According to experts, the World Cup construction projects are a problem.

Agência Brasil - Brazil's preparation for international sporting events such as the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup, and the 2016 Olympics is not limited to stadium renovations and airport expansions. Another challenge occupying the attention of federal, state, and municipal governments in the host cities is urban mobility, that is, planning so that people, tourists, and the local population can move around the city safely using public or private transportation. According to estimates from the Brazilian Tourism Institute (Embratur), there will be 3,6 million visitors in the year of the World Cup alone. Experts believe the country has not adopted satisfactory traffic policies to accommodate this influx of people.

The preparation of the 12 host cities for the events, with regard to mobility, includes actions such as the execution of road infrastructure works; the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Rio de Janeiro and Recife, which consists of exclusive bus lanes; the installation of the electric monorail train in São Paulo and Manaus and the light rail vehicle (LRV) in Brasília and Fortaleza; the integration of passenger terminals, among other measures. In total, an investment of R$ 10,9 billion is planned, using resources from the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC).

In addition to investment in public transportation and traffic engineering, a logistical plan will be defined for the circulation of tourists and residents of the host cities during the events, which will be the responsibility of the Ministry of Justice. The agency has created state Public Security commissions to address the issue. They will meet, starting this month, to discuss an urban mobility plan, to be finalized by the end of September.

However, analysts believe that such initiatives may be insufficient to guarantee smooth traffic flow during the events. In addition to a potential delay in the completion of the works – at the end of last year, the Federal Audit Court (TCU) issued a warning to the federal government, as only 5% of the funds allocated to mobility had been spent – ​​they point to the inadequacy of the Brazilian traffic model for the movement of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users.

According to Artur Morais, a transportation researcher at the University of Brasília (UnB), historically, traffic policies in the country have prioritized drivers over pedestrians. "The mobility model implemented throughout Brazilian cities is based on the car, of which there is an excess on the streets. Little is invested in public transportation. I see people wanting to build overpasses, widen roads. In reality, what could truly help would be bike lanes, sidewalks, and better public transportation," he suggested.

Traffic safety expert David Duarte, president of the Brazilian Institute for Traffic Safety (IST), makes a similar analysis. He highlights the inadequacy of public transportation in large cities for the local population and predicts even more deficient operation with the arrival of visitors. According to Duarte, the planned improvements to public transportation will not be enough to meet the increased demand. "It will become even more congested. It's worth remembering that some of these visitors, especially those coming from Europe, are accustomed to better quality public transportation and a system that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists," he warned.

A device that has made life easier for pedestrians in Brazil is the observance of pedestrian crossings, a model in which drivers brake to give way to pedestrians and cyclists who are dismounted. Pioneered in Brasília 15 years ago, the system is now copied by some Brazilian cities and considered a landmark in respect for pedestrians. For Celso Luiz Martins, author of the book "Brazilian Traffic Code Annotated," it represents progress. "We are not yet perfect, but Brazil has improved a lot in its treatment of pedestrians," he comments.

Martins points out, however, that the crosswalk is not an effective solution for the busiest roads in large metropolitan areas, nor does it solve the pedestrian problem in the country. "The crosswalk works where there isn't a large flow of vehicles. In places like Paulista Avenue (São Paulo) or Rio Branco Avenue (Rio de Janeiro) it won't be successful. In those cases, the way to make vehicles stop is to install pedestrian lights [specific traffic lights for pedestrians]," he said. He advocates for educational campaigns and better training for enforcement officers as the main way to change the reality of traffic in Brazil. "In our country, mobility is mainly hampered by behavior," he emphasized.

The Agência Brasil news agency contacted the administrations of four of the 12 host cities of the 2014 World Cup to obtain more details about urban mobility initiatives in their respective areas. The Rio de Janeiro Municipal Transportation Secretariat (SMTR) did not respond by the time this article was published, and the Department of Transit of the Federal District (Detran-DF), in Brasília, stated that only the federal government could comment on the matter.

Amir Schvartz, head of the Extraordinary Secretariat for the World Cup in Recife, said that preparations in the Pernambuco capital include the construction of Via Mangue, which should improve traffic in the city's southern zone; and two exclusive bus lanes. The modifications are expected to be completed between September and December 2013.

The Special Secretariat for Coordination of the World Cup in São Paulo reported that five roadworks projects are planned for the area surrounding the Itaquera stadium, where the games will take place. In addition, a technological study is underway to reduce the time between the arrival of subway trains, allowing for the transport of a greater number of passengers.