Urban

Question 1

Need for traffic management in Edinburgh

Answer 1

1. Concerns over the quality of air, as those with asthma suffer from increased health risks. This has led to increased numbers of recorded deaths from air pollution.
2. There is need to reduce greenhouse gases from road vehicles, as they contribute to global warming. Carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are the main greenhouse gases released from vehicles.
3. There are safety fears for more vulnerable road users such as cyclists. Councils are trying to encourage more people into city centres by making the area safer for pedestrians.
4. The fumes from vehicles have been blamed for discolouring buildings in city centres making them look less attractive.
5. To encourage more shoppers to city centres and boost the economy, councils are trying to reduce congestion and improve journey times.

Question 2

Traffic management in Edinburgh - solutions

Answer 2

1. A 20mph speed limit was brought in throughout the CBD to allow traffic to move smoother and prevent accidents.
2. Trams were built in Edinburgh from areas such as the airport to encourage less people to take cars on the road.
3. Public transport is encouraged to lessen the number of cars on the road. New developments such as a bus tracker app has made public transport more appealing.
4. Park and Ride, such as at Hermiston Gait, mean less cars coming into the city as one bus can take nearly 50 car loads.
5. The introduction of the Edinburgh city bypass stops people having to drive through Edinburgh city centre.

Question 3

Traffic management in Edinburgh - effectiveness

Answer 3

1. The speed limit has been successfully rolled out in 2000 streets and has reduced traffic casualties by about 20% in the CBD.
2. At first, the building of the tram lines actually contributed to increased traffic congestion and were very expensive to build. Now they are helping lowering car emissions in the CBD and soon will allow connectivity from the airport to Leith docks.
3. The bus tracker app makes travel more convenient and appealing. Schemes like this have been successful as Edinburgh is 1st for bus travel in the whole of the UK.
4. The park and ride has worked well with Hermiston Gait being at an average occupancy of 95%.
5. The city bypass and lowers congestion, and therefore emissions from cars.

Question 4

Traffic management in Rio - solutions

Answer 4

1. The Rio Niteroi bridge connects Rio with the city of Niteroi across Guanabarra Bay, providing a shorter alternative to a 80 km road journey or a one-hour ferry crossing.
2. The ‘Yellow Line’ expressway connects Barra da Tijuca in the West Zone with Rio’s North Zone and the international airport.
3. Dedicated bus routes (called corridors) were created along major routes to reduce congestion. The project is part of a green initiative for sustainable transport that will use new buses operating on ninety percent compressed natural gas.
4. ‘Bike Rio’ began operations in 2011.The system has 600 bicycles available at 60 rental stations located in 14 neighbourhoods throughout the city.
5. The network of overground Supervia trains visit 104 stations around Rio. Improvements have been made to introduce air conditioned carriages and CCTV. They have also run more trains on the most popular routes.

Question 5

Traffic management in Rio - effectiveness

Answer 5

1. Due to rising levels of car ownership, each end of the bridge is completely jammed at rush hour causing major congestion.
2. Seventy thousand vehicles use the road each day . So far the road has been successful in removing around forty per cent of traffic from local roads in the area.
3. Each bus on the two corridors already in place replaces 126 cars on average, resulting in a 38 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions on those corridors.
4. Cycle lanes make cyclists feel safer as they are not competing with the many cars on the road. However, complete integration of the bike system has still to be achieved. When cyclists have to share the road with cars there is an increase in the chance of collisions.
5. More trains being added reduces overcrowding on the network as there are more options for travel. CCTV can now be used to spot offenders and make passengers feel less at risk.

Question 6

Housing strategies in Edinburgh - solutions

Answer 6

1. One strategy to improve housing problems was slum clearance. This is where people were moved out of the inner city and moved into areas on the outskirts, eg. Pliton.
2. Another strategy was to modernise existing buildings. In 2024 new tenement style housing is built with security entry and off street parking. Damp/anti-social high-rise flats were demolished or upgraded, eg. the Banana flats.
3. Another strategy is more affordable housing provided by local housing associations, eg. the Port of Leith Housing Association.

Question 7

Housing strategies in Edinburgh - effectiveness

Answer 7

1. This was effective as the council had time to build new high rises. However, people often felt isolated in the new estates and the new high rises were not built to last and often suffered from damp and anti social conditions.
2. This has been effective as Leith is no longer viewed as an area suffering from urban decay and new amenities have been added such as the ocean terminal.
3. In the old dock areas, new style higher rise apartment blocks have been added.

Question 8

Housing problems in Rio

Answer 8

Rural to urban migration has caused informal housing settlements to form on the outskirts of Rio. Lack of legality and overcrowding has led to a variety of problems.
1. Lack of basic facilities such as schools, water.
2. Lack of public utilities such as sewerage or power.
3. High incidence of disease.
4. High rates of unemployment.
5. Unsightly dwellings made out of scrap materials.
6. Located on areas prone to flooding or landslides.
7. Often built without legal permission.
8. Overcrowded dwellings lead to lack of privacy/waste.

Question 9

Housing strategies in Rio

Answer 9

1. Favela clearance was initially used by the local government prior to the 2016 Olympic Games.
2. Self-help schemes use the skills of local people e.g., Favela Bairro. Much of the housing has been upgraded with concrete and bricks. Many houses have been connected to metered electricity.
3. Pacification introduced community police forces into some favelas.
4. Improved refuse collection improves the environment.
5. Site and service schemes are brick homes built by the local government, installing pipes to provide sanitation and water supplies. Residents were given the right to buy after initially renting. Streets are wider to allow access for emergency services/waste lorries. Roads have been paved and given formal addresses.

Question 10

Housing strategies in Rio - effectiveness

Answer 10

1. It was soon realised that slum clearance was not effective and that people would simply move to another location and begin again.
2. Self-help schemes are effective as it gives residents a sense of ownership and improves the community spirit through working together.This is a cheaper alternative to brand new housing areas.
3. The Favela Bairro project has been successful as the money from rents has allowed other favelas to be developed. However, it does not help families without jobs who cannot afford to pay rent. It is only the smaller favelas which have been a focus for this investment.
4. Pacification was not totally successful because the police were accused of violent behaviour.