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Sustainable urban transport approaches for Brazilian megacities – the examples of Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba

In Brazil, the use of private motorized vehicles has dramatically increased in recent decades, while public transportation is marked by a weak performance, and pedestrians and cyclists cope with a poor infrastructure design. Thus, suitable approaches are required to tackle current transport problems of Brazilian megacities. In view of the World Cup 2014 and the Olympic Games 2016, the megacity Rio de Janeiro is undergoing significant changes which offers a unique opportunity to ease the current situation and achieve an integrated sustainable urban transport concept.

Therefore, this Diploma thesis creates an overview on the current transport situation in large Brazilian cities, in particular for Rio de Janeiro; provides integrated and sustainable approaches to tackle transport problems of Rio de Janeiro; analyzes the transferability of infrastructure measures between Curitiba and Rio de Janeiro; and examines the impact of the upcoming sports events.

First, a literature review focuses on the transport situation in Brazil and Rio de Janei ro and explains Curitiba's unique approaches. Second, an audio-based qualitative content analysis of seven expert interviews with stakeholders in urban- and transportation planning gives a concise insight into the current transport situation. Third, a synthesis of both the literature review and the output of the expert interviews provide recommendations for decision makers, researchers and international organizations.

In order to initiate a sustainable development of the megacity Rio de Janeiro, urban- and transportation planning must be interconnected with each other, a transport association has to be created to design and manage a metropolitan public transport network, and it is imperative to reorganize the local bus system. Furthermore, non-motorized transportation modes should be promoted by designing streets based on sidewalk policies and building a bicycle network in regard to the local demands. In addition, Curitiba's most important lesson for Rio de Janeiro is the interconnection of
high density areas with mobility corridors. However, the megacity will not be able to achieve an integrated sustainable urban transport concept by the sports events.

In conclusion, future transport measures have to focus on the middle class, while ensuring a needs-oriented mobility for all social classes. Decision makers should concentrate on the three "I's" – Information, Integration and Inclusion – to enable real transport mode choices, facilitate sound and seamless travel, and attract more people towards ecomobile transportation modes. Eventually, a paradigm shift towards ecomobility is needed in order to enable a sustainable urban transportation concept for today's and future generations.:TABLE OF CONTENTS
LIST OF FIGURES VII
LIST OF TABLES IX
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS X
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 LITERATURE REVIEW 3
2.1 BRAZIL 3
2.1.1 GENERAL STRUCTURE 3
2.1.2 INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES 6
2.1.3 SUSTAINABLE URBAN TRANSPORT 7
2.1.4 TRANSPORT STRUCTURE 10
2.1.5 TRANSPORT PROBLEMS OF BRAZILIAN CITIES 15
2.2 RIO DE JANEIRO 21
2.2.1 GENERAL STRUCTURE 21
2.2.2 TRANSPORT STRUCTURE 24
2.2.3 FUTURE MOBILITY ISSUES 32
2.3 THE BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM OF CURITIBA 40
2.4 SUMMARY 44
3 EXPERT INTERVIEWS 46
3.1 METHODOLOGY 46
3.1.1 IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INTERVIEWS 46
3.1.2 AUDIO - BASED QUALITATIVE CONTENT ANALYSIS 49
3.2 OUTPUT 53
3.2.1 TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS 53
3.2.2 TRACKLING TRANSPORT PROBLEMS 58
3.2.3 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 64
3.3 SUMMARY 68
4 RECOMMENDATIONS 69
4.1 TACKLING TRANSPORT PROBLEMS 69
4.1.1 BACKGROUND 69
4.1.2 ADAPT URBAN PLANNING PROCESSES 70
4.1.3 RATIONALIZE CAR USAGE 71
4.1.4 REFORM THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM 72
4.1.5 PROMOTE NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION 73
4.2 TRANSFERABLITY OF CURITIBIAN MEASURES 75
4.3 IMPACT OF SPORTS EVENTS IN RIO DE JANEIRO 76
5 CONCLUSIONS 79
REFERENCES 81
APPENDICES

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:DRESDEN/oai:qucosa:de:qucosa:29031
Date20 July 2012
CreatorsKiepsch, Matthias
ContributorsBecker, Udo, Becker, Thilo, Technische Universität Dresden
Source SetsHochschulschriftenserver (HSSS) der SLUB Dresden
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typedoc-type:masterThesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesis, doc-type:Text
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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