The Travel Market

Mass Public Transportation 
Photo Courtesy: Shalisa Ali

The Chicago Area Transportation Study (1956) says that the conditions of land use and density are the major determinants of the travel market. If demand is constrained by these factors, it is unlikely that changes in supply will have any great impact on the number of users. 

Urban sprawl as evident as it is today in Trinidad means that travelling is exacerbated by the needs tied to the CBD of Port-of-Spain. Reliance on private and public transportation is inevitable, thereby stimulating increases in the density of cars and buses within the main town. Associate dean at Monash Art and Design and Age art critic  Robert Nelson (2010) rightly states that ‘no public transport system can efficiently cope with low density... public transport in large areas of low demand will always be structurally inefficient: services are infrequent, unconnected and far apart.’ 

This by itself explains the photo above. The numbers of PTSC buses, maxis and taxis accumulate within the city as a means of transit to and from the outskirts. PTSC buses compact the car parks and taxis line the streets awaiting passengers to leave the city. Clusters of vehicles park in pockets designated for its functional mode of transport. This then adds to the already congested condition of the city in terms of the number of vehicles with a rather efficient transportation network connecting places far away from down town. Incentives to utilise private cars result from a lack in the public transportation services, 

but this is not the case of POS. 

A wide array of means of public transit is provided by the local government which enables easy travel to and from, in an attempt to significantly reduce current congestion rates.

For further information on solutions to combat the issue of congestion in Port-of-Spain, please follow the links provided below:

ODPM advises to carpool into POS today

http://www.news.gov.tt/content/odpm-advises-carpool-port-spain-today#.UzdUj_ldV1o

Solving Chronic Traffic Congestion

http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,177123.html

REFERENCES:

Nelson, Robert. 2010. Spreading ourselves too thin. The Age.

Perks to Traffic

Central planners such as the politicians often oversee the issue of congestion and concentrate activities in already congested areas, thereby overcrowding the CBD. According to a blog by Trinbago Views, not being the subject fully to the negative effects of traffic means that they have the upper hand to afforded perks that the ordinary citizen does not enjoy. 

Perks including: the Priority Bus Route (PBR), Priority Parking Privileges, Security escort through traffic, Flexible office hours, Helicopters, Government Living accommodation in the city and free gasoline. This gages such members of society to be privileged with the function of eluding the stress and acts of patience during their commute.

  

Privileged Members of Society receives Perks to Traffic Congestion in Port-of-Spain 
Photo Courtesy: Gopiechand Boodhan

The above photos seek to relate to the concept of perks allocated to superior members of the nation. Police and members of Parliament have no fear of breaking the law as they are seen to be the makers and enforcers of the law. As such, certain privileges are deemed to follow their footsteps, in this case, tire tracks. Clearly there is no adherence to the no-parking sign. Recalling this day, the photo to the top left was taken to show that a police passing another police vehicle parked in a no parking zone did not see that as an issue, as opposed to the ordinary citizen. Secondly, the picture to the right shows that on the day this photo was taken (Wednesday), the meaning of the sign was completely lost. As Dunn states, tax payers are continuously footing the bill for increased benefits for public sector workers. These free gifts should be stopped!

REFERENCES:

Dunn, Jennifer. Perks for Parking Tickets. The Tax Payers Alliance.

TrinbagoViews. 2013. Five Major Causes of Traffic in Trinidad & Tobago: Central Planners Have No Incentive to Solve Traffic Problems.

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.

Promotion Promotes Crowd Development

Crowd manipulation is the intentional use of various techniques based on the principle of crowd psychology in order to engage and influence the desires of the crowd to direct its behaviour in a certain manner. 

Take a closer look at the pictures shown. 

Rush for Umbrellas on a rainy day in Port-of-Spain
Photo Courtesy: Shalisa Ali

Orchard Vibe Promotion attracts city dwellers
Photo Courtesy: Shalisa Ali

I remember that this day, was very overcast and rainy! The weather is one thing that is a major cause for congestion in Port-of-Spain. As the downpour of rain increased, the concentration of people by Excellent Stores increased simultaneously, and when these people realised that they were not going to get anywhere with this rain, they paid a visit to the ‘umbrella man’, buying into their needs. The need for an umbrella caused a rush of people to gather around the one sales person. I’m pretty sure that he made a huge profit just by looking at the amount of umbrellas sold. From the time I stood next to him to the time I left, approximately 12 passers-by stopped and bought an umbrella.

