Urban Planning

Putting pedestrians first

In 2004, an estimated 5,000 lives were lost from road crashes on Nigerian motorways. This number more than tripled in 2006, with an estimated 16,000 people killed as a result of road crashes. Low awareness of road safety among road users (pedestrians and motorists), and poor road conditions are some critical factors responsible for these avoidable fatalities. The city of Lagos is crawling with millions of people, the majority of whom travel on foot. Recently, there has been more emphasis on keeping city pedestrians safe from harm's way by improving road safety rules and infrastructure. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Wura — Mon, 11/04/2013 - 00:00

Tantangan Jakarta menuju kota ramah sepeda

Apa yang terjadi ketika seseorang memutuskan naik sepeda di Jakarta? rata-rata mereka pasti akan mengeluh soal betapa parah polusi dan kemacetan di jalan, belum ditambah sepeda motor atau bis kota yang tidak mau mengalah dan memotong jalan dan mobil yang kian hari jumlahnya terus bertambah. Ditengah kekacauan kota Jakarta, ada angin segar dari pemerintah yang mulai menunjukkan keperpihakan terhadap para pemakai sepeda di Jakarta dengan membuat jalur sepeda pertama kalinya tahun 2011. Meski demikian masih banyak tantangan bagi Jakarta untuk menjadi kota yang ramah bagi pemakai sepeda. Baca lebih lanjut atau bergabung dalam diskusi.

Submitted by widya anggraini — Mon, 11/04/2013 - 00:00

Ocupando os espaços públicos

Um dos principais problemas do brasileiro nas cidades é a sua falta de responsabilidade sobre os espaços públicos. Na nossa cultura, a rua, seu entorno e seus equipamentos urbanos pertencem a esfera pública e, por isso, é quem deve cuidar da manutenção, limpeza e segurança. Empresas e organizações podem optar por "adotar" um espaço, mas por lei isso significa transferir toda a responsabilidade da Prefeitura para a instituição. Leia mais.

Submitted by Editor — Wed, 10/30/2013 - 12:38

How RAY put housing rights into policy

Housing tenure can have a transformative impact on the lives of the poor. The security of ownership rights opens pathways for slum dwellers themselves to upgrade their living environments without fear of relocation or demolition. Beyond improved structural environments, tenure security also leads to improved health conditions, education levels and income levels. In this sense, housing tenure's ripple effects make it one of the single most important aspects of improving the lives of slum dwellers. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Carlin Carr — Mon, 10/21/2013 - 00:00

Avanços na titulação de terras no Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro está avançando na expansão efetiva da titulação de terras e beneficiando a sua população mais vulnerável. Esta direção positiva é o resultado da implementação do programa habitacional Minha Casa Minha Vida e do programa de melhoramento de bairros Morar Carioca Leia mais o discutir.

Submitted by Catalina Gomez — Mon, 10/21/2013 - 00:00

Titulación de predios fiscales: un caso de éxito en Bogotá

Uno de los principales frenos al desarrollo de los asentamientos irregulares es la falta de títulos de propiedad por parte de sus ocupantes. En Colombia, donde los conflictos armados que se prolongan desde hace décadas han sumado un número significativo de desplazados por la violencia a los flujos migratorios observados en toda Latinoamérica, este problema tiene una especial gravedad. Para atajar este problema en el año 2005 se aprobó una ley que permitía la transferencia gratuita de predios fiscales, o de titularidad pública, que hubieran sido ocupados antes de 2001. El alcance de esta ley deja fuera del proyecto de titulación a los asentamientos edificados sobre predios de propiedad privada. Leer más o discutir.

Submitted by Jorge Bela — Mon, 10/21/2013 - 00:00

Making more with less: An incremental approach to upgrading informal settlements and increasing tenure security

In South Africa, the government's response to the characteristically peri-urban poverty of informal settlement (between 1.7 million and 2.5 million households) has occurred within the paradigm of individual title (subsidised housing), the conventional route for informal settlement upgrading in the country. Despite well-intentioned policies, however, this ownership model is far removed from lived realities; where many households are condemned to either waiting patiently for state-subsidised housing or to land occupation, while others cannot access the state subsidy, such as foreign nationals and the poor-but-not-poor-enough-to-qualify. In the longer term, the model could even be said to lock poor people into marginal locations. Read more or join the discussion.

Submitted by Tariq Toffa — Mon, 10/21/2013 - 00:00

Who will plan Africa's cities?

Africa's cities are growing — and changing — rapidly. Without appropriate planning, they will become increasingly chaotic, inefficient and unsustainable. In many countries, planning legislation dates back to the colonial era. It is ill-equipped to deal with contemporary urban problems. A shortage of urban planning and management professionals trained to respond to urban complexity with progressive pro-poor approaches exacerbates urban dysfunction. Read more.

Submitted by Editor — Tue, 10/15/2013 - 15:55

The risk of bundling the 65 million that live in ‘slums’ in India

Slums in the census are defined as "residential areas where dwellings are unfit for human habitation" because they are dilapidated, cramped, poorly ventilated, unclean, or "any combination of these factors which are detrimental to the safety and health". For the latest round, the census designated slums in three different ways - notified, recognized and identified (identified slums do not have legal status as a slum, but must consist of at least 60-70 tenements with at least 300 people). Read more.

Submitted by Rakhi Mehra — Wed, 10/09/2013 - 07:42

An open Mumbai is a better Mumbai

I had the good fortune of walking along the Bandra waterfront in Mumbai last week with architect-activist P.K. Das, environmental journalist and neighborhood leader Darryl D'Monte, and Bandra Fort steward Arup Sarbadhikary. They were showing me some of the fruits of a long-standing effort to create more open space in Mumbai, where people can enjoy the outdoors and one of Mumbai's assets: its coastline. Read more.

Submitted by David Maddox — Fri, 09/27/2013 - 13:23

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