Greetings to all urban travellers worldwide, in today’s blog we will be using a different approach in addressing this our blog’s main theme. Over the past several weeks the Urban Traveller have attempted to address topics and issues related to transportation in Trinidad. In doing so, we have provided images, videos and discussions on a range of topics. In today’s blog, reflections will be done on other blogs in relation to the Urban Traveller. So without further ado…….LET’S REFLECT!

The Urban Deception highlights the deceived perceptions and perspectives of urban areas in Trinidad. As a result of doing this, Urban Deception uncovers and discovers the realities of urban areas in Trinidad. Several of their posts show great relation with the Urban Traveller based on their topics. In the fourth post of the Urban Traveller, speaks of the efficiency of the different modes of Transportation. Urban Deception made note of the fact that the PTSC bus services are always late and in fact very unreliable especially at the University of the West Indies. To the public the PTSC is useful and efficient. Yes. It is cost efficient, but the fact that it is the bus is always late on a daily basis, makes it the least reliable of all modes of transportation. The Urban Deception provided an example of the inefficient operation of the PTSC occurring at the St. Augustin University of the West Indies campus. They explained that the bus would sometimes arrive an hour later than its scheduled arrival. To the Urban Traveller this is very disappointing, this now further highlights why citizens prefer their own vehicles rather than to utilize public transportation but, why is there nothing being rectify this issue given the consequences and effects of citizens neglecting public transportation.

In another post they spoke of the natural environment being destroyed inorder to accommodate for development structures. With respect our 7^th blog post entitled “ More Development, Less Public Space, partially discusses how the main development issue encountered in Trinidad, was the construction of the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway. The extended construction of the highway led to a lot of arguments, social and governmental uproars. Conjointly, both posts describes how there is a great loss of public spaces suited for different purposes due to development. Cities are growing in population and physical aspects while urban areas are becoming smaller and thereby losing its significance. Great tensions exist between the grown of urban spaces and rural areas and the natural environment.

The second blogger which seemed very interesting due to their collaboration of themes and ideas with the Urban Traveller was TriniTransport. Since both blogs had similar ideas, there were a lot of interesting facts. In their post entitled, “The Economics of Parking in Port of Spain” discussed the issues related to parking as highlighted in our eighth blog post. With economics being their main focus, through the use of an interview and observations they came to the conclusion that price was the determining factor of the use of parking spaces. In our eighth blog post we discussed this factor but the further stated that many citizens chose to illegally park along the streets of cities in refusal to pay the high costs for parking per day. However, we must applaud the fact that this blog was exceptionally written as it compliments and provides extra evidence towards the issue of parking. In another one of their post entitled, “The Cyclist” discusses what we describe as the Future of Transportation in our ninth blog post. Given that we face a lot of traffic congestion due to the overuse of vehicles by citizens as they neglect public transportation bicycles can be used to reduce this issue. There are many benefits from using bicycles, therefore we agree that the use of bicycles should be further supported by organizations. According to TriniTransport , vehicles are expensive to maintain and purchase while bicycles are more cost efficient. If you really think about it, it is better to maximize the use of bicycles, save money and energy. Given these benefits, in Trinidad the use of bicycles is not a popular trend, however there is little accommodations made for the very small population which support bicycle transportation.

Another blog that stood out to us was Waseem Mohammed and Samantha Singh's blog, The Urban Paradox. This blog was slightly different from our blog, The Urban Travellers, however some of their posts touched upon issues that we focused on as well, regarding transportation including pollution, travelling distance between Trinidad and Tobago and traffic congestion. Their pictures were captivating and added character to each post and the entirety of the blog. Their post on traffic congestion illustrated the traffic heading in and out of the capital city of Port-of-Spain every day. They also connected the traffic congestion to how polluted the environment is due to the increased carbon monoxide emission into the atmosphere. Another post that could be linked to our blog was their post on pollution, again the picture perfectly depicted what was about to be discussed. They connected pollution to the aftermaths of it, for example the degradation of the environment and even flooding which is almost a prequel to one of our post on The Urban Traveller, in which we spoke about flooding being on of the reasons for traffic congestion. Overall, what I enjoyed most about their blog was that it was concise, while still discussing all that needed to be discussed in each post.

Driving From Trinidad to Tobago?

For those who may not be native to the country of Trinidad and Tobago, you should know know that it is a twin-island, approximately 220 kilometres away from each other. Have you guys ever thought of driving to Tobago and vice versa?

