Urban problems

Introduction Urban sprawl Traffic congestion Urban decay Rural to urban migration Growth of favelas/shanty towns Air pollution and waste disposal

Urban problems and solutions in developed world Urban sprawl: Rapid spread of housing from cities into the surrounding countryside Problem in all urban centres in Ireland esp. Dublin and Cork 2006 Dublin was cited as one of the worst cases of urban planning by the European Environmental Agency

Causes of Urban Sprawl Increased migration to cities Economic growth linked with increase in car ownership Cities attract people looking for work and accommodation Services are not provided by the rapidly growing population 2000-2002 the population of Lucan increased by 244% The urban area increased to accomadate the overspill from the city into the commuter zone

Consequences for urban sprawl Rezoned farmland: rezoned for residential, commercial and industrial use. Sprawling concrete jungles. Small villages grow to become large towns. Eg. Douglas, Cork. Tallaght and Swords in Dublin

Consequences for urban sprawl b) Increased traffic congestion: suburban not well served by public transport reliance on car ownership encouraged Dublin bus carried 128 million passengers in 2010 Development of industrial retail parks at the edge of cities encourage car use Huge areas of land used for car parks and congestion happens at the entrances to these places

Consequences for urban sprawl c) Pressure on services: Growing suburbs increase the demand for services such as waste disposal, sewerage etc Pressure put on local authorities to improve infrastructure of roads, sewerage and education services

Consequences for urban sprawl d) Development of monotonous suburban areas: Housing estates of identical housing and layout contained in these areas Can lead to congestion at road junctions

Consequences of urban sprawl in rural areas Loss of valuable agricultural land: Difficult for farmers to compete with land developers for neighbouring land b) Loss of wildlife habitats: The building of Kildare Bypass lead to a decrease in water levels (site of special scientific interest) c) Loss of ancient monuments and historic landscape: M50 motorway destroying the remains of Carrikmines Castle

Consequences of urban sprawl in rural areas d) Growth of dormitory towns: Many towns at the edge of cities residents commute to large cities for work Due to cheaper housing Have few services No sense of community

Solutions to urban sprawl Using land area more efficiently and discourages rural to urban migration Schemes to use urban lands more effectively Aerial photography Developing derelict sites in the centre of cities Reducing rural to urban migration

Traffic congestion: causes of… Many cities built in medieval times, streets not wide enough to carry modern containers lorries, trucks and daily commuters Inadequate public transport results in a reliance on cars many cities unable to cope with our car dependency 2010 Ireland had 420 cars per 1000 people Increased car ownership lead to severe congestion in urban areas

Traffic congestion: causes of… Economic growth has lead to more HGV (heavy good vehicles) on the road Carry imports and exports across country Commuting to work in primary cause of traffic congestion Commuting rates in Ireland amongst the highest in Europe

Effects of traffic congestion Social, economic and environmental problems Noise at rush can cause stress for residents on busy streets Business may lose money on increased fuel costs, drivers wages and vehicle servicing due to increased travel time

Effects of traffic congestion Increased traffic=higher risk of accident esp. close to schools Health effects include less time to spend on physical activity Air pollution is higher in congested areas increasing the risk of lung disease to drivers and local residents

Reducing congestion Traffic restrictions: A ban on HGV driving through Dublin city centre at certain times was implemented in 2007 Introduced barrier free tolling on the M50 to prevent back log at the toll bridges The M50 as widened to allow more traffic

Reducing congestion Traffic restrictions: In Singapore government allows a 3% growth in vehicle population Monthly the vehicle quota is published for new vehicles allowed to be bought Bidding is then used to see who has the right to own a vehicle

Reducing congestion 2) Traffic management methods One way streets Car parks Bus/cycle lanes Roundabouts Traffic lights Yellow box Clamping and parking restrictions Park and ride schemes Pedestrian streets Ring rounds and bypass Upgrading of national roads and motorways Flyovers

Reducing congestion 3) Car parking facilities: Car parking facilities need to be found within reasonable reach of the city centre Effective car parking on and off street is essential to traffic management

Reducing congestion 4) Public transport: Many Irish cities have park and ride facilities to encourage people to leave there cars at the edge of cities Bus lanes reduces journey times for bus users encouraging people to us buses The Luas and the Dart reduce congestions in Dublin Transport 21 Project improves intercity train transport into urban areas beyond Dublin

Integrated traffic management in Cork city Urban area has grown drastically over the decades Cars are the main mode of transport to get to work with only 25% of people cycling or walking 7% in the city use public transport 3% in metropolitan Cork use PT 1% in ring towns and rural areas

Integrated traffic management in Cork city Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP) aims to reduce traffic congestion Central to CASP is the implementation of an integrated transport system based on the completion of: Essential road links Development of a suburban rail network Provision of high quality bus network supported by park and ride facilities Improved cycle and pedestrian networks

Integrated traffic management in Cork city Priority of GREEN ROUTES (high quailty bus network) ensure movement of people not vehicles Green Route system also includes: Improved footpaths Protection of pedestrians from traffic Space for cycle lanes Improved crossing facilities for pedestrians Bus and cyclist priority at traffic signals www.corkcity.ie/ourservices/roads/infradtructural_projects.shtml

