Wrong Way: Go Back

An SBS Lateline program about Curitiba, Brazil.

Mayor Jaime Lerner was elected in the 70s and faced a proposal to demolish buildings on his main street to east traffic congestion. Instead he did the opposite, he turned the city’s main spine over to a pedestrian mall and busway. Most inspiring though is his problem solving approach to all the city’s problems - including their lack of funds. Jaime says “Creativity starts when you drop a zero from your budget”. He solved a flooding problem by creating a giant city park, then grazed sheep on it to save mowing costs. His bus network is self funding. The city’s poor were paid in food to clean their neighbourhoods. Here more from Jaime at below.

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