During our respective time in Lisbon and Paris, we’ve noticed both cities are built sustainably and accessibly in various regards, reflecting the United Nation’s 11th goal– making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.
For example, in densely packed urban areas, it’s important to offer green spaces in a community. Parks and green spaces provide mental relief, giving individuals the opportunity to engage in active lifestyles, while also directly improving environmental conditions such as bettering air quality and reducing the heat-island affect of overly-populaed cities. While Paris is not one of the greenest European cities, it is scattered about with many parks offering a leisure space to its citizens. Moreover, Paris’ mayor, Anne Hidalgo, plans to renovate some of the cities historic plazas and neighborhoods into “urban forests.” The local government is consciously launching new efforts to address climate change, as major cities are large contributors to climate change. LesJardin des Plantes is open year-round, 24-7 hours a day, free of entry, demonstrating the city’s dedication to providing accessible green spaces to its inhabitants
Meanwhile in Lisbon, the government is making sure that the city is inclusive and accessible to all. With limited options and unreliable public transportation, getting from one place to another can be one of the most costly expenditures for the average American. While abroad, I learned that affordability is not the only factor that comes to mind when deciding if taking a shared-ride or public transportation. Rather, the facilitation of reaching my destination is what influenced me to take public transit. The facilitation that was only possible through infrastructure that was set in place by the government. Similarly, the government is ensuring that people, regardless of their physical ability, are able to walk around the city and reach their destinations by placing electrical stairs in the most transited stairs and hills.
Lisbon and Paris have demonstrated how creating cities that are sustainable can take many forms and is multifaceted.
Tourists and locals alike know that walking around Lisbon means going up and down dozens of hills and flights of stairs. While Google Maps might calculate a ten minute walk from the metro station to a favorite café, it does not take into account that there are at least sixty steps of stairs that must be climbed to arrive; by the time the entrance is reached, one is completely out of breath. This experience is not uncommon in Lisbon, as some of the most recognizable landmarks and local restaurants sit at the top of the hill or in the neighborhood of Bairro Alto – which literally translates to “the high neighborhood.” However, voyaging to these neighborhoods and surrounding areas is not possible by some due to physical limitations or old age. The city of Lisbon has started placing electrical stairs – such as the one pictured above – to create a city that is accessible to all. The stairs in this image are located in front of the Martin Moniz metro station and provide an alternative to the flights of stairs as a method to reach the nearby restaurants, houses, and cafés.
Many times when Northwestern students think about public transportation, they will think about the Purple CTA line and the sometimes fifteen minute wait for the next train which many times results in the calling of an Uber or Lyft instead – which if venturing into the city from Evanston can cost anywhere between $25 – $80. One would think that the average Uber ride costing about three euros in Lisbon would result in this being my main form of transportation, but the reality was that during my time in Lisbon, I have rarely thought about calling an Uber instead of taking the metro or a bus. This shows that price and affordability is not the only factor that needs to be considered when creating a sustainable public transport system. Rather, the Portuguese government has ensured that people can actually navigate the city solely through public transportation by creating the infrastructure that allows them to do so. Most corners of the city and surrounding areas can be reached through the metro system, suburban trains, buses, trams, and even a ferry, with the same monthly pass– which only costs thirty euros a month. This picture showcases only two forms of transportation: trams and buses. My time in Lisbon has shown to me that infrastructure is crucial when it comes to creating a sustainable and accessible city.
One thought on “Multifaceted Sustainable Cities – Group 12”
Great job! I just have a couple of notes:
1. When you mention the work of “the government,” be specific: is it the mayor’s office? Is it the central national government? Is it a brand new policy or is a longtime policy? A quick phrase on that is important to understand why things are the way they are in those cities.
2. In the third paragraph of the statement you have “facilitation” twice: it makes the writing a bit clunky. Rephrase the second use.
3. Given that the first image is less about sustainability per se, I wonder if maybe your title should be “Multifaceted Accessible Cities” (maybe “accessible and sustainable”?). Something to think about.
Great job! I just have a couple of notes:
1. When you mention the work of “the government,” be specific: is it the mayor’s office? Is it the central national government? Is it a brand new policy or is a longtime policy? A quick phrase on that is important to understand why things are the way they are in those cities.
2. In the third paragraph of the statement you have “facilitation” twice: it makes the writing a bit clunky. Rephrase the second use.
3. Given that the first image is less about sustainability per se, I wonder if maybe your title should be “Multifaceted Accessible Cities” (maybe “accessible and sustainable”?). Something to think about.