The islands are quite accessible to each other, as multiple plane trips go back and forth from Trinidad to Tobago on a daily basis, as well as boats. It's actually not difficult at all to travel to Tobago from Trinidad, simply buy a ticket and travel on a boat or plane. But being a twin-island and situated not that far apart, do you think a bridge should be constructed to connect the two islands? I can't be the only one who has thought of this.....Some have suggested constructing either a bridge or a port in Toco, north-east Trinidad, which by sea is only 27 miles away from Tobago.

This can be linked to the Time-Space convergence which illustrates a reduction in distance between two places due to the new developments and improvements regarding transportation. Places seem closer because new infrastructure allows it to be more accessible. Should we converge time and space between Trinidad and Tobago? Should we become closer than we already are? Think about it......

Until next time,

The Urban Travellers

Links:
http://www.geographypods.com/2-changing-space---the-shrinking-world.html
 

Heading in the Right Direction?

Trinidad and Tobago seem to be on a path to complete development and urbanisation so why not include improving our means of transportation? Today, we the urban travellers will be discussing a method of transportation that we would like to see more of in Trinidad.....By improving our means of transportation, we our improving our lives and our environment.

The main improvement that needs to be made regarding transportation, in Trinidad would be the implementation of bicycle lanes throughout the country, particularly on the major roads, such as the many different highways. Implementing bicycle lanes can encourage more people to alter their means of transportation, instead of getting in your car, just to drive to a place 10 minutes away, one should have to option to ride their bicycle or walk instead. Bicycle lanes also provide safety for the people using them and cyclists would no longer have to keep one eye in front of them and one eye behind to look out for ongoing cars; but should have the ability to travel in a safe manner. As of now, only one bicycle lane exists in Trinidad and it surrounds the Queen's Park Savannah; we as a country have to take initiative and provide different and more efficient means of transportation.

Peter Baofu stated in his book, The Future of Post-Human Transportation (2013), “In relation to the expansion-contraction principle, if there is expansion (e.g. The relative spread of different means of transportation, then there will be contraction (e.g. The relative decline of the use of conventional means of transportation.” This principle could not be more true! If there are multiple different methods of transportation, citizens would be encouraged to use them, instead of being confined to one method of transportation, in this case, instead of being confined to cars, people should give cycling a try.

Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of riding a bike - John F Kennedy.

Links

https://books.google.tt/books?id=ULUwBwAAQBAJ&dq=future+transportation+theories&source=gbs_navlinks_s

 

Parking it Up!

Greetings Urban Passengers! In today’s blog we will be discussing parking within cities. Those of us who drive often complain of the issue of parking in cites. Since cities are densely populated and mostly active during the hours of 7A.M and 6 P.M due to the fact that workers and other citizens are moving throughout the city at this time. As a result of this we are faced with the issue of parking. Such issues stem from several reasons such as excessive auto-mobile use, expensive parking pricing, inconvenient parking options, inadequate information for motorists and in sufficient parking space.

    In previous blogs we referred to the excessive use of auto- mobiles and as a result had some negative spill over effects. With many citizens using their own vehicles in order to satisfy their comfort needs, allowed them independent mobility. Due to this there have been an increase in the  number of vehicles on the roads. Thus, there will be a greater demand for parking spaces. Finding  the perfect parking space in the city is indeed a task. Given that urban spaces are developing at such a rapid rate does not make this task easier either.

    Let us consider a citizen, driving through the city of Port of Spain or San Fernando in search of a parking lot. However, throughout this search this citizen can only see large tall buildings and business and after driving for almost thirty minutes he/she finally gets a car park located at a far distance away from their destination.  Eventhough there are parking spaces, their locations are inconvenient and may sometimes have high hourly charge rates. Also, the majority of parking lots in cities are privately owned by organizations, workplaces and businesses for their customers and workers only.

Many planners and owners have realized that the high demand of parking space need to be provided, therefore they have now created parking spaces for public use and private use and even expanded upon the amount of parking spaces as seen in  the image below. 

                                Image of an expanded parking lot in the City of San Fernando

Other than expanding on parking spaces, issues related to parking can be addressed in the following ways:

11.   Improving information for motorist by using or improving signs.

22.      Different businesses can share parking spaces inorder to reduce the wastage of privatized parking space.

33.       Promote public mixed used parking.

44.       Locating parking lots close to businesses or streets.

55.       Reducing the dependency on vehicles and encourage the use transportation alternatives which can reduce the demand for parking space and traffic congestion.

     Image of parking lot in Port of Spain for the use of workers and organizations.

Image of public parking lot located near a street and business place in San Fernando

Links- http://www.parkhelp.com/usa/parking-solutions-for-smart-cities/

http://pipta.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Parking-Problems-and-Creative-Solutions.pdf

More Development, Less Public Space......

Today, we the urban travellers are taking you through a a bit of a deliberation.....How many communication networks, roads and infrastructure are being developed in our cities? With that question answered, how much of our public space is being eradicated for these expansions to occur?

