{"id":28499,"date":"2016-05-03T09:00:26","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=28499"},"modified":"2024-09-05T11:19:57","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T14:19:57","slug":"bike-path-collapse-kills-two-and-raises-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=28499","title":{"rendered":"Bike Path Collapse Kills Two People and Raises Numerous Questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

On April 21, a 50-meter stretch of the seaside Tim Maia bike path collapsed<\/a> under a strong wave near the S\u00e3o Conrado neighborhood in the South Zone<\/a> of Rio de Janeiro, killing at least two. Victims included 60\u00a0year-old Rocinha<\/a> resident and street-sweeper, Ronaldo Severino da Silva, and\u00a054\u00a0year-old engineer, Eduardo Marinho de Albuquerque, with another individual still missing.<\/span><\/p>\n

Designed to be part of the Olympic \u201clegacy<\/a>,\u201d the bike path was launched\u00a0just over three months ago. It collapsed two hours after the Olympic torch was lit in Greece and set off on its five-week journey towards Rio for the 2016 Olympics<\/a>\u00a0opening ceremony on August 5. The construction of the almost four kilometer long bike path (intended to be about seven kilometers once complete) cost around R$44.7 million, R$8.9 million more than initially programmed<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Ciclovia<\/a><\/p>\n

Corruption<\/b><\/h3>\n

The collapse occurred during an especially difficult moment in Brazilian politics, in the context of calls for the\u00a0impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff<\/a>, and also of investigations for Operation Car Wash<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>around connections between semi-public oil company, Petrobras, and construction companies, with allegations that Petrobras executives accepted bribes from construction companies in exchange for contracts at inflated prices. <\/span><\/p>\n

The companies\u00a0behind the construction of the bike path, Contemat and Concrejato, are part of consortium Concremat, which\u00a0<\/span>is already being investigated by the Federal Police<\/span><\/a> in a related embezzlement scandal called Operation Dry Lives<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0Concremat<\/span>\u00a0and other construction companies that worked on the <\/span>rerouting of the San Francisco\u00a0river<\/span><\/a>, by means of construction of new canals, are accused of also “rerouting” approximately R$200 million. <\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, Concremat has\u00a0indirect ties to other companies involved in the Operation Car Wash<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/i>scandal. Concremat\u2019s Executive President, Cl\u00f3vis Renato Peixoto Primo, is a former employee of Andrade Gutierrez, which is a part of the Angramon consortium, a focus of the\u00a0<\/span>investigations. In Rio de Janeiro state, of the three companies leading in public contracts\u2013Odebrecht, OAS, and Andrade Gutierrez\u2013two are cited in the\u00a0investigations. These companies, and creative subcontracting and partnerships, have been referred to as <\/span>cartels<\/span><\/a>\u00a0by some. <\/span><\/p>\n

Under Mayor Eduardo\u00a0Paes’<\/a> administration, the relationship with Concremat has become closer: the City Government signed 16 contracts with Concremat from 2000 to 2008, but <\/span>under Eduardo Paes\u2019s administration beginning in 2009,<\/span> that number jumped to 54, with a total value of R$451.6 million<\/span><\/a>. Questions are being raised around this increase, particularly in light of Concremat\u00a0<\/span>being run by members of the family of Rio de Janeiro state\u2019s Secretary of Tourism<\/span><\/a>, Ant\u00f4nio Pedro Viegas Figueira de Melo. Figueira de Melo <\/span>denies connections<\/span><\/a> with his grandfather\u2019s business’ operations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Construction<\/b><\/h3>\n

All specialists who have reviewed the bike path plan, including engineer <\/span>Ant\u00f4nio Eul\u00e1rio<\/span> Pedrosa<\/span> of the\u00a0<\/span>Regional Council of Engineering, Architecture and Agronomy<\/span><\/a> (Crea-RJ), stated that it did not take into account the ocean and its waves.<\/span>\u00a0Professor in coastal engineering at Rio’s Federal University (Coppe\/UFRJ),<\/span> Paulo Rosman, said<\/span><\/a> the sea was particularly aggressive that day, but agrees that the planning did not take stronger waves into consideration.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a recent news report<\/span><\/a>, Ana Teresa Nadruz, an\u00a0architect and urbanist with 40\u00a0years experience, highlighted: “The error began in the project’s conception, with the construction method of a fragile pre-cast structure in a place subject to rip currents… Its breakup was a tragedy foretold.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Following the above reports, <\/span>architect and urbanist Eduardo Nei de Jesus Vieira and civil engineer Manoela Silva highlighted<\/span><\/a> the \u201cdetermining factor for the collapse was the fact the [cycle] track was only supported by the pillars, without any sort of anchoring.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In April last year the Municipal Secretariat of Public Works<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>released a report<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>containing updates on the bike path’s construction. The report showed:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The planning did not consider ocean waves and currents.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Several of the constructed points were considered \u201ctidal splash zones,\u201d especially the area along the coast.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The only risks considered were in relation to the heavy traffic of vehicles passing by and night work on the slopes and signaling.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    According to Concremat,<\/span> \u201c<\/span>they followed all the protocols and security norms<\/span><\/a>\u201d and<\/span> \u201c<\/span>the materials used and the quality of construction<\/span> followed all the technical requirements established\u00a0in Brazilian standards<\/a>.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    The mayor has said<\/span><\/a>\u00a0that the causes of the accident can only be determined after the completion of two audits. The National Institute of Waterways Research (INPH) and the Alberto Luiz Coimbra Institute of Graduate Studies and Research in Engineering at Rio’s\u00a0Federal University (Coppe\/UFRJ) have been commissioned to carry out these investigations. <\/span>Paes assured the press<\/a>:<\/span>\u00a0\u201cWe have hired auditors, Coppe and INPH, to identify the technicalities and responsibilities of those who were responsible. [They will] see if there was a design error, runtime error, tracking error, in the construction. What we can say at the moment is it is clear, without even investigating, that things weren\u2019t done accordingly.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    Olympic Legacy<\/b><\/h3>\n

    The Guardian<\/em> writes of the tragedy<\/a> that it deals \u201c<\/span>another blow to the city\u2019s credibility as an Olympic host<\/span>.\u201d Indeed, days after the collapse, social media celebrated\u00a0#100DaysToGo<\/a> until the Games\u2019 opