Wednesday 4 April 2012

Lerato Ratau: Home Is A Taxi Away( Noord Taxi Rank)


(http://www.googlemaps.com/)


This space is one of the spaces that most people have to encounter when leaving Johannesburg to go to their designated areas/homes. Firstly I personally believe that this space is not safe at all, because it seems as though its an expected norm to hold your bags tighter and closer when in this space  and a lot of incidents have happened whereby people got mugged and lost their possesions. Although often there is a gap between real and perceived crime that restricts a person's use of the public environment its better safe than sorry (Francise 1987). The taxi rank is also suppose to be an accessible public space but because of the hundreds of people there it is difficult to pass through from one destination to another. I would not classify this space as an open space because space is considered open only when it is publicly easily accessible ( Lynch 1960). Noord taxi rank is a very uncomfortable space because there are no adequate  and seating spaces( Francise 1987) Everyone is on the move and no priviledge is given to the physically disabled or elderly.
(www,googleimages.com)

 The rank is also not democratic at all the last time young girls wore mini skirts they were attached by the taxi drivers which resulted in women protesting in their miniskirts against harrassment by taxi drivers to women in miniskirts.

(lerato, 2012)


The maintenance and of the rank was unacceptable, there, is litter everywhere and in most cases space maitanace and the condition of a space can be misread and used to justify inappropriate actions(Jacobs A)             

8 comments:

  1. LINDOKUHLE MSIMANGO:The analysis was well organised but one picture is not that much clear.Anyway it was fine and the cartoon is funny.

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  2. Lindiwe Gugushe:Great analysis, Bree street is the perfect example of a non democratic street,it no sense on comfort whatsoever and no safety and security!

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  3. Sphamandla Hlela: Very honest analysis. Sadly Noord Taxi Rank is not an exception, but one of many taxi ranks in this state. It's really sad because, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people pass through them everyday, people don’t feel safe in them and nothing is done about it. What a waste of good space that could be used to uplift people (with the right design) during their commutes, given the right planner.

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  4. Lerato Ratau: MMMMMM yes you have a point right there Spha us future planners we should start brainstorming constructive ideas.

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  5. if you had the power or ability to better the safety of this certain place, what would be your suggestions?

    Gift Makgata.

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  6. zintathu i would say that the government is afraid of the taxi drivers because of they are violent and that causes some difficulties in the development or the maintenance of the rank. some people who grew up around joburg and have never been to another taxi rank other than noord might feel safe because for them it is normal to be in a place like that. it all comes back to the norms and values in which we were raised because for people that are from outside Joburg, it is not normal for a rank to be like that but for me it is safe because that is how i know a taxi rank be like and that is how it has always been. don't you think so Lee?

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  7. Considering the small town that i come from whereby we have small taxi ranks which are well maintained due to the small population I would agree with u Zee that most people are used to these conditions which is why they would not consider this as a problem. @Gift,I believe with enough research one can transform this place into a safe and accessible environment.I would personally seperate this taxi rank, and leaving it to focus on fewer areas to decrease the congestion of people that go there (Fewer people could mean safer environments).

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  8. ohh the above post was from Lerato,605058

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