 Image illustrating a section of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, Trinidad

The most recent example of this issue facing Trinidad and Tobago is the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway, particularly the phase extending from Debe to Mon Desir. Should the construction of the highway be completed, it will significantly increase economic activities within the southern parts of the country, promote trade and the movement of commercial goods throughout the country and increase job opportunities for many people [1]. However, this development is going to come at a cost, literally and figuratively as thousands of acres of agricultural land will be lost, over 10 communities will be split as well as the construction that will occur within the direct path of a lagoon [2]. Many have argued that the public space and land around the site should not be compensated to accommodate an increase in road networks and connectivity as there are alternative ways to approach this issue that would not only reduce the cost of construction, but reduce the impact that this procedure will have on the environment as well as reduce the number of communities that are to be uprooted from their homes. An alternative way being the “Highway Re-Route” movement that many citizens have supported; this approach would have avoided constructing throughout the swampland completely and constructing around the area instead. As of now, it looks as though the development of this road infrastructure is going to happen and this equates to the loss of a vast amount of valuable public space.

This case can be linked to Roger Trancik's work on The Theories of Urban Design where he refers to parks, the countryside and rural areas as “soft space.” He stated that, “rural space, although architecturally unenclosed, is not lost space. Enclosure of rural space is derived from natural features of topography and land form, water, vegetation in the form forests, and plantations, as well as man-made enclosures of fences and stone walls. Therefore the natural landscape can also be defined as positive, structured space accommodating patterns of settlement and human activities” [3]. Is he right? Roger Trancik, in this excerpt, explains that rural areas do not need to be completely lost as activities can occur within those areas; development of infrastructure and communication networks can occur in the name of progress, however, it does not have to involve eradicating the activities and liveliness of areas that are less urbanised or less developed.

What do you think? Where do you stand regarding this issue? Does more development equate to the loss of more public space, in your opinion?

Until next time,

The Urban Travellers

References:

[1] http://nidco.co.tt/new/index.php/our-projects/ongoing-projects/78-san-fernando-to-point-fortin-highway.html 

[2] http://www.guardian.co.tt/columnist/2014-10-05/remember-issue-accountability

[3] https://buildingcommunities.nd.edu/news/11213-urban-classics-4-finding-lost-space/

The Black Carpet

 

Today’s urban travellers will be taking you on a journey on the ‘Black Carpet’. Many of you may feel a bit confused by today’s topic as it may seem that we will be travelling on a carpet like Aladdin did. Unfortunately, that is not the case, this Black Carpet which we speak of is the highways of Trinidad. Many of you are familiar with how a highway looks and have travelled via the highway. But, what is a highway, what is its purpose? Simply put, a highway is somewhat similar to a main road or a pathway that connects towns and cities. In Trinidad, there are six highways. Each of the highways are located and built to facilitate access to and from different locations. 

 

First, there is the Uriah Butler Highway, constructed in 1958 and initially named The Princess Margaret Highway, is a major highway which connects North-South bounds of Trinidad. The highway route begins from Cham Fleur to Chaguanas and continues until it meets Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway and crosses the Churchill Roosevelt highway in Valsayn. After several years the highway was then renamed after one of our Nation’s Historical icon, Tubal Uriah Butler in 1988.

Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler (1897-1977)

Image Source- www.nalis.gov.tt

Then we have the Churchill Roosevelt Highway which connects between the east-west of Trinidad. Built in 1941, the Churchill Roosevelt Highway begins at Barataria in Western Trinidad and joins with the Beetham Highway and continues through Wallerfield in the east until the former US Army base in Fort Read. Thirdly, there is the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway. The Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway is a four-lane highway which was constructed in the early 1970’s. the highway connects from Chaguanas to San Fernando where is meets the Uriah Butler Highway. The forth highway of Trinidad is the Beetham Highway. The Beetham highway is known as one of the most major highways of Trinidad, extending from Barataria and into down town Port Of Spain. The highway was first constructed in 1955. Lastly there is the Audrey Jeffers Highway. The highway was named after another one of our nation’s icons who was a social worker and the first female member of the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago. The Audrey Jeffers Highway begins from west Port Of Spain to Cocorite and the Western Main Road in St. James. 

 

A vast majority of Trinidad is dependent on automobiles, thus stemming from the previous post, infrastructure and the management of transport systems and routes are indeed important. If these factors are not taken seriously it can lead to several problems such as road accidents, traffic congestion and even pollution.

The highway is one of the most active transport routes in Trinidad however there have been two alarming issues faced by our citizens.

