to live in cheaper housing near to the CBD and the inner city. These people are less likely to be able to afford the higher transport and housing costs of places nearer the city boundary.
Changes in Demand - land use functions change with time. eg: 19th century industry was located next to the CBD whereas modern industry prefers edge of city sites. The main land use demand in the 19th century was for industry and low cost housing. Today it is for industry, shops and better quality housing, all in a more pleasant environment, and open space.
Urban Land Use Model - LEDC
Watch the powerpoint below to see how cities in LEDC's are structured. what are the differences / similarities between this and the Burgess model?
Shanty towns in LEDCs
Shanty towns are the illegal squatter settlements that characterise most of the large cities in the developing world.
They have occurred because of the huge numbers of people migrating from the rural areas to the cities, which cannot cope with this massive influx of people. The main points to note about them are:
- The cities most likely to have shanty towns are centres for commercial and industrial activity as well as being transport centres. They are very attractive to in migrants.
- Most of the in migrants have very few skills, education or money, so they will often find whatever work they can.
- Shanty towns develop on marginal land, often close to where the in migrants hope to get work. The high cost of land near the CBD means that shanty towns are either built on the periphery of the city or in hazardous areas closer to the city centre.
In many world cities, plans are now in place to help formalise the slum housing, using schemes to improve amenities and living conditions. Examples of these self help schemes can be seen in Rio (Brazil) and New Delhi (India).
There are a number of problems that are often associated with shanty towns:
- They are politically embarrasing to the Government, which is why many of them are now trying to help the people improve the shanty aresa. The Governments feel that they may well discourage tourists from coming to the city.
- The houses are built of whatever the people can find, and are often major fire hazards.
- Their existence will reduce the prices of property in adjacent areas.
- They are home to many diseases and can easily be affected by environmental disasters such as landslides and flooding.
Self help schemes - The government introduced schemes where the local community was closely involved in the planning and building of new houses. Often the government provided the materials, whilst the local people built the buildings. The government would then provide an improved infrastructure. This has occurred in many cities throughout the developing world.
The Authorities have also built completely new communities away from the old shanty towns, complete with good transport links to the CBD, where many people work, and the prospects of many jobs in the new area.
Problems of Shanty Towns:
1. The lack of santitation and clean running water is a clear health hazard. Diseases such as typhoid and cholera often occur and spread quickly in the cramped accomodation. 2. Fire is a real problem due to close proximity of the dwellings and type of construction.3. Many shanty towns lack any transport infrastructure. Roads tend to run around the towns and not through tem. 4. Many children do not go to school as they are working; at best they recieve only a primary education.5. There are few jobs in shanty towns themselves as the informal economy tends to be situated in the centre of the main city.6. Social problems and crime are also major problems, usually a result of poverty.
Urbanising in the developing countries:
Urban Growth - LEDCs are expanding by 25% each decade.
Push Factors (from the countryside) Watch an excellent video on push/pull factors here.
1. Lack of employment opportunities
2. Pressure on land (too little to live on)
3. Many do not own land
4. Overpopulation
5. Lack of food (due to crop failure - starvation)
6. Increased mechanisation - less jobs
7. Lack of services and investment
8. Extreme conditions and war
Pull Factors (to the city)
1. Percieved better quality of life - "bright lights"
2. Better jobs
3. Reliable food source
4. Better housing, health services, education, water and electricity supply.
5. Willingness of government to invest in city areas.
Gap between rich and poor is greater in LEDCs than MEDCs.Richer are located closer to the CBD, poorer the opposite.Forced to live in favela's.
Case Study: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio is a city located on Brazil's south east coast. It is Brazil's largest city with a population of 25 million. The population of Rio has grown for a number of reasons. Natural Increase is one reason for its growth. The population has also grown as the result of urbanisation. This has been caused by rural to urban migration. Millions of people have migrated from Brazil's rural areas to Rio. In Rio, 65% of urban growth is a result of migration.
The rapid growth of Rio's population has led to a severe shortage of housing. Millions of people have been forced to construct their own homes from scrap materials such as wood, corrugated iron and metals. These are known as favelas.
The conditions associated with favelas are very poor. Often families have to share one tap, there is no sewage provision, disease is common and many people are unemployed.
The authorities in Rio have taken a number of steps to reduce problems in favelas. They have set up self help schemes. This is when the local authority provide local residents with the materials needs to construct permanent accommodation. This includes breeze blocks and cement. The local residents provide the labour. The money saved can be spent on providing the basic amenities such as electricity and water.
Overcrowding is a major problem in LEDC cities:
1. Competition for land is intense:- High population and lack of public transport mean people want to live near places where they might find work.
2. Overcrowding puts pressure on services such as sanitation, healthcare and housing provision. LEDCs can rarely afford to provide these services to all.
3. The limited land available means that shanty towns are often built on dangerous ground - for example steep hillside which may collapse in heavy rain.
Rural Urban Migration makes LEDC Urban problems worse:
1. The rapid rate of migration makes planning for growth very difficult e.g. people are still moving to Rio in their thousands.
2. LEDCs are trying to solve these problems with self help schemes and government funded projects, but money is short and the schemes are inadequate for the large numbers involved.
3. While LEDCs have huge debts there is little chance of them being able to solve their urban problems, as they cannot afford the resources they need to sort things out.
Click here for a detailed set of notes on the problems in the Rio de Janeiro case study
Click here for the actions that have been taken to improve the conditions of people living in Rio's shanty towns.
Sustainable Cities: Curitiba, Brazil.
Watch this film and bullet point why Curitiba is the leading sustainable city in the world:
Link is here.
There is an excellent (if a bit long!), article here about Curitiba.
How do these points enforce that Curitiba is so sustainable?
Curitiba has the highest recycling rate in the World – 70%.
Curitiba has bus system that is so good that car traffic decreased by 30% while the population trebled in a twenty year period.
Curitiba has the largest downtown pedestrianised shopping area in the world.
Curitiba has built large numbers of beautiful parks to control floods rather than concrete canals. So many that they use sheep to cut the grass as it’s cheaper than lawnmowers.
Curitiba is a city where 99% of inhabitants want to live. In comparison, 70% of Sao Paolo’s residents want to live in Curitiba.
Curitiba’s average income per person has gone from less than the Brazilian average in the 1970’s to 66% greater than the Brazilian average.
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