Architect Maria Elena da Rocha Paranhos, who lives in Berlin, Germany and was in Florianopolis a few days ago, talks about the challenges of urban mobility in this interview.

Architect Maria Helena Paranhos – Photo: Disclosure/ND

You say that the public manager should dare to change the paradigm. When it comes to urban mobility, is the car less prioritized as an example?
Yes. In Brazil in the second half of the 20th century, the automobile became the driving force behind urban growth, the basis of urban planning and development. It doesn’t matter where you lived and worked in the city: with a car we moved and had access to all urban environments. Even city transport had no advantages over the car.

In the 21st century, perhaps driven by the ecological consciousness of a large part of the world’s population, by the recognition that civil society’s rampant consumption is leading us into climate chaos, with above-average summer temperatures and below-average winter temperatures, with droughts and floods never experienced before, the city dweller is finally found his main role.

It is currently impossible to plan cities, whether small, medium or large, without putting yourself first. In this case, for me, the “mobility” of a citizen refers to the presence of wide sidewalks lined with solid trees along the entire city perimeter, as well as the availability of conditions near the place of residence for access to local services related to its existence (grocery shopping, pharmacy, primary school, squares and parks, eventually restaurants, cafes, leisure activities, in addition to good public transport connecting the area where he lives with other, more sustainable urban centers.

In other words, mobility in the 21st century is about the quality a city offers citizens in terms of mobilizing itself within the urban fabric, with good public infrastructure (starting with sidewalks) and deterring the use of cars to complete tasks. Coming and going safely, with attractive sidewalks offering the sheer pleasure of walking, whether alone, with children, with the elderly. At the same time offering accessibility for every citizen and visitor.

Unfortunately, most Brazilian cities don’t care about their residents, and when they improve something in this regard, they are limited to a small central area. It costs very, very little for city government, it would be of great benefit to the entire population, but it seems that there is no political will to change this paradigm: widening the streets at the expense of the limited width of the existing sidewalks, or building more viaducts, new streets … very sad it is to see that the mistakes of the last century are repeated in the 21st century.

What European cities, especially Berlin where you live, can inspire Brazilian cities in terms of urban planning and mobility?
European cities, mainly Berlin (Germany), are difficult to compare with Brazilian cities. Let me give you an example: the first subway in Berlin appeared in 1898! And since then, public transport has always been valued, offering citizens the conditions for moving around the city without using a car.

So it is in other cities; but there are those for whom public transport is not so efficient, and a car is necessary to move around a vast urban area. Then there is no way out, chaos ensues. However, most European cities have already realized that the car is destroying the quality of the urban environment, and that citizens need to restore their role: the sidewalks have become wider, the speed of cars has been reduced for a more adequate coexistence with bicycles and cyclists. citizen, some streets were closed to cars (only open to public cars or bicycles).

These are examples where the car is at the bottom of the list of priorities in the city: first the citizens, then bicycles, then public transport, and finally the car. Those who insist on using a car should be aware that: there are few places to park where they want, there will be more time spent on the move because the wheels have been reduced and so has the speed, and at best private parking has become more expensive.

In Berlin, for example, zoning and land use prohibit private parking, making it difficult to drive in a good part of the city. These are measures that the local government can take to “humanize” cities.

Of course, first of all, public transport and sidewalks need to be improved. Also rethink your city planning, zoning, land use, and settlement plans, optimizing neighborhoods to be more independent, but above all and taking care of their citizens first. Always. And it costs very little!

I think it is important not to focus attention, but the fact that it is a city dweller walking along the sidewalks, or a visitor, who will stimulate sales of local trade. This will not be done by the car that stops in front of the store!!!! And this is what the city planner should think about, and the state manager should do …

What do you think of the problems of urban mobility in Florianopolis, where the master plan has just been updated, taking into account the economic profile of the city and its geographical characteristics?
Elevate already consolidated urban centers but stagnant ones like in Lagoa da Conceição, or even downtown. There are good concepts for how to do this (every city is different and I see great potential in Florianopolis!) Boost the local economy through trade and services, and rehabilitate housing close to where you work or study. .

City centers have been thinking about this for decades, and few have managed to achieve this goal, but I believe that Florianopolis has excellent conditions for this.