Car Mobility in San Fernando: The most valued source of transport, yet!

" The levels of car based mobility in cities vary greatly around the world. Generally, more densely populated cities tend to be characterized by lower levels of car use (fuel consumption). As population density in cities increases, fuel consumption per person drops, car use drops and use of alternative modes of transport increases...This strong inverse relationship between car use and urban population density underpins much compact city advocacy as a route to the promotion of more sustainable urban mobility."- Tim Hall & Heather Barrett.

                      The aforementioned photo depicts/ reflects the daily activities that usually occur along the Southern Main Road specifically at the Bamboo junction and intersection in the city of San Fernando. This level of heavy traffic usually occurs around rush hours on afternoons between Monday to Friday due to major businesses at Gulf City Mall, in La Romaine and on High Street etc. preparing to close down business for the day and employees who work at neighbouring industries like Petrotrin and light manufacturing places wanting to leave the city. I am very confident that the cars which are trapped in regular pile ups along this junction do not always belong to dwellers in the city of San Fernando. The Southern Main Road has always acted as a major transport route linking citizens from all over the country who want to enter/ leave San Fernando to go as far as Port of Spain and as far as Point Fortin.  At such times, vehicular drivers are trying their utmost best to "get out" of the hustle and bustle that takes places along this specific road stretch at evenings. The sun has almost set; however, as seen in the picture, persons are still stuck in congested traffic departing San Fernando. In my opinion, this visual is not as bad compared to other days where northern, southern, eastern and western lanes at this intersection are completely jammed with cars.

                       In the lane that is entering San Fernando, we can notice that traffic pile up is much less compared to the traffic exiting the city. Many may wonder why and if you have not yet attempted to peer closer into the picture, the solution can be easily derived. Beyond the city of San Fernando there is no other city existing. There are in fact small communities that are evolving therefore sparking business activity which have resulted in mild traffic pile ups. The next best “city-like” areas along the Southern Main Road are Oropouche, the home of one of the fishing industries in Trinidad, Rousillac and then the borough of Point Fortin. As a result, the movement of vehicular traffic run rather smoothly at that time of day. On the contrary, when the sun rises and everyone is rushing to the city, the traffic congestion is very time consuming to endure. According to Tim Hall and Heather Barrett in "Urban Geography 4th Edition," movement in and around the city, in the Global North at least, was increasingly dominated by the car. Passenger modes of transport by car in 1952 was 27%, 1975- 76%, 2000- 85% and 2007-84%. Based on that information, there was an increase in car transportation making it a popular mode of transport. Here in the Global South, the pattern is no different. In Trinidad and the city of San Fernando, many persons own and drive vehicles daily hence contributing to the vast increase in traffic congestion within cities.

                       Of course, drivers have been left with the option of increasing their fuel consumption and endure traffic or use alternative modes of transport. In the city, the population density is in fact relatively high and there are instances where persons use alternative modes of transport (PTSC Bus service, maxi-taxi, water taxi, motor cycle) to get from one place to another. Even persons with cars have utilized these alternatives but there are still dwellers that prefer to use their vehicles as a means of transport and immediate convenience. Interestingly, Tim Hall and Heather Barrett proceeded even further to discuss the impacts of car based mobility in cities. They described that car mobility has generated a range of negative environmental, health, economic and social impacts in the case of high and middle income car usage versus low income non-users. 

                   More applicable to San Fernando car usage have placed environmental strains on the city:-

•  Road Traffic has typically been  a major cause of air pollution in cities and what Trinbagonians are non-chalant and uninformed about is that poor air quality in cities can be linked to a number of health problems among urban populations including respiratory disease and lung cancer. For example from exhaust fumes and car leakages. (Stutz 1995)

• T. Hall and H. Barrett mentioned that there are also social environmental impacts resulting from car mobility. Road traffic is a major cause of death and injury in cities. (Short and Pinet- Piralta) Again this falls disproportionally upon non-car users eg. pedestrians, adolescents and children. (Newman 1999:177) Car crashes, road injuries and fatalities carry significant economic and social costs to persons involved.

On that note:-

Furthermore, Hall and Barrett made reference to social spaces of city life being affected by the increasing dominance of the car. In cities of the Global North, an increasing proportion of urban land is being given over to the car. Immediately I thought about how applicable this fact is to the city of San Fernando. Galconda is a community on the outskirts of San Fernando and also marks the beginning of the extension of the Solomon Hochoy Highway to Point Fortin. This expresses a way in which good environmental space is being reserved for the main usage of transport including car mobility. Whilst Hall and Barrett discussed utilizing social space for car usage in a somewhat negative light, development is necessary for the progress of transport in the southern city of San Fernando.

In response to curbing car usage in cities Newman (1999) pointed out that:-

• Planning for successful car reduction needs to take place at the city scale.
• Cities must provide even more extensive transport networks.
• Urban design and retail revitalization should aim to make the public realm attractive and safe to encourage walking and cycling.
• Restrictions should be placed on car use, either through financial or physical access measures.

How effective do you think these combat measures may work in your own city where you live? 

What are some other ways in which you think traffic congestion can be reduced?

Most importantly, do you share the same thoughts Newman shares? or Do you refute them. Please state why...

Here are some links that discusses traffic plans and solving traffic congestion in the city:-

http://guardian.co.tt/news/2011/11/30/new-traffic-plans-next-monday

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/letters/Solving_the_problem_of_traffic-135365123.html

Until next week,

Shaniece.

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