TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Group work [4 minutes]

Using the Compass Rose, discuss the impacts of traffic congestion on:

N – NatureE – EconomyS – SocietyW – Well-being

OVERVIEW OF IMPACTS (TRAFFIC CONGESTION)

Traffic Congestion

Nature

Decline in area of nature spaces

Wellbeing

Exposure to leaded petrol Air pollution

Society

Disruptions to daily life

Economy

Loss in productive hours, lifetime

economic productivity

BUKIT BROWN CEMETERY - 200 hectares

LOSS IN BIODIVERSITY

HUH?

1. Issue –

indicator 2. Problem 3. Cause

How does traffic congestion create the problem

4. Consequence

How is nature affected?

5. How does it interact with other compass points?

Traffic congestion – nature

Decline in nature spaces

E.g, Bukit Brown Cemetery

Clearing of nature spaces to build more transport infrastructure in order to ease traffic congestion

Loss in biodiversity and primary forest – nationally threatened species of birds

Decline in carbon sinks – warmer temperatures

Society: heritage value

15 of 94 species of bird nationally threatened (Red Data Book)

Role as a habitat – foraging ground for birdlife from adjacent forest, green linkages

Disruptions to behavioural patterns of animals – migration patterns

Biochemical cycles - Role of trees in carbon cycle

CROSS ISLAND LINE SINGAPORE

Wellbeing – health Delhi, India

• 66% of urban air pollution caused by automobiles

Brazil

• ½ of national motor fleet in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro

• Vehicles are old and poorly maintained – 80% of vehicles do not have catalytic converters

What is the relationship between leaded petrol and the health of individuals? Who is most vulnerable?

Manila, Philippines

Social – disruptions to daily life

Rio de Janeiro Mayor delcaring full and partial holidays for businesses in order to host soccer matches in the city.

Sao Paulo tweaked its 2014 school calendar for students

Source: Mirror, 18 June 2014 & The Wall Street Journal, 12 March 2014

What are the implications of traffic congestion on society?

DISCUSS…

WHAT ARE THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF TRAFFIC CONGESTION?