English Experts

[ENG_rafael]

Hello,

I am sure that the most important measure at this moment is to improve the public transportation, because it is working and a change would be much more fast about it than about any other. In Brazil, the cars and buses were the focus of our ancient government since the push to the industrialization in the mandate by Vargas (a brazilian former president), when train was rejected as the main mean of transportation. So, Brazil has had a poor public system, because the buses don't be a priority, unfortunately, I guess to our goverment the public system is just a mean of transportation to poor people in order to it works a lot, instead of thinking about a mean that were for all people, rich and poor. If Brazil had a good service by train and buses, our country would be much better, the quality of our lives would become better and the largest cities would be more enjoyable. Maybe penty of accidents would be avoid and our healthy would be improved.
I don't see a possible change in the next years, but I am convicted these will be a fact someday, else some cities of Brazil will enter in a colapse.

Regards!

[w.slayman]

Since I am a gringo, and have only visited Sao Paulo I may not be as well qualified as a native Paulista is to answer this question, however I will express my opinion regardless of its value.

First I would reduce the number of cars being used on any given day by reversing the license plate number scheme as it currently is, i.e. on Mondays only cars with plates ending in 0 or 1 could drive, on Tuesdays only cars with plates ending in 2 or 3 could be used, and so on.
The second thing I would change would be to require all motoboys to use bicycles instead of motocycles.
The third thing would be to restrict heavy trucks to the right hand lane on the express ways.
The last thing would be to double the number of busses on the streets since there would be plenty of room for them, after implementing the first three.

Oh my gosh I forgot the first thing, which would be to buy a very large life insurance policy on myself before making the changes.

To be serious, I believe the most important and effective action would be to increase the metro service areas, and even add local high speed feeder lines to the main high speed lines. An elegant and cost effective option would be a combination subway and elevated train system, with no tracks on grade, except for short transitions, supplemented by a greater number of busses, and on some routes using double deckers and or express (non stop) busses.

[Flavia.lm]

Dear all,

I had the opportunity to spend some hours in Curitiba a couple of years ago, when returning from a trip to Santa Catarina. I remember the tourist guide told us about the very well planned – and effective - traffic system they have there.

I found the video below very interesting and it is also a very good opportunity for you to practice your English (and envy the Curitibans).

I liked the fact that Mr. Lerner, the engenieer responsible for the road system project, is now working as a consultant, advising many cities in the first world.

Mr. Lerner does not have a perfect pronunciation, but his English is quite understandable and I liked the way he used some metaphors.

Important: The video is a bit long, more than fifteen minutes.

Hope you like it.

[Benites]

Improve public trnsport and pedestrianize downtown.

[ailime]

Dear all,

I had the opportunity to spend some hours in Curitiba a couple of years ago, when returning from a trip to Santa Catarina. I remember the tourist guide told us about the very well planned – and effective - traffic system they have there.

I found the video below very interesting and it is also a very good opportunity for you to practice your English (and envy the Curitibans).

I liked the fact that Mr. Lerner, the engenieer responsible for the road system project, is now working as a consultant, advising many cities in the first world.

Mr. Lerner does not have a perfect pronunciation, but his English is quite understandable and I liked the way he used some metaphors.

Important: The video is a bit long, more than fifteen minutes.

Hope you like it.

Flávia,

Very instructive and interesting, indeed!!
He makes analogy between car and mother- in- law!! ha ha haaa!!
What I thought interesting is at 2 min and 18 sec when she says "pedestrian mall". Pedrestrian mall is (also known as a pedestrian street) is the most common form of pedestrian zone in large cities. It is a street lined with storefronts and closed off to most automobile traffic. ...

So, in the case of pedestrianisation of 25 de março street, we may refer to the area as pedestrian mall.

Thak you!