If you take a closer look, you will be able to see the ‘Orchard Vibe’ banner hanging high next to the blue truck. This particular company was promoting its products to the wider public of Port-of-Spain, by sharing free samples. “Typical Trinis love ah free ting” as one would often say. The line-up for a bottle of Orchard Vibe grew long as the crowds rushed towards the barrels filled with cold drinks at City Gate. Young, old, boy, girl, everyone was rushing forth.

Promotions of goods in particular attracts the eye of the passer-by,

Taking a stop to see, what they can get for free.

No matter if they need it or not,

They take it, else it would ‘hutt.

REFERENCES: 

Reicher, S. (1987). Crowd behaviour as social action. In Turner, J., Hogg, M., Oakes, P.,

Reicher, S., & Wetherell, M.. Rediscovering the social group: A self-categorization theory. Oxford: Blackwell.

The city of Commerce- Banker's Lane

Banker's Lane, Port-of-Spain
Photo Courtesy: Gopiechand Boodhan

Port-of-Spain is remarkably known as the centre of everything, and this is quite true! There is a high concentration of various economic activities are clustered in the district, thus attracting a greater quantity of the country’s working population to keep the economy going. This on its own creates the issue of congestion in its own right due to the concentration of buildings, but is also the driving force behind the attraction and by extent the density of people in the city on a daily basis. The importance of this city to the financial sector is apart from being in the depth of trade and commerce, it is also home to two of the largest banks within the Caribbean; Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago and Republic Bank, Trinidad and Tobago.

The photo shows the agglomeration of a number of bank headquarters, all of which line both sides of one street, known as “Banker’s Lane”.  The amount of people; customers and workers visiting and working in these service sectors generate mass vehicular traffic as a result of improper roadside parking. Eventhough parking is facilitated by each branch, there simply is not enough space to facilitate the amount of cars, and road side parking is the resultant. This then adds to the congestion of the area and heightens the traffic flow on the roads, slowing the movement to and from. This then goes to say that within Port-of-Spain there is an overflow of economic activities that flood the streets and stimulate an attraction to the city.

Can we then say that Port-of-Spain is an Economic city?

Please view the following youtube video in order to gain a better understanding of what an Economic City is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TaI0atyZ-o

Attempts to move away from stagnant motion of benefit obtained from economic activities into other areas are being made, and with this movement, there will now be greater equality and an ease in the congestion of Port-of-Spain. Activities that were once centred on one area will now be accessible to the population throughout the country.

For further information, please read the newspaper article below for further details:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/business-magazine/Its-easier-to-do-business-234326731.html

http://newsday.co.tt/business/0,185556.html

Special Post: Placecheck development of the CBD (POS) and the developing suburb; Belmont.

Urban Design Alliance is representative of a large group of environmental professionals which seeks to obtain a subjective assessment for improving development strategies. What makes the CBD successful is having full access to resources centred through the networked transportation routes and a firm economic base, like that of Port-of-Spain. Touring the CBD of Port-of-Spain, I was intrigued by the multi-faceted culture exposed to mixing on the streets. The collage below sums the experience of Port-of-Spain's CBD, Woodford Square, as the epitome of cultural diversity and the different ways in which space is used by various members of the city.

Woodford Square, Port-of-Spain
Photo Courtesy: Cherise Ali and Shalisa Ali

‘Town’ referred to by the local is the melting pot of our culture which persists till date as an expression of heritage and advances as time progresses. Historic architectural designed buildings stand firm in a society that has stepped up in the world into adopting modern cultures. The music danced in the atmosphere creating a sense of comfort of the ‘home’, as Scantlebury claims Port-of-Spain his heart. There is a social mixing, displaying a ray of difference in motion regarding the hustle and bustle of the young versus leisure of the elderly folks. 

Despite many positives shown by the women plaiting each other’s hair, and vagrants line the sidewalks, but nevertheless, this CBD, poses several threats to society regarding the inequalities and congestion resulting from such heightened development. 

Greater protection should be geared toward the environmental quality as pollution rampages the streets as a result in inconsiderate individuals who carelessly dispose of garbage. Additionally, greater surveillance by traffic wardens would necessitate an ease of access of traffic throughout the CBD. I believe greater investment should be placed into proper planning of the land uses and even reconstruction of substandard houses.

The Suburb of Port-of-Spain, Belmont
Photo Courtesy: Cherise Ali and Shalisa Ali

Moving away from the CBD of Port-of-Spain, lies the suburb known as Belmont; the ‘soul’ of Mr. Scantlebury. Narrow streets line network through the densely populated sector, with houses in close proximity to each other such that they seem to be built on top each other. 

