Lecture Notes: Future of Cities from a Mayor's Perspective

Introduction

• Importance of cities and their future.
• The role of mayors in changing lives.
• Personal experience of the Mayor of Rio.

Rio and the Olympics

• Rio won the bid for the 31st Olympiad.
• Challenges faced: Competition with European monarchy, Japan's technology, and the US influence.
• Key takeaway: Yes, cities can achieve great things without being rich or powerful.

Commandments for Future Cities

1. Environmental Friendliness

• Importance of green spaces in cities.
• Example: The third largest park in Rio.
• Benefits: Lower temperatures, community spaces.
• Green cities are essential for the future.

2. Mobility and Integration

• Cities are densely populated: Need for efficient transportation.
• Challenges: High capacity transportation is costly.
• Solution: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) as a cost-effective alternative.
  • Features: Dedicated lanes, low cost compared to subways.
• Goal: Increase high capacity transportation users from 18% to 63%.

3. Social Integration

• Favellas are not just a problem; they can be part of the solution.
• Rio's approach:
  • Bring quality education and health services to favellas.
  • Urbanize favelas by 2020.
• Example: Transformation of slums with infrastructure and technology.

4. Use of Technology

• Rio’s Operation Center example.
• Real-time city management from anywhere.
• Use of technology for efficient governance and crisis management.
• Technology enables 24/7 city administration.

Conclusion

• Commandments are means to govern cities effectively.
• Invest in infrastructure, integrate socially, and use technology.
• Cities are a gathering of people, which is beneficial.
• Future cities must care for and integrate all citizens.

Final Thought

• The vision for future cities is inclusive and integrated, where no one is left out of the urban "party."