Urban

Question 1

What are the solutions to combat traffic issues in a developed city and comment of effectiveness.

Answer 1

M74 EXTENSION: interchange with M8 to help reduce traffic on Kingston bridge and to help re-generate east end
✅23% decrease of traffic on M8
✅ reduced 21,000 vehicles per day in city centre
❌£692 million and most expensive road per meter in Europe
❌ increased Noise and air pollution

SUBWAY MODERNISATION: upgrading the 3rd oldest subway in world
✅driverless trains developed = less expensive (no wages)
✅ can deal with 40,000 commuters during weekdays
❌cost £300 million and still doesn’t extend into the east end

FASTLINK BUS LANE: links all major locations in Glasgow including SECC, queen street and central station.
✅ improvement in journey times means more people rely and uses busses = decreases car commuters
❌stagecoach and McGills stopped using service due to hold ups at traffic lights

Question 2

Explain the recent housing changes in a developed CBD

Answer 2

GLASGOW HARBOUR
✅1470 apartments built
✅ links to CBD with cycle paths, walk ways and improved road networks
❌controversial some saying more crimes and antisocial behaviour

CLYDE GATEWAY : opportunities to develop east end of Glasgow after commonwealth games.
✅1440 new energy efficient homes
✅more schools. Community centre and sporting facilities
✅job opportunities created
❌not all residents can pay new housing costs.

PACIFIC QUAY 
✅new facilities created = jobs and better quality of life 
✅Home to BBC STV and science centre 
✅office spaces 
✅ new apartments and houses 
✅increased green spaces

Question 3

Explain the housing problems in Glasgow

Answer 3

HIGH RISE FLATS: 300 built in Glasgow
❌flat roofs built - very damp quickily
❌sense of community loss and isolation due to flats
❌high crime rates in stair wells

COUNCIL ESTATES: over 200,000 moved to estates in 1950/60
❌no services included in plan (shops, busses, trains to city centre)
❌vandalism is a big problem
❌families move due to crime rates = leaving empty house = waste
❌ Some estate in Easterhouse demolished after 40 years

Question 4

What are the transport problems in developing country

Answer 4

RIO DE JANEIRO
CBD INACCESSIBLE = due to steep mountains and sea surrounding it

RUAL - URBAN MIGRATION : more people trying to reach city for work and increasing congestion

POOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT : subway systems and trains are unreliable and only cover specific areas of city

INCREASED CAR OWNERSHIP: 40% increase. = more noise air pollution and increased congestion

POORLY MAINTAINED PATHS - can’t cycle / walk as its too dangerous

Question 5

What are the solutions to traffic issues in developing country

Answer 5

CABLE CARS: difficult for normal transport to operate
✅helps pacification in favelas
✅ allows a 16 min ride to work to earn an income
❌$74 million cost and still many residents have little acces to clean water
❌may encourage more to travel and increase slum sizes

BUSES - RAPID TRANSPORT SYSTEMS : prevents other transport from using special lanes
✅reduced travel times by 50%
✅270,000 use it daily
✅well integrated with other public transport

USE OF BICYCLES : over 450km of cycle paths built in Rio
✅bike racks, cycle hires and shops developed
✅ increased sustainability and green image may attract tourists
✅ reduces air pollution.

Question 6

What are the housing problems in developing countries

Answer 6

OVERCROWDING: rural to urban migration
= severe housing shortage
= forced to instruct houses from scrap and use illegal land due to poverty
= overcrowding due to type of housing

UNEMPLOYMENT Due to location of favelas and education
= difficult to find employment as long time to walk out favelas
= residents cannot afford to live anywhere else = trapped

LACK OF SERVICES
= gov cannot invest in local services on illegal settlements
= causes poor sanitation, diseases and low life expectancy

HIGH CRIME RATE: drug lords and gangs control favelas
=very little police presence
=’drug use, murders and little investments

LANDSLIDES
Built on steep hillsides, high death rate and dangerous to build on

Question 7

What are the housing management strategies in developing countries

Answer 7

SELF HELP SCHEMES: provision of materials go make home improvements / buildings
✅3/4 have access to legal electricity as result
✅improvements in accessing shops and banks
Successful = communities work together and helps pacification
Unsuccessful = relies on many people and takes long time for change

SITE AND SERVICE SCHMES: Project Barrio, gov trying to improve infrastructure and legalising ownership
✅improved clean water sanitation and schools and sport facilities
SUCCESSFUL = better health and disease prevention and transformed 60/600 favelas
BUT= residents have to pay rent which they cannot afford

NGOS: Project Favela - relies on international workers to mentor and educate locals
✅focuses on quality of life (jobs medical care and sport)
✅successful = Olympics and World Cup investments
Unsuccessful = difficult to rely on volunteers

Question 8

Explain the traffic related problems in a developed CBD’s

Answer 8

GLASGOW
RIVER = barrier between north and south of city. Expensive to build bridges = more congestion

NARROW STREETS AND GRID SYSTEM: hard to cope with large volumes of traffic and no suitable parking

INCREASED TRAFFIC : more congestion, noise and air pollution and increased road rage = more accidents

CAR OWNERSHIP : 50% increase from 1975-2012 = have to find solutions to accommodate more traffic

USERS : 40% = car travel
30% public transport
30% walk/ cycle
= Glasgow has to cope with a diverse range of transportation