The blog, Urban Infrastructure, depicts the urban
structure of two main urban areas in Trinidad; the capital Port-of-Spain (PoS)
and Arima. The authors also go on to highlight the use of specific urban spaces
in relation to social groups in their second post, which was duly noted. The
second blog, All things entertainment in TnT, seek to showcase the effect
different forms of entertainment have on the urban landscape. The authors direct
attention to the diversity of physical structures, cultures and social groups
that coverage to the city for leisure as well as the interrelationship between
them and other factors such as transport, mobility and political factors.
As stated in previous posts, urban planning and
policies are employed within a city to control the manner in which a city is
run and to mitigate any problems that occur. This includes the design and
placement of infrastructure. Infrastructure within a city is inclusive of
buildings, roads, drainage and sewage systems, transportation and utilities.
The infrastructure within an urban space influences its functions, uses and
participants. Urban spaces are some of the major spaces within a city in which
many individuals (with varying capacities) converge to conduct various tasks
and activities, and as such should be considered in the urban planning and
policies employed. These range from work, leisure, educational purposes and
errands.
Our blog, Integrating disabilities through
infrastructure (specifically mobility and visual impairment), relates to the
aforementioned blogs as they all link, in one way or another, to the built environment
and social participation. They also highlight that activities influence the
urban landscape and vice versa.
In the Urban Infrastructure blog, the issue of
exclusive places was mentioned. Exclusive places are spaces in which certain
social groups are thought of as not belonging in that area and are thus
discriminated against or marginalised. This was done in the context of a
socioeconomic perspective using the Hyatt regency and surroundings as an
example. So therefore, the more powerful and financially capable individuals mainly
use this space and we see how the infrastructure affects its function and who
participates. This can be extended to various social groups and a question
arises; what about individuals with disabilities and their needs? This could
have been addressed in the blog as they are one of the main groups that are not
considered within the majority of planning in the Port-of -pain area, especially
since the blog covers infrastructure such as streets and buildings. If their
specific needs aren’t catered for, at least in main areas of urban spaces, then
these spaces are going to become exclusive spaces. They are ostracised because
the physical infrastructure makes it difficult for them to access and enjoy the
spaces and activities occurring.
The second blog states that the urban landscape
caters for a variety of needs and people partake in the various entertainments
to relieve the stresses of everyday life. Port-of-Spain, in which there exists
various hubs of entertainment activities, caters for a wide range of people and
so does the infrastructure or adapts to do so. The same question comes to mind
here as well; what about individuals with disabilities? We are left wondering
about how groups interact with the entertainment sector and how the structures
of the venues influence their opportunity to participate. If the built environment
does not cater for the needs of individuals with disabilities, then they cannot
easily access the entertainment venues and enjoy the activity. This is also
influenced by the transportation networks indicated by the blog as they are
limited and inadequate to facilitate individuals with disabilities. It was
noted on the blog that it is progressing to meet the needs of everyone.
Therefore, from these blogs we get a picture that
the infrastructure influences the activities and social participation. We also
see that urban built environments are limited and do not generally consider individuals
with disabilities and that the issue of inclusion does not come to mind as a
main factor when discussing social groups and infrastructure. Though these
blogs took different directions in their analysis of the physical environment
and its influence, disabilities and inclusion of such could have been
highlighted because they are a main group that is disfranchised in society and
by extension the influences on other social groups.
In addition, the third blog that will be discussed, The Existence of the Past within Modern Day Life, looks at the infrastructural transition
of Port-of-Spain; historic to present day, and the remnants of the past that are
apart of modern day Port-of-Spain. While all of the posts in the blog are quite
interesting, the aspects that relates to the theme of our blog are the posts
titled, City Planning: A reflection of Historic ties and The evolution of infrastructural
design. In our blog we highlighted why the majority of urban areas in Trinidad
and Tobago are not more inclusive of the needs of individuals with disabilities.
The reason being, conventional designs were still very much a part of the
planning as well as the specific attitude towards such individuals, which is
why policies are not changing or being enforced as they should. This is a
reflection of the modern city approach in which buildings are seen as economic
tools for development, as stated by the authors of the blog. Around the 19th
and 20th century when the main parts of PoS were being developed
there was the modern city movement which was characterised by high rise
buildings and economics driven. In this era and before, especially within the
Caribbean, city life generally surrounded the working man and there was traditional
perspective on things. Other groups of individuals were not considered (eg. Women,
the elderly and individuals with disabilities) because their roles within
everyday life in the city were limited. Now, with the latter part of the 20th
century into the 21st, emphasis was being placed on such groups because
each felt that their needs should be considered and as a result the form of
cities changed with the changing culture and the infrastructure adapted. Moving
into a postmodern era we see that designs are made inclusive of such group as
was highlighted in a previous post. Certainly, Trinidad and Tobago and by
extension the Caribbean is not at this stage but hopefully someday we will and
the needs of individuals with disabilities and other social groups would be
respected.
Links to comments on course collogues blogs:
Urban Infrastructure: comment
All things entertainment in TnT: comment 1 and 2:
comment 3
The Existence of past within modern day life:comment
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