I not going out today, too much traffic!!

So we meet again for another blog entry. Hope you guys have been enjoying the previous nine posts. This blog entry will be focused on the one thing we all hate the most and no its not when the doubles man sell out early before you reach but TRAFFIC!! This picture was taken near Grand Bazaar, as I made my way from Port-of – Spain to Chaguanas. As I sat in the car I thought to myself “when is this traffic situation going to be fixed?” Whether it is 6am or 8pm, Monday or Sunday are nations roads are always filled with vehicles. Traffic affects all commuters in various ways whether it causes persons to be stressed or results in persons reaching late to their destinations.

We quote this phrase again from Hall and Barrett ( 2012) where it is said that “ we have moved into an era where we are not simply concerned with a trip to work and back but with the multiple journeys that have become not just desirable but necessary in order to sustain our lifestyles each and every day. It is not an exaggeration to suggest that much of our life in cities is bound up with the issues of how to get somewhere.” This phrase in my opinion has changed significantly as persons now take possible traffic congestion into consideration in determining where and when they go to certain places in the city. We have all heard the phrase “ nah man I ain’t going there, it will have too much traffic” So have we as a society have allowed traffic congestion to control our daily live? Leaving your house at 5:30am to avoid traffic? Yes we have allowed traffic to control our lives!

Hall and Barrett (2012) have spoken in great detail about the problems surrounding the use of cars as a form of mobility, namely traffic congestion and environmental problems. What are some of the ways in which we can reduce the number of cars on the road and hence reduce traffic congestion? One of the simplest answers to this question is walking. As quoted in the first entry, “As any traveler worth their Nikes knows, to walk around a city is to experience its true essence its soul if you will.” This simple quote by MCculloch (2012) says a lot. Have you ever realize that persons who walk daily know more about certain aspects of their city versus those who drive? Instead of driving to the nearby shop one can simply walk. The second solution to traffic congestion can be biking. Biking again reduces the number of cars that are present on the nation’s roads. It is also a healthy alternative as well as good for the environment. Furthermore mass transit can be one of the main solutions to traffic congestion. Mass transit involves the movement of numerous amounts of persons at the same time. This again reduces the amount of cars on our nation’s roadways. One final aspect of traffic reduction can be seen in the use of water taxis. This is also a form of transport but this time the transport is occurring on the sea. Further further details on these traffic reduction strategies can be seen in blog entry #1, (walking) #2 (biking), #4 (bus) and #6 (water taxi).

Above picture showing ways traffic can be reduced

Reference

Hall and Barrett,2012. Urban Geography. 4^th Edition. London and New York: Routledge Publishing.(pages 282-301 ).

McCulloch, Adam, 2012. “World's Top Walking Cities.” March 2012.http://www.departures.com/articles/worlds-top-walking-cities.Accessed February 8th, 2013.