Everyday Urbanism

Busy crowds assemble in the streets of Port-of-Spain to carry out their daily activities, whether it is work, shopping, business transactions or even a casual visit to the city. Arrangement of streets within the city is a reflection of the dominant culture in which roads are referred to as the skeleton of the city. 

Crowded Street in Port-of-Spain
Photo Courtesy: Cherise Ali

Downs states ‘traffic congestion is an inescapable condition in all large and growing metropolitan areas across the world.’ Built around the CBD, as seen in the photo to the left, the streets are filled with people crossing the wide lanes in hurry as the line of cars awaits a clear road for easy transit. Street vendors house their mobile shops on the edges of the roads, leaving room for movement on the side-walks. Eager shoppers pay a visit to the nearby fruit vendor, drinks stall, snow-cone man or doubles man to get a quick snack and a refreshment to continue to their hectic schedule in the hot sun. 

The use of space in this context stimulates interaction among the social classes; a benefit of congestion. 

Downs claims that congestion is not necessarily a problem but a solution to the mobility problem which facilitates interactions for increasing the strength of the economy.

  

Traffic Regulation and Safety Patrol
Photo Courtesy: Cherise Ali

What I admire about this CBD is that regulation of traffic and social activities are priority for the safety of the environs. A policeman is seen to stand tall and firm, looking on at the traffic building up within the block, giving a sense of security to the passers-by and direction of the flow of traffic. Traffic wardens are also on patrol within various areas of Port-of-Spain, and so I feel a sense of pride and comfort knowing that I am looked after for.

According to Kaliski (1999), everyday urbanism explores the facets of everyday life, building on reality with its non-structural aspect due to the direct relationship between physical design of the city and social behaviour. 

 REFERENCES:

Downs, Anthony. 2004. Why Traffic Congestion is Here to Stay... and Will Get Worse. Access, no. 25. Accessed 27^th March 

http://www.uctc.net/access/25/Access%2025%20-%2004%20-%20Traffic%20Congestion%20is%20Here%20to%20Stay.pdf

Kaliski, J. 1999. Everyday Urbanism. New York, Monacelli Press.