Safety

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Guardian, in the previous year, 2015 there have been a total of 143 fatal road accidents. The highway has claimed the lives of so many people over the past few years. The reason for so many highway accidents stems from various factors such as drinking and driving, distractions such as the use of cellular or technological devices while driving, speeding, aggressive driving and even to a greater extent weather conditions. Of all these factors, both drinking and driving have accounted for the majority of the loss of lives. 

The issues of highway accidents have become such a grave issue in Trinidad that many companies and other organizations such as Arrive Alive are urging citizens to pay attention while driving and to cease drinking while driving. These organization have even tried reaching out to drivers on the highway with the use of billboards as a reminder as they are on the nation’s roads. Road accidents have always been a crucial issue in Trinidad as in previous times it has claimed the lives of many citizens including some of our important icons such as Onika Bostic- Soca Artist (2004) and Giselle Salandy- Boxer (2009) and even the lives of twins, Khertima and Khadijah( 2013) and Kafiya Gill (2013) and many more. Given this, there have been many attempts and management strategies to reduce the number of road accidents.

Congestion

The issue of congestion have always been a problem in Trinidad especially on the highways. However, there have been trends in the location of congestion on highways. Many can attest to the fact that the majority of highway congestion occurs either between the hours of 7 A.M and 9 A M and in the evening between the hours of 3 P.M and 5 P.M. the reason for this is due to the mobility of citizens at these hours either going to and from work or school. Much have been done to remedy this issue, for example, the Priority Bus Route. But, unfortunately we are still faced with the congestion issue. Imagine the frustration of trying to get home before it is dark or trying to reach for an appointment and stuck in traffic. UGH!

The video below, as you can see in the evening, traffic flow is extremely slow and can be even worse in other areas.

                      Video showing evening traffic congestion on the Uriah Butler Highway

Building more roads would not exactly solve the problem because here we have a large group of people leaving their jobs or schools at the same time, moving towards same destinations which are indeed a recipe for disaster. Cites are supposed to be for citizens, not avoided by them. Therefore, much focus should be on the planning of cities rather than just away in which Trinidad can be developed. If we really critically look at cities in Trinidad and the issues faced as we develop, as a consequent result we face even more issues.

Links-

1. http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-12-25/new-trend-road-deaths
2. http://www.nalis.gov.tt/Research/SubjectGuide/Biographies/BiographiesAC/tabid/100/Default.aspx?PageContentID=259

Transportation Infrastructure in Cities

    When we speak of transportation infrastructures we think of the framework of our transport systems. We then take into consideration how roads are structured for multiple purposes. Since cities are known to have such an important role in several countries including ours as they are the location of jobs factories and businesses , due to this transport infrastructure contributes to the overall functioning of the city. The best cities are known to have the best transport infrastructures which support their cities. But, what is transport infrastructure and why is it necessary. According to European Commission, transport infrastructure means all the routed and fixed installations of the 3 modes of transport. In each country, transportation infrastructure differs greatly from one another. Given this, todays following blog will be mainly focused on road transportation infrastructure in Trinidad.

   By now we should understand that have a large population growth, along with this, public transport systems are ageing and becoming inefficient and unable to provide the transport needs of the people and their daily rapid mobility. Transport plays a key role in increasing economic activities especially in cities thereby increasing and improving their productivity and connectivity also by extension, reducing travelling time. Major urban areas such as Port of Spain, San Fernando and Chaguanas are known for their high and intensive economic activities. Therefore proper transportation infrastructures can indeed facilitate the transportation of goods and people. However, over recent and present times transport infrastructures have been neglected which have led to several crisis.

But, why and what are the reasons for the occurrence of transport crisis? Could it be that local government have been making terrible planning decisions? If this is the case what can be some solutions?

    Along with an increase in population as mentioned in a previous blog, more roads lead to more cars on the roads thus there will be more traffic congestion. Many have proposed that the construction of the rapid rail will and can address the transportation infrastructure and function issues in Trinidad. However, in a newspaper article entitled ‘Rail won’t solve congestion’,  Dr. Rae Furlonge, a traffic and transport engineer argued that solving a traffic problem with a transport solution is not a solution. He also argued that the rapid rail will be unreliable considering that it consumes a lot of energy in order to function. Now, know that Trinidad is the country of OIL and ENERGY but what if there’s it a power outage? What will be do? Also considering that the rapid rail will be functioning at peak hours of citizen activity throughout the city of Port of Spain there will unproductive days of businesses, firms and organization employees then as some would say ‘Crapo Smoke We Pipe’. So by this we can see why there is no rapid rail presently as many would have objected to the idea.

