Network of green stops for public transportation

This strategy is based on the criteria of sustainable urban planning framed in citizen participation where the committee of public transport users, popular spokespersons and organized community in cooperation with the Faculty of Architecture of the ULA, the secretariats of public transport and urban planning of the Mayor's Office, will address the problem of public transport stops in view of the need to increase the green urban furniture in the city. The objective of the strategy is to propose the creation of a network of green bus stops in the Libertador Municipality of the State of Merida, in order to develop integrated solutions to face the challenges of climate change in the city. The implementation of the strategy aims to improve the quality of life and develop a sense of belonging on the part of users, increase green infrastructure in the city, mitigate the disjunctions between spatial growth, planning, sustainability, population growth, urban fabric and the impact of climate change, as well as the application of solutions based on nature for the benefit of pedestrians and public transport users.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Sectoral strategy, plan, or law

Challenges addressed

Heat stress and heat island effect
Social cohesion
Social equity
Human health, comfort and well-being

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Parks and (semi)natural urban green areas

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Other

Good practice characteristics:

Sustainable in the long-term

Locally appropriate

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Innovative

Governance

Non-governmental actor(s)

Initiating body:

Researchers, university

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The instrument was designed on the basis of strategic sectoral planning criteria, the starting point being the guidelines of the Ministry of Transportation's urban road manual and the municipality's urban development plans. The concerns presented by some users regarding the performance and functionality of traditional public transportation stops made possible the research and analysis of the problem where the cooperation between academia, municipality and social actors, achieved the articulation of technical-legal criteria for the development of the proposal which seeks to improve the quality of life, increase green infrastructure in the city and mitigate the impact of climate change, as well as increase the application of NbS for the benefit of pedestrians and users of public transport.

Targeted actors:

Researchers, university

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs, NGOs, etc.

Coalition

Details about the implementation:

The implementation of green stops for public transportation should initially be carried out as pilots in selected sectors of the city, with the close collaboration of state and municipal authorities, technical agencies such as the Ministry of Transportation, academia, civil society and organized communities. The expected results are the development of integrated solutions to face the challenges of climate change, improvement in the quality of life of users by having climate comfort zones while waiting for transportation, thus achieving the adaptation of the city to climate change.

How did the government support the instrument?:

The public transportation stops considered as urban furniture were defined based on the criteria of sustainable urban planning, the Ministry of Transportation's road manual, and the municipal ordinance on urban transportation. In order to implement the project and the principles of the strategy, the municipal and ministerial authorities must collaborate in order to be implemented in the municipal urban development plans.

Financing

There are no sources of financing.

Budget:

Unknown

Details about instrument financing:

Given the country's current socioeconomic and political situation, we are not considering applying for financing from any national or regional governmental entity.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

The creation of green public transportation stops improves the quality of life of users by providing climatic comfort zones while waiting for transportation, thus developing adaptation to climate change. The creation of green public transportation stops with bioclimatic criteria and recyclable materials helps mitigate urban thermal phenomena to which users are exposed. Improved quality of life and development of users' sense of belonging. Increased green public spaces in the city. NBS benefits: Mitigation of adverse effects of climate change. Increase in sustainable street furniture. Increase of green infrastructure in the city. Development of community ownership. Community learning on climate change and NBS. Improved infrastructure connectivity and functionality.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The context of socioeconomic crisis has been affecting many institutions in their resources, however the network of green bus stops demonstrates that large amounts of money are not necessary to improve the urban furniture of the city, with the use of appropriate techniques and recycling of materials it is possible to have sustainable furniture. Green stops for urban public transport are important public spaces that can help mitigate climate change in the city and offer a viable solution to the effects of unsustainable urbanization and its repercussions on health and physical and mental well-being. The social and economic benefits of urban green stops are significant, and should be considered in the context of the priorities set out in the SDGs, including sustainable cities, public health and nature conservation.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Del Real, Pilar (January, 2015). Urban Furniture as Objects of Public Use: Implications for its Design. Trilogía Magazine, Vol. 25, No 35. Retrieved June 15, 2015 at https://www.scribd.com/doc/250794918/REVISTA-TRILOGIA-El-Mobiliario-Urbano-OUP-pdf. Mendez, E. (2022).Network of green stops for public transportation in the city of Merida. Faculty of Architecture ULA. Mérida, Venezuela Mindur (1984). Manual de vialidad urbana. Ministry of Urban Development. Caracas Venezuela. Salazar, J. (2010). Uso y Apropiación de los Espacios Públicos (1st ed.). Medellín-Colombia: Ediciones Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

Photos

https://satellites.pro/