The absence of urban projects in the mobilityworks in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

The article highlights the "particular" conception of "sustainable mobility" adopted in the works in Rio de Janeiro on the occasion of the Olympic Games. The huge investment in improving public transport has been characterized by forgetfulness pedestrian and often have been accompanied by increases space for private vehicles, ignoring that sustainable mobility policies are only effective with restrictions on car use and reinforcement the space of non-motorized transport (walking and cycling) Rio de Janeiro has lost an opportunity to move the car dependence model that prevails in the city, and the "legacy" that these Games will not improve the quality of its public space. In other cities, the achievement of more sustainable mobility has involved an effort to reform its streets, to make them more attractive for walking and other urban activities. It seems that the carioca public sector has renounced the urban project in the belief that business men, without control, are more effective. The events of corruption in public spending in the country and defects in the works shows how wrong that strategy was.

Keywords: Rio de Janeiro; urbanism; mobility.