Mariana Batista de Morais

Latin America is as heterogeneous as its cities. To understand Latin American cities, it is necessary to have a clear vision of how they are organized, not only physically but according to their social, cultural, and economic contexts (which are associated). Historically, it has suffered a lot in terms of politics and the security of its cities. Insecurity reflects a structural problem; economic and social inequality are the main actors of spatial segregation, motivating violence and, consequently, the insecurity of urban space. Fortaleza is one of the largest Brazilian cities, and it is possible to fit it into this reality. Many public actions may benefit only one sector of society, showing biased investments and, again, confirming the tremendous economic and social differences in Latin American cities. In this study, questionnaires related to attendance, feelings, maintenance, and safety were made to some of Fortaleza’s residents regarding an urban park called Parque do Cocó, one of the biggest in Latin America. Due to its large area, it is located in different city neighborhoods, allowing for us to see the differences in treatments throughout its extension. This article aims to understand how the public opinions and mentality of a portion of the population are characterized concerning safety in green public spaces in the city. In addition, the insecurity of public green spaces can also be inserted into a problem of environmental injustice in the urban context. This study of Fortaleza’s Cocó Park highlights significant disparities in safety perceptions and maintenance across socioeconomic regions. Findings indicate that areas with higher human development index (HDI) scores experience better park conditions. The research underscores the necessity for comprehensive urban policies that address socioeconomic inequalities, as evidenced by the correlation between crime rates and HDI. Cocó Park emerges as a key factor in sustainable urban development, aligning with Fortaleza’s urban planning goals. The study emphasizes the critical role of urban green spaces in enhancing the quality of life and fostering social cohesion in urban landscapes. Moreover, with the data collected, it will be possible to stress further how urban adequacy relates to social situations in Latin American cities.

Since urbanization rising and urban demographic increase, urban transportation has been an important life quality aspect and a strategic decision for cities. Mobility seems to follow citizens' behavior and be influenced by urban cultural changes at the same pace it influences back the city routine and resident’s conduct. The discussion around the future of mobility gained new magnitude nowadays since some sort of vehicles have proved themselves as the cause of significant environmental impact, while others showed themselves as alternatives of low impact for different reasons – from quality public transportation to individual transport with minimized emissions. The city of São Paulo in Brazil published its Master Plan in 2014 and its Mobility Plan in 2015, analyzing the current situation and proposing a future for the city’s transportation system. This paper intends to analyze both plans, construe the popular participation in their formulation and application, discuss how data and strategy were presented and whether they are aligned with other countries’ thinking on the subject. As a city of over 10 million inhabitants, in a Metropolitan Region of 39 cities with over 20 million inhabitants, the transportation system of São Paulo is not an easy or single-solution issue. It is known the need for a combination of different transportation modes, requiring likewise new visions for all methods. Owing to the fact that modes complete each other and, in that manner, may reach a wider range of options for the population to plan daily life, then a system with a great variety of modes ensures the best functioning of them all. This paper focuses on an outsider view that searches for answers and solutions on the São Paulo transportation system, having as a base what is considered outstanding in the world for this issue.