Urban change, mobility and transport in São Paulo: three decades, three cities

Abstract

The paper analyses current transportation and traffic conditions in the São Paulo Metropolitan area and the factors that shaped them over the 1967-1997 period. Quantitative data from four subsequent Origin-Destination surveys (OD) were used. Transport progressively changed towards a motorized system, first with the intense use of buses and finally with the large increase in the use of automobiles. Public transport services experienced severe supply and quality problems and increasing fares led to the exclusion of a large number of users. Negative externalities related to the increasing use of the automobile--such as traffic accidents, congestion and pollution--skyrocketed, threatening the sustainability of the metropolis. Policies towards unsustainability continue to be supported and it also appears that even harsher negative consequences will have to be faced until a new vision of the problem is developed.