     However, what our transport system and infrastructure really needs is proper management. We do not need more roads and we do not need more systems to give us the belief that we are somewhat developing. We need to make our transport systems and infrastructures for attractive for our citizens to use. We need to find more incentives to lure them into utilizing the different transportation systems provided. We need to manage and improve our roads instead of constructing more. We need to find alternative in making the city and transportation within the city more comfortable for our citizens.

How do we plan and manage our transport infrastructures?

                                                               

                               

Use of GIS-

According to ESRI, ‘Being able to visualize your assets and the surrounding environment when you build, upgrade, or repair transportation infrastructure helps you prioritize your work and make the right decisions.’

    Now this may not be the only method by which we can manage our transportation infrastructure but it can solve the majority of our management issues. The extensive and proper use of GIS can facilitate the planning process of transport infrastructure. As a result, there can be more collection of data and information to aid in the decision making processes. This may have addressed what Dr. Rae Furlonge claims that there is a shortage of data collection of the mobility of people from different areas and improper mapping systems.

   Another way in which transport infrastructure can be addressed is by critically focusing on infrastructure for public transport, pedestrian facilities and urban systems infrastructures. Therefore there must be timely maintenance of the division of road ways for both large and small vehicles and there should be increased focus, management and security on transport routes which are supposed to facilitate transportation woes. Also the position, of road signs need to be properly managed and monitored for any form of destruction doe to it and its positioning for drivers to easily view them. Planners and transportation organization should therefore take into consideration the needs and comfort of citizens in order to facilitate the functioning of the city and by extension the entire country.

Links- http://www.esri.com/library/brochures/pdfs/transportation-infrastructure.pdf

          http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2015-08-07/rail-won%E2%80%99t-solve-congestion-0

Efficiency of Transportation in Cities

    Trinidad, a country whose main form of economic activities include industrialization and tourism, heavily depends on transportation especially within cities. Cities are known for their high population densities and heavy economic activities. With this in mind, in such cities as Port of Spain and San Fernando and towns such as Chaguanas, there must be a provision of reliable and efficient transportation systems that can be accessed by those in theses urban areas. Transportation and planning have evolved greatly over the years in order to make spaces more accessible and liveable for citizens.

   In the cities and towns of Trinidad there are several modes of transportation which include buses, maxis, taxis and water taxis. Today’s blog will further discuss the efficiency of these different modes of transportation available to our population.

 Buses- PTSC

The PTSC provides a vast variety of services to the population of Trinidad and Tobago. These services include:

·         1.   National bus transportation services

·        2.   Charter bus service

·        3. Contracted School Transport Service

·        4.  Advertising space for the public

·        5. Specialized Transport Services

·       6.  Rental of commercial space

·       7.  Engineering services to the Caribbean region 

           The PTSC operates on a ticket system by which ticket of several prices can be bought at any PTSC station location or even at grocery stores and it operates on a daily schedule.  The PTSC is known for its safety and efficiency provided to our citizens. The PTCS is also focused on providing services to their customers especially the employee driven population. Additionally they are known to provide services for the elderly population. The efficiency of the PTSC stems from its ability to provide transportation at the most suitable times at a low cost. In relation to the provision of transportation services to an employee driven population, travelling to cities where their jobs are located, the PTSC have been considered to be one of the most cost efficient and safe modes of transportation.

   The PTSC operates within certain hours on a daily basis. The hours at which they operate are considered to be efficient for the working class population and for students, when other modes of transportation fails to provide services either due to their cost and availability. The PTSC also provides comfortable transportation services. Imagine someone working from a time period of 9AM to 4PM in the bustling and noisy city, after a long day’s work that individual will be craving comfort and relaxation by which the PTSC provides with the use of air-conditioned, spacious and comfortable seats for passengers.

 Stemming from the accessibility of transportation services provided to the elderly population. Elderly citizens can access the PTSC bus services by simply presenting their national identification cards to the bus drivers. The PTSC also provides Transportation for students. The image below shows the PTSC bus at the University of the West Indies St. Augustine. The bus services are used by student on a daily basis because it a cheaper. Most student use the buses to return to their homes on weekends.

             Operation of the PTSC at the University of the West Indies.

Besides the provision of services to employees, student and the elderly, the PTSC can also be accessed by incapacitated citizens. These citizens do not travel on normal buses are the rest of the population would but there are specialized buses made specifically for incapacitated citizens. In all, the PTCS attempts to provide transportation for all citizens of Trinidad and Tobago within cities, towns and urban regions.

Link for PTSC Departure schedule and prices- http://www.ptsc.co.tt/Tickets_and_Travel_.html

http://www.ptsc.co.tt/City_Service_.html

 Maxis.....

