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April 29, 2008
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Curitiba, Brazil
By Jess Kapadia
The Green Machines
Praca Ororio's Bus Station
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One size fits all bikinis, bossa nova, and beaches may come to mind when you think of Brazil, but the fifth largest country in the world also boasts the third greenest city. Located in the southern mountain range of Serra do Mar, Curitiba is a far cry from Rio's blazing coastline. The city is famous for its public transportation system, heralded as the best in the world. An estimated 85% of its population uses the bus system daily, and are charged per ride, instead of by distance, making this form of transit accessible to the whole city.
The buses have dedicated lanes on major city streets, reducing traffic and the harmful emissions that come from idling cars, and increasing ease and speed of daily travel. Buses arrive and leave from stations every few minutes, and wherever you are in the city, you're no more than 500 meters away from one. It's not uncommon to see a bus completely full with everyone from social workers to lawyers. What's most impressive about Curitiba's bus system is that it receives no government funding whatsoever- it's an independent entity that serves millions each day and employs thousands.
Sheep graze on park grass, reducing the cost of feed and bypassing the emissions from tractors and lawnmowers
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In addition to an innovative and highly efficient bus system, Curitiba also utilizes the greenest form of maintenance for its many square miles of parks: municipal shepherds graze their flocks of sheep on the park greens to trim the grass and eliminate the need for fuel-burning tractors.
A recent survey yielded unheard of results in the overall happiness of Curitibans. 98% of the city's population reported being "very happy" with their city, and in a similar study, 70% of the residents of neighboring Sao Paulo said they thought their quality of life would be better in Curitiba. It may not boast a concentrated population of supermodels or streets lined with nightclubs, but what Curitiba lacks in scene, it makes up for in green.
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Copyright 2008 The Green Machines |
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