Dublin City Traffic Congestion 38% of all cars and 30% of goods vehicle registered in Dublin Economic Growth led to increased traffic congestion Many roads converge in Dublin city centre M50, M1, N1, N2, N3, N4, N7, N11

Public Transport Improved in Recent years LUAS – 54 stations carrying 28m passengers a year Transport 21 Dublin Port Tunnel – connected port to M50 bypassing Dublin city centre M50 upgraded – Red Cow roundabout now a new interchange reducing congestion 2006 100 extra buses, 2007 another 200 and quality bus corridors

Dublin bike project Mid 1990s city council began installing cycle lanes and tracks Use of bicycle transport increased by 6% in Dublin with 120km of on road cycle track 2009 Dublin city council opened a self service bike rental system (dublinbikes.ie) Self service rental system with 42 stations and 550 bikes Most stations accommodate up to 30 bikes

Dublin bike project One of the most successful bike schemes in Europe One year after the scheme recorded it 1 millionth rental People access the bikes by using a subscription smartcard and credit card payment Currently 40,000 subscribers and there are plans to add 287 new bike stands

Urban decay/ absence of community Urban decay means inner city buildings are in need of demolition/repair Old buildings have inadequate sanitation, poor heating etc People are re-housed from inner city areas Many homes are left boarded up waiting for redevelopment and become squats Vandalism and crime rise, become ‘no go’ areas

Urban decay/ absence of community A Sustainable community is one that has a mix of houses, business, religious, educational and recreational land uses and has a stable or growing population Redevelopment leads to shops, offices and car parks which does not lead to a sustainable environment

Urban decay/ absence of community Over the past 60 years residents in inner cities were moved to the suburbs leading to an absence if community Few peoples knew there neighbours which lead to isolation Lack of public transport increased the isolation of people Often elderly residents remained in inner city areas leading to an aging population

Urban decay/ absence of community New suburban housing estates have younger population leading to lack of social stability Services in inner city areas have fell into disrepair with community halls and schools closing Younger people are purchasing property at greater distances from the CBD due to rising house prices

Urban decay/ absence of community Many commute at antisocial hours and are away from home for long periods time. This has a negative impact on family and community life A two or three hour commute is not uncommon in Ireland leading to a decline in community spirit Absence of community is a major problem for urban planners

Urban renewal: solution to urban decay and absence to community Urban renewal replaces or upgrades decaying buildings and the land use is kept the same as before People are temporary re-housed Ballymun Regeneration Project Renewal has occurred in many towns and cities ie. The regeneration of Cork city centre The land use remains the same

Urban redevelopment: when people are moved out of there home and rehoused The building is then demolished and rebuild into commercial property The land use is changed

The Ballymun Regeneration Project The Ballymun Flats Complex on Dublin's Northside was built as a local authority housing built in the 1960s Many inner city residents in overcrowded house moved to the high rise flats First housing project were completed in 1969 hailed as one of Irelands greatest housing schemes 35 multi-storey blocks (4-15 floors) + 45 two storey houses laid out over 144 hectares

The Ballymun Regeneration Project The project failed almost from the beginning due to a combination of poor housing management, poor infrastructure, substandard insulation Forty years later became an example of urban decay: many flats were empty and derelict High levels of unemployment, drug problems, early school leaving and poverty Project developed to revitalise the area

The Ballymun Regeneration Project Aims: Create a new town by replacing the flats (urban regeneration) Preserve the community by working with the residents Re house all existing tenants in the same area Create centres with shops and services When the service is complete, the area will have a population of 25,000

The Ballymun Regeneration Project How aims being achieved? New 500 metre long Main Street, range of retail, commercial, leisure facilities Technology park being developed near the M50 3,500 homes are planned with 50/50 split between public and private housing Type of housing: energy efficient, cost average €152,400 to build

Urban problems and solutions in the developing world 2015 there will be 28 mega cities Cities with 10 million + Many problems linked with cities in developing world Rural to urban migration (Migration) Growth of favelas/shanty towns (Migration) Traffic congestion (migration) Air pollution Waste disposal

Sao Paulo Case study migration: Extra information: 6 million cars and 1 million motorcycles ‘cough city’ Rising level of pollution linked to the daily admissions of children to hospital with pneumonia and respiratory diseases

Sao Paulo To combat congestion they implemented a rota system called Operacao Rodizio where drivers are prohibited from using their cars one day a week based on licence plate numbers City aims at cutting traffic by 20% On average 90% of drivers abide by the rules reducing air pollution by 15%

Sao Paulo waste management solutions System of burning methane gas has been developed in order to create electricity, uses the two biggest landfills in the world (Bandeirantes and Sao Joao) and supplies electricity to 7% of houses Bandeirantes receives 7000 tonnes of waste a day Power plant on site burns the methane gas reducing CO2 admissions

Sao Paulo waste management solutions Savings on the green house gas admissions earn the city carbon credits Under the Kyoto Protocol countries can earn money by reducing CO2 emissions In its first credit auction the government earned €15million which is to be used in environmental projects