Maxi taxi services are privately owner operated modes of transportation in Trinidad. Maxis are like mini buses that offer services to different routes of transportation across Trinidad. Unlike the PTSC buses instead of picking up passengers at bus stop, maxis operate by stopping and picking up passengers along the road and there are no designated bus top. The prices are almost as reasonable as the PTSC. Also, Unlike the PTSC, the maxi taxi service is not only available to the urban population but it reaches even to rural areas such as Moruga, Indian walk, Guayaguayare and Point Fortin in attempt to facilitate transportation from rural to urban areas.

    The maxi taxis operate in different areas in Trinidad, due to this each maxi taxi operating in several areas can be identified based on the colour of their bands. The Maxi taxis and their area identification is indicated below.
POS- Arima- Sangre Grande- Red Band
POS- Diego Martin- Yellow Band
POS- San Fernando- Curepe- Green Band
San Fernando- Princes Town- Mayaro- Black Band
South of San Fernando (Point Fortin, Cedros, Siparia)- Brown Band

                             San Fernando Maxi Stand in Princes Town.

Princes Town Maxi Stand for the Areas of New Grant, St. Mary’s, Moruga, Tableland and Rio Claro.

Chaguanas Maxi Stand in San Fernando

Taxis......

Taxis in Trinidad and Tobago have an extremely high efficiency and is one of the most used modes of transportation throughout the country. Taxis fall under private ownership and times of operation can change depending on the driver, but usually operate during the working hours or 6:00 am and 6:00 pm. This mode of transportation is in as much high demand as maxis and PTSC buses simply due to the fact that some individuals do not own personal cars and have no personal mode of transportation and so they require transportation to and from their journeys on a daily basis. Taxis operate throughout many streets in the country and collect passengers at any point or passengers would assemble at taxis stands and then be taken to their destinations.

                                              Rio Claro Taxi Stand in Princes Town.

Water Taxi.....

The Water Taxi is the most recent mode of transportation in Trinidad and was introduced by the Government in 2008. Want a fun and exciting way to get from one part of the country to another? I recommend the water taxi. This mode of transportation was introduced to alleviate traffic congestion and aid citizens travelling from the North to the South of Trinidad, specifically from Port-of-Spain to San Fernando. This mode of transportation is extremely efficient as its travel time between destinations is around 45 minutes. This aids citizens from the North-West of Trinidad or even along the East-West corridor who have jobs in the Southern parts of the country and vice versa. The Water taxi rate is $15.00 for a one-way ticket and a child below the age of one or an elder citizen over the age of 65 are allowed to travel for free on the Water Taxi and its earliest departure is at 6:00 am from San Fernando and its latest departure is at 5:30 pm from Port-of-Spain, while having other shifts throughout the day.

These forms of transportation allow people to live freely, wherever they choose, while having accessibility to the cities and towns where they may have jobs, families to visit or for something as simple as recreation. These modes of transportation mentioned above are fast, convenient and essential to citizens in their daily lives. Rachel Kyle (2016), the vice-president of sustainable development at the World Bank proposed that public transport is a huge benefit to people of the lower class as it would allow them more opportunities as opposed to settling for job opportunities nearer to where they reside (usually in walking distance) and provides them with more access to education, health and recreation. Some people may disagree as they prefer the comfort of their own vehicles but I would personally urge people to take public transport; it's faster, less pollution and you'll save gas money!

Public Transportation Works!

Links: http://www.global-briefing.org/2012/07/a-good-public-transport-system-must-be-easy-and-convenient-to-use-fast-safe-clean-and-affordable/

The Traffic Monster......

Today’s Urban Tavellers will be discussing another woe of transportation in cities and towns while taking you through every traffic jam issue while providing causes and solutions. Hop In!

Starting The Engine! ………..Traffic Congestion 

Many of us have dealt with traffic congestion therefore we are all aware of how it irritates us to be stuck in traffic especially if we have an important appointment of if we are running late for school or work. But, what is traffic congestion? Simply put, traffic congestion also known as traffic jams is an event by which an increase in the use of road networks by many vehicles at a particular time of the day leads to the slow movement of traffic over long periods and not just an hour but one can be stuck in a traffic jam for up to 4 hours. Due to this people can become frustrated and can cause rage accidents.

The images below illustrate just the tip of the iceberg in relation to traffic congestion in Trinidad......

 

An image illustrating traffic congestion throughout the Chaguanas Main Road.

 

An image illustrating traffic congestion on the Chaguanas Main Road, Trinidad

Causes of Traffic congestion...

