Introduction
There have been several improvements in my city over the years due to the dynamics of the changing technology and the need for efficiency in service delivery. The city where I dwell can be described as a hybrid metropolitan area that is characterized by a continuous network of communication and transportation infrastructure.
Due to continuous population growth, the local authority has made some changes to make the city more accommodating and smart to serve the interests of the dwellers within the technological and transportation needs of the twenty-first century. This argumentative treatise attempts to explicitly describe the two smart ideas of the internet and eradication of traffic jams as having contributed positively towards improving the quality of life for the city dwellers. Specifically, the treatise explores the current situation of the two ideas and before the identified changes were implemented as part of the practical comparative analysis.
Free Internet in the City
The local authority has created hotspots for free WIFI internet through the city. Since the advent and mass adoption of the fiber cabling technology in the year 2007, the local authority announced that they would introduce free internet within the city by creating hot spots for free wireless internet. In the year 2013, the local authority finalized the implementation of the free wireless internet within bus stations, public places, parks, and institutions across the city. As a result, any resident of the city who has a laptop or a smartphone can access free WIFI internet. The hotspots support internet access up to the speed of 100mbps, depending on their position (Townsend 2013).
The fastest speed is at the city library and institutions of learning. As a result, the residents of the city have been able to access digital platforms for research, recreation, and managing their businesses. At present, just by a click of a button, anybody within the city who has a smartphone is not only able to access fast internet but also do so at absolutely no charge. The major beneficiaries are college students who have taken advantage of this free service to carry out online research at their convenience within any corner of the city (Townsend 2013).
Before the introduction of free internet, the residents of the city had to rely on data bundles, pay internet providers, or cybercafes to access the internet. The internet service providers could not meet the demand and were sometimes very unreliable despite charging exorbitantly for slow internet. Besides, the users of the internet were at the mercy of the providers who would employ pricing games at the expense of the masses. However, after the advent of the free internet in the city, there has been robust growth in technology adoption with many residents opting for smartphones to access free WIFI internet (Townsend 2013).
In summary, the free internet has improved the way of interaction and research for the residents of the city. Besides, the residents have been empowered to easily use ordering services that are available on the online platform through their phones. For instance, it takes less than two minutes to activate the WIFI hotspot in a smartphone and order a pizza at any location within the city (Townsend 2013). This translates into time-saving and efficiency in making orders and following upon them. The introduction of free internet has created a smart city for all residents of the city.
Traffic Jams Elimination
In the last ten years, the local authority in collaboration with the central government has completely eradicated traffic jams in the city. Several structural projects have been rolled out within the city and its surroundings to ease the traffic. To begin with, the local authority erected more than five flyovers to serve the eastern, western, northern, and southern exits from the city to ease traffic come in and out of the city.
Besides, the city council has upgraded the underground train channels to serve the populated downtown region of the city. The train channels have been redesigned to increase the capacity from 10,000 to 13,000 persons per day. Besides, the city council has introduced three more round trips at 3 pm, 8 pm, and 11 pm to serve the heavily populated downtown region within the city. Apart from the train channels, the local authority has renovated old trams and added more than 25 new city trams to serve the residents, especially during peak hours (Kim 2013).
The new trams have eased traffic jams since persons with private vehicles do not find it necessary to drive into the central business district since the trams are an easier and faster alternative. As a policy, the trams have replaced private vehicles within the central business district and more space has been created for pedestrians. At present, it is much easier to maneuver within the city without any worry of being knocked down by a vehicle or having to pass through crowded streets (Townsend 2013). Besides, the local authority has expanded the footpaths and bicycle lanes as part of the green campaign.
Before rolling out these projects to eliminate traffic jams within the city, there was a crisis in mass transportation management and pollution. It would take an average of almost two hours to move a distance of three kilometers within the city, especially during peak hours. The air in the city was very polluted since most private vehicle owners were driving into the central business district every day. Besides, the average waiting time at the underground railway substations was 30 minutes.
These factors resulted in losses worth billions as a result of pollution, time wastage, and overuse of the available transportation infrastructure. However, following completion of the different transportation infrastructure projects within the city and its surroundings, the residents have found relief in terms of saving time, breathing fresh air, and walking in less crowded streets (Kim 2013). Also, the residents of the city are currently in a position to plan for their transportation and movement within the city and its surroundings since the expanded transportation infrastructure can now meet the demand.
Conclusion
From the above analysis, it is apparent that the introduction of free internet and the elimination of traffic jams has come with several benefits to the residents of the city. For instance, free WIFI hotspots have increased internet access for research, recreation, and ordering services that are available online. On the other hand, the construction of flyovers, remodeling of the underground railway network, the introduction of more trams, and banning private vehicles from accessing the central business district have eased traffic and created healthy work and living environments.
Reference List
Kim, J 2013, Comprehensive planning: Urban planning PUP 301, Arizona State University, Tempe.
Townsend, A 2013, Smart cities: Big data, civic hackers, and the quest for a new utopia, Norton & Company, New York.