This Tiny Island has Insane Traffic

Not Just Bikes

27 Mar 202320:48

EducationalLearning

32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRNot Just Bikes creator NJB travels to the Bahamas to explore urban planning and transportation issues. He rides the local jitneys, gets stuck in traffic, and walks the streets of Nassau with a Bahamian friend, realizing the island faces similar problems to North American cities despite its small size. NJB discovers a car-centric landscape with few transport alternatives, learning that wealth and infrastructure are unevenly distributed. He ultimately calls for dedicated bus lanes, bike paths, and a shift in culture and planning to transform the island.

Takeaways

😀 The Bahamas has beautiful nature but suffers from traffic congestion despite its small size
🚌 Public transit gets stuck in traffic too, so it's not a good alternative to driving
🚲 Almost no one bikes in The Bahamas due to safety concerns and stigma
🌴 Perfect weather doesn't prevent car dependency
🚉 Transit maps and info are hard to find, creating barriers
💰 Tourism drives the economy but benefits are unequally distributed
🏘 Downtown Nassau has emptied out after becoming car-centric
👫 Segregation still impacts urban layout and poverty today
🌍 Similar issues to the US & Canada despite different history
🌳 Sponsor Wren offers trustworthy carbon offsets

Q & A

Why does Nassau have so much traffic despite its small size?
-Nassau has so much traffic because there are very few viable alternatives to driving. The public transportation system gets stuck in the same traffic as cars, and cycling is seen as unsafe due to the high volume of car traffic.
What was the historical reason for the economic disparity in Nassau?
-The economic disparity stems from Nassau's history of slavery and segregation. Even after slavery ended, former slaves were only allowed to live in certain neighborhoods and were excluded from parts of the city, which led to enduring poverty in those areas.
How did the conversion of Bay Street and Shirley Street to one-way thoroughfares impact downtown Nassau?
-The high-speed traffic along these one-way streets has been detrimental to businesses downtown, causing many shops to go out of business. It also made the area less pleasant and lively for pedestrians.
Why doesn't the narrator see many people cycling in Nassau?
-Cycling is extremely rare in Nassau because most people feel it is unsafe due to the high volume of vehicular traffic. Without protected bicycle infrastructure, most people opt to drive instead.
What transit improvements could Nassau implement to ease traffic congestion?
-Dedicated bus lanes would allow the jitneys to bypass traffic congestion, making them a faster option than driving for some trips. Nassau could also implement a bus rapid transit system, like those found in many Latin American cities.
Why does the narrator recommend offsetting carbon emissions from air travel?
-The narrator cannot find a train to the Bahamas, so he recommends offsetting air travel emissions through high-quality carbon offset programs like Wren. This helps mitigate the climate impact of necessary trips.
What problems exist in the carbon offsets marketplace?
-Many carbon offset companies make misleading claims, fund projects that don't actually reduce emissions, and lack transparency or regular verification. Wren aims to address these shortcomings.
Why were former slaves excluded from parts of Nassau?
-After slavery ended, former slaves in Nassau were only permitted to live in certain neighborhoods and barred from being downtown after working hours due to racist laws and attitudes at the time.
How did Ralph G Collins negatively impact Nassau during the Great Depression?
-Collins funded a make-work project to build a wall around his property that cut off access between neighborhoods and downtown Nassau for decades, entrenching poverty.
What surprised the narrator about transportation in Nassau?
-The narrator was surprised that despite Nassau's small size and nice weather, it struggled with many of the same car-centric transportation problems as cities in the US and Canada.

Outlines

00:00

😎 Introducing the video and ironic travel to the Bahamas

The video introduces the premise of traveling to the Bahamas with the expectation of great urbanism, only to be disappointed. A montage shows the protagonist traveling to the Bahamas. The introduction of NJB and his friend Foreign Man is made.

05:02

😞 Exploring Nassau by public transit reveals problems

NJB and Foreign take public transit in Nassau, which gets stuck in traffic. This shows the issues with the transportation system. They explore downtown by foot and find it has deteriorated due to being car-centric. Biking is non-existent due to lack of safe infrastructure.

10:05

😕 Nassau's history impacts current urban planning issues

Discussion of the history of segregation in Nassau, including an anecdote about Collins Wall. Poorer segregated areas still lack infrastructure today. Wealth inequality exacerbates transportation issues for those without cars.

15:07

🤔 Reflecting on similarities to North America and climate impacts

Nassau has similar car-centric urban planning issues to the US and Canada despite its different history. NJB reflects on his climate impact from traveling and discusses carbon offsets with Wren as a sponsor.

20:14

😊 Wrapping up with appreciation and call to action

NJB wraps up by thanking supporters on Patreon and Nebula. He recommends checking out his friend's video and learning more about Wren for carbon offsets.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡urban planning

Urban planning refers to the design and organization of cities and urban areas. In the video, the narrator analyzes and critiques the urban planning of Nassau, pointing out issues like excessive car traffic, lack of transit options, and poor streetscapes. He notes similarities to problems faced in North American cities and argues Nassau could benefit from better urban planning like dedicated bus lanes or bike paths.

💡transportation

Transportation refers to the methods and systems people use to move around within a city or region. The video examines transportation in Nassau, noting the dominance of cars, traffic congestion, lack of transit alternatives like trains, and the stigma against using buses or bicycles. Improving transportation through better urban planning is proposed as a solution to mobility issues.

💡traffic congestion

Traffic congestion refers to the overcrowding or excessive volume of vehicles on roads which causes slower speeds and longer trip times. The narrator is surprised by the level of congestion on New Providence island despite its small size, attributing it to lack of transit options. Congestion makes driving inefficient and reduces quality of life.

💡public transit

Public transit refers to transportation systems available for public use, such as buses, trains, etc. The video analyzes Nassau's jitneys, finding them inadequate due to lack of dedicated lanes, no integration between routes, irregular schedules, and other friction points versus private cars.

💡bicycle infrastructure

Bicycle infrastructure refers to facilities like bike lanes, trails and paths aimed at promoting cycling and safety. The video notes an almost complete lack of cycling in Nassau despite its ideal geography. Better bike infrastructure could transform transportation but isn't a priority.

💡stroads

Stroads are street-road hybrids that fail at being good streets or productive roads. The video points out Nassau's newer stroads catering to cars, lacking pedestrians or street life.

💡pedestrian infrastructure

Pedestrian infrastructure refers to facilities enabling and promoting walking, such as sidewalks, crosswalks, trails, etc. The narrator notes poor pedestrian infrastructure in many areas of Nassau, making walking unsafe or unpleasant.

💡inequality

Inequality refers to unequal distribution of wealth, resources and opportunities among a population. The video highlights inequality in Nassau, with poverty and lack of transportation access in certain neighborhoods contrasting wealthy tourist areas.

💡tourism

Tourism refers to the economic activity and industry surrounding people traveling for leisure. Tourism drives much of Nassau's economy and development, but the narrator notes it caters to tourists over improving life for residents.

💡urban history

Urban history examines how cities develop over time. The video analyzes how Nassau's urban form today relates to its history of segregation, the Wallace construction project, shift to car focus, etc.

Highlights

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Transcripts

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