 

Since we have considered that Trinidad has a major traffic problem we can now evaluate and figure out the causes. In the local Guardian Newspaper in an article entitled ‘More Roads Cause More Traffic’ , as the title distinctively suggests, the construction of more roads is the major cause of traffic congestion. Therefore does this mean that we should increase public transport systems? Also even though it is true that the construction of more roads lead to the presence of more cars the reality is that most people who commute to and from urban areas have private vehicles and no one would leave the comfort of their own vehicles to travel in uncomfortable maxis/ taxis.

Another cause of traffic congestion in urban areas especially in Trinidad and Tobago is the presence of gasoline subsidies and anything which is subsidized there is more of it. Therefore if there is more gasoline citizens will take advantage of it. Having this acts as an incentive for citizens to use their own vehicles which in turn lead to the consumption of surplus gas.

Sometimes it is not always the previously discussed causes there are several reasons which we ourselves may not be aware of. Some of these causes include;

• Traffic signals being out of sync or malfunctioning.
• Limited hours for public transportation systems to operate.
• Too many vehicles per household. ( 1 is acceptable,2 is ok 3 or 4 is just ridiculous)
• Inadequate traffic lights in areas that really need them as seen in the video. The video below was taken in the streets of Arima, Trinidad and illustrates the flow of traffic and how dangerous it can be without traffic lights....

Accidents......

Car accidents occur either as a product or a cause of traffic congestion and sometimes even both on the roads. Traffic congestion is just about inevitable, especially in urban cities since there is a high density of people entering and leaving the cities at specific times of the day. Between the hours or 6:00 – 9:00 am and 3:00 – 6:00 pm, movement on highways and main roads are scanty and sometimes there is not even any movement on the roads; this is known as bumper to bumper traffic . The correlation with traffic congestion and accidents is present and its prevalence occurs in Trinidad as well. 

There are multiple car accidents that occur because of the intense daily traffic congestion in Trinidad and a lot of these occurrences happen either on the way into the city of Port-of-Spain or within Port-of-Spain. Past accidents have been both fatal and non-fatal but have been far more than it should be. The Guardian Newspaper published an article on January 6^th 2016, “Traffic warden survives hit......” as a woman suffered a fractured leg and many cuts and bruises after being hit by an SUV while directing traffic along Independence Square, Port-of-Spain. [1]. 

Many fender-bender incidents also occur in traffic congestion as many cars are in such close proximity; these accidents usually happen because of distracted driving where a person is using their phone or just focusing on anything other than the road and occur within the streets of the city, Beetham Highway and Wrightson Road, where the front or back or cars are usually hit due to the constant driving and stopping that takes place in traffic congestion.

Accidents also act as a traffic disturbance as it increases traffic congestion as a car accident will as cars block the lanes and reduce the incoming flow or cars, usually to a standstill; this can last for hours or until the car is moved to the side of the road or towed away. Also people being typical 'trinis' will usually hold up an entire lane of traffic just to observe the extent of the accident and and then go on their way but even this increases traffic congestion.

We the urban travellers would just like to stress how important safe driving is, even if you are in traffic, please do not shift your focus off the road because YOUR LIFE as well as the lives of of everyone else's MATTERS!!!!! Until next week, take care and stop accidents before they stop you.

References....
[1] http://www2.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-01-05/traffic-warden-survives-hit

Even Pollution Travels in Trinidad.....

Today the Urban Travellers will lead you, our Urban Passengers through a journey through the streets of the cities of Trinidad with reference to the pollution issues faced in several cities. So without further adieu, “Buckle up, Buckaroos!”

 

 In Trinidad, our cities are known for their high concentration of economic activities and their high population densities. Due to this, the need to commute to and from these cities is a crucial factor which one must consider in order for urban areas to be productive. Transportation systems and routes are considered to be the Skeletal System of cities. Without them how will citizens commute to and from them? How will labourers and consumers be able to have mobility through them? 

The cities of Trinidad are currently facing nerve wrecking issues of transportation and as a result the image of a city becomes obscure and inscrutable. Of these issues pollution is the most prominent matter, by which several environmental aspects are affected. 

 

Our First Stop!

Air Pollution- We all know that cities are compact with not only people but also vehicles. With this in mind, vehicles are the main source of air pollution in cities. When gasoline from the fuels of automobiles combust, they emit several primary air pollutants such as nitrous oxides and carbon monoxides into the atmosphere. According to the UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme) the estimation of urban air pollution can cost 2% of the GDP in developed countries and 5% in developing countries {1}.  But, Trinidad is a developing country this therefore means that if nothing is done to alleviate this pollution issue, our “Sweet, Sweet T&T” would not be so sweet after all. The UNEP also stated that 90% of the air pollution in these cities is attributed to vehicular emissions which is brought about by low fuel quality and other several factors. Keeping this in mind how can we the citizens of Trinidad assist in reducing the level of air pollution in our cities? After all it is our country therefore its our job to protect our cities, our jewels. 

