Rio is often called “The Divided City” because of its wealth disparity, but there is another division of opportunity that is thrown into much less dramatic contrast.
Blind-accessible pathways in the subway station.
The amenities given to the physically handicapped vary wildly depending on where you are in the city, ranging from the genius blind-accessible subway paths (that America could learn from) to the perilous sandbag steps of Ipanema Beach. The problem I believe lies in the spontaneous construction of the city. Only in the areas which were invested with large amounts of public funding are handicapped considerations made, or where tourists might be expected to travel. In the impromptu beach entrances of Ipanema, stacking sand bags was the simplest and cheapest solution to the problem of getting from the high boardwalk to the beach below.
Where the lack of consideration becomes most discomforting is along the streetscape. The beautiful stone mosaic of the sidewalk becomes treacherous to a wheelchair or unsure foot.
The incessant traffic is aggressive, and impatient to stragglers.
Though traversing the city on foot must be hectic for those with physical impairments, there are solutions. Some of the wealthier establishments in new neighborhoods like Flamengo are finding ways to keep the character of Brazil alive while still catering to physical handicaps.
Beautiful handicap-accessible landscape at Porcao.
Even in areas with less resources such as the Centro district, considerations are put together, with hand-made blue ramps into streetfront shops and sidewalks. In the end, the two divided cities may be strung together. Where Rio experiences its dramatic swings in financial resources, so it sees the same swings in its consideration of the handicapped within it.
I think this analysis is wonderfully written and very well thought out. I totally agree with comparisons and I find it very interesting how the economic diversity directly impacts the accessibility of the handicapped. I would have to say that the US and Rio could definitely learn from each other. Something that is very prevalent on campus is the voice activated walk signs that actually explain where and when it is safe to cross. I think this is something that the people of Rio would benefit from. I also admire the attention to detail in the design of the walking paths in Rio – I can tell that a lot of effort went into the development of such paths, especially since they are so prevalent.
Instead of changing the current streets cape, I’d like to consider the possibilities for transforming the current condition into something that is more handicap accessible. First, how would one address the stones found in the sidewalk pattern? These stones hold a very special place in many of the native’s hearts. They are more than simply stones, they hold and contain the history of the culture of Rio. However, they are also dangerous at times when the sidewalk begins to crack and disassemble. What creative ways would maintain the culture’s identity while providing a smooth walking surface? What if the stones were finely ground into a mixture that could be poured in a way that would create a smoother surface? The original stone would still be visible, but instead of a stark contrast, the stones and ultimately culture would become more unified.
While I love the observation of the stark contrasts you have pointed out, I would like to challenge you to also begin to think of solutions that may begin to unify both ends of the spectrum. Great work!