LOS ANGELES, California — São Paulo is one of the largest cities in South America and has a diverse population. The city has grown substantially since the end of a military dictatorship in the 1980s but the infrastructure simply is not cutting it. Traffic is rife and it is estimated that over a month in time per year is wasted sitting in traffic. This is in part due to the lack of accessible public transit in São Paulo. There are few options for public transit in general but those in poverty face even fewer options and are even pushed to become drivers for ride-sharing services as a way to make income.
The Ostentatious Wealth Disparity
Wealth disparity in São Paulo is a divisive issue. It is so ostentatious that it would take the average minimum wage worker 19 years to accumulate the same amount of money the top six men make in a month.
Currently, 12 million people live in Brazil’s favelas and struggle to pull themselves out of poverty as there is a growing wage gap, rising inflation, a debt crisis and an intense unemployment rate. These issues are amplified by the lack of access to affordable and accessible public transit in São Paulo.
Current Public Transit System
São Paulo does not have the infrastructure for a massive driving population; however, 40% of residents own a car and that number is growing. The public transit system lacks serious capacity. As of 2017, around 3.5 million people used the subway system on average which only has five lines. The city has continued to expand its bus-only lanes which helps increase the speed and efficiency of people who use it on a daily basis. – rephrased.
Lack of Accessibility for Favelas
This congestion and lack of public transit in São Paulo greatly affect the lower class because there is not easy nor affordable access to transportation, especially for those in favelas. The few residents in favelas that have jobs spend hours just to reach their low-paying jobs.
Fare prices for public transit have risen as the government tries to deal with the high inflation in the country; however, over a million São Paulo residents have lost their jobs making the small increase feel much worse. Those who did not lose their jobs had to commute by car which has caused numerous adverse effects on their health and economic situation.
Many residents who live in favelas must rely on public transit despite the rising fares because they do not have the means to afford a car. However, favelas have even less access to public transit. Private ride-sharing services, such as taxis, do not operate near favelas because of the violence associated with the neighborhoods.
The already limited number of public transit lines that go out past the city center are miles from the favelas and are poorly maintained with outdated buses that do not run on a set schedule. Bus stops are often congested with those waiting in uncertainty for a bus, according to The Guardian.
The traffic congestion and lack of accessibility to public transit affect job and pay growth. This does not take into account that the majority of workers living in favelas do not have jobs with the opportunity for upward growth because they tend to work in minimum wage jobs that require physical labor.
Making Progress
Brazil aims to improve access to public transit in São Paulo and other cities for years. The government has launched multiple initiatives to improve bus lines by adding “rapid transit corridors” to remove buses from traffic.
It has also invested $10.8 billion on projects to upgrade and expand the metro system by adding new lines that would, ideally, reach areas beyond the current system and have service closer to favelas.
The World Bank has also taken an interest in upgrading São Paulo’s public transit system that focuses on improving public transportation. It has invested more than $1 billion to build new metro lines.
Upgrading public transit in São Paulo and providing favelas with affordable and accessible access could have a great impact on the wealth disparity. Favela residents would have reliable transit and access to jobs in the city that would have the opportunity for further job growth. More work is necessary but if the government does it right it could have incredibly positive impacts on those who rely on public transit to provide for their families.
– Kathryn Kendrick
Photo: Flickr