 

There are various actions and ideas of how this can be done. Non- motorized transportation can be a useful form transportation throughout cities and towns. Taking into consideration that the majority of the trips made throughout cities are of short distance and walking never gets old. This should indeed be a lot better because searching for a parking space is never fun. As a student of the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, the use of bicycles is seen everyday however walking is most dominant. Undoubtedly, the use of bicycles looks better while other students walk to and from their classes. 

 

Another approach to reducing the effects of this issue is Carpooling. The less cars there are, there will be a lower percentage of emitted gaseous toxins. In a technical way maxis are somewhat a form of carpooling. However, carpooling is not only done with the use of motorized vehicles, bicycles can also be used. Although it may sound weird and may look weird it will most definitely reduce the air pollution effects.

Second Stop!

Land Pollution 

 

Where there is a lot of people there will be a lot of garbage in the streets. How is this an issue of transportation? Let’s take a trip and find out! 

 

Let’s take a look at the images below. What do you see? Just trash at the sides of High Street? But, if we take a closer look we can see more than just trash, but we can see how this can consequently affect transportation. In this image transportation can be affected in two ways. Firstly, we can see that garbage is also in the drains of the streets, but suppose a shower of rain occurred. The garbage would be washed away to the bottom of the streets getting stuck in main drains of the City of San Fernando and as a result there can be flooding which serves as a barrier for vehicles to pass.

 

Secondly, many times we’ve seen paper and plastic bags floating across highways and streets. For both drivers and passengers this can be life threatening as it can cause accidents and as a result may lead to death as drivers swerve away from these flying objects. Therefore for the sake of the lives of our citizens who commute to and cities as a safety tip- Please do not litter!

Image of land pollution located near the round-about and entrance of the City of San Fernando

Image of land pollution on High Street, San Fernando   

Third Stop! 

Noise Pollution

According to the International Encyclopedia of Social Sciences (2008) {2}, “noise pollution is undesired sound that is disruptive or dangerous and can cause harm to life, nature or property.” The effects of noise pollution also vary depending on the frequency, duration and intensity of sound. 

 

Noise pollution is an issue that is ever so present in the country of Trinidad and Tobago, from the many construction sites in urban areas, the results of development in towns and cities in the form of factories, industries and even generators, the traffic and transportation as well as the boisterous personalities exuded by some 'trinis'. :) However, close attention will be paid to traffic and transportation and how noise pollution is produced from it.

Thousands of citizens travel into the cities of Port-of Spain, Arima and San Fernando as well as other urbanised areas such as Chaguanas and Point Fortin on a day to day basis and this is a major contributor to noise pollution in Trinidad and Tobago. Transportation and traffic can produce noise pollution in two ways which will be further discussed. Certain vehicles are just manufactured to give off loud and disruptive sounds, for example large trucks, PTSC buses, maxi taxis and motorcycles, they all have many conditions in common but in this case, they all produce noise pollution. We all know how loud those vehicles are! I personally have had to pause conversations in the past if a large truck is passing by because the noise can drown out people's voices. 

Noise pollution in Trinidad is also produced by the daily traffic congestion on various routes and faulty urban planning.The more vehicles that go into the main cities everyday, increase the chances of traffic congestion which increase the chances of noise pollution....EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. Cars, trucks, buses and maxi taxis all honking and beeping their vehicles out of frustration as well as poor driving usually displayed on our roads. Deficient urban planning contributes to noise pollution as well when roads are made either too narrow, to close to other roads and in close proximity to major buildings in urbanised areas such as schools, police stations, churches, hospitals and commercial centres.

As Trinidad continues to develop, noise pollution will become even more pervasive than it is now. Noise pollution has major effects on a person's health and well-being as it can increase anxiety, stress levels, fatigue, headaches and above all, a person's hearing can be damaged terribly. Now if we pay close attention, we would realise that noise pollution is more prevalent in the core and just on the outskirts of the semi-peripheral areas of urbanised cities and towns in Trinidad, roads in the cities and towns as well as roads leading into the cities and towns is where noise pollution can be experienced at the highest level. Now if you're a fan of peace and quite, then we would recommend living away from these urbanised places!

The video below will display the prevalence of noise pollution throughout the streets of Chaguanas....

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Be a part of the Noise Pollution Solution!!!!!

Well that's all for today passengers! We hope you've been informed and learned something new from this pollution-based post in regards to transportation, and even if you didn't learn something new, we still hope that you enjoyed reading this post. :)

'Til next week.....two urban travellers signing out!

{1} http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/Issues/urban_air.asp 

{2} http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/noise_pollution.aspx