 At the end of the colonial era when former plantation workers were relieved of the slavery-type treatment, random houses with no sense of planning were constructed in Belmont, at that time known as ‘Freetown’, before roads began to take shape. This congestion brought about with it a neighbourhood such that it really took a village to raise a child.

Belmont however, is plagued with the issues of crime and flooding as a result of the lack of planning within the community. But, due to the lack of development, Belmont has had several instances of criminal activities as school children are unattended during the post school hour period. The stigma placed on the district of Belmont comes from those outside who know nothing regarding the resources that lie within the community. Improper drainage systems that are current issues for the residents of Belmont are not new, but requires serious attention.

Apart from that, Belmont; the first emancipation village, is home to the origins of distinctive Carnival traits and calypso as seen in the above collage, as it cherished its architectural, historical and cultural heritage. Places such as the Ken Morris Mas Camp and the Trinidad Theatre Workshop embraces its culture and promotes the growth of what is needed to be preserved today. Attempts to preserve the culture and restore the community are the vehicles for economic and sustainable development of Belmont. Education brought about through the tours set up by Mr. Scantlebury encourages outsiders to view Belmont from a different angle, removing any plagues attached.

According to Urban writer and activist, Jane Jacob’s principles of good neighbourhoods, disorder enhanced the characteristics of the area, whether it be, in this case, Port-of-Spain’s CBD or its’ suburb Belmont. She saw the city as a place of celebration, and as such can be used to relate to the CBD and its suburban areas. The CBD comprises several uses inclusive of commercial, residential, industrial, service, political and even cultural and historical. Belmont is however on the verge on having that mixture through development strategies that have been considered, and consists solely of cultural activities such as the Trinidad Theatre Workshop and the Mas Camps. POS also shows city dynamics in terms of building design and construction as opposed to Belmont which is centred on colonial-type housing, which are more or less compacted into a network of  narrow streets. Belmont, unlike the CBD is noted to posses streets with several short blocks and numerous corners. Here is the base of interaction of villagers from time to time, encouraging some form of social mixing. Lastly, fur to the functionality of the CBD, it is a densely populated area, and as such is an application of JJ's fourth principle. Based on these principles, the CBD may be ranked higher that Belmont such that its functions are deemed as a better neighbour in terms of the CBD..

Planned and Unplanned Development: A Result of Central Place Theory.

The image of towering glass edifices situated down-town and clustered pockets of shanty-town houses on the outskirts often become etched in the minds of city dwellers and daily commuters, raising thoughts of the inequalities of planning and development.

Planned and Unplanned Development
Photo Courtesy: Gopiechand Boodhan and Shalisa Ali

A city of commerce like Port-of-Spain developed around the port facilitating import and export activities. Christaller’s Central Place Theory (1933), attempts to explain the settlement patterns as a function of the associated concentration of essential resources within our local CBD (Central Business District).

To learn more about CBD’s, please visit:

http://geography.about.com/od/urbaneconomicgeography/a/cbd.htm

Demographic factors work hand in hand with the socio-economic status of society in that increasing threshold of higher income groups circulate the centre of the city, where there is a multiplex of activities in close proximity such as West Moorings. Contrast to that, the Beetham Gardens receives less investment due to the standard upheld in the area. These squatter zones are as a result of restricted finances as well as the guilt of violating city ordinances. Despite the fact that easy commute is essential for the working class of the city, and as a result may be located close the CBD, there is a clear distinction to the level of planning and development when compared to residence of planned developments of Port-of-Spain.

Driving through the city, I was astonished by the variation in the type of buildings found within different segments of the city, and how they are agglomerated into one melting pot of urban-ness. As function of economics, the city eventhough one, seems to be a host of different types of development, each separated from the other. While planned developments such as the Hyatt, displays a classy appearance as a reflection of the concentration of revenue, unplanned developments such as squatter settlements on the hillside shows the inability to attract investment.

Be sure to take a look at the video below as it sheds light as to why many people have no choice in resorting to Squatter settlements.

REFERENCES:

Rössler M, 1989, "Applied geography and area research in Nazi society: central place theory and planning, 1933 to 1945" Environment and Planning D: Society and Space 7(4) 419 – 431. PDF.

Von Böventer, E. (1969), Walter Christaller’s Central Places and Peripheral Areas: The Central Place Theory in Retrospect. Journal of Regional Science, 9: 117–124. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9787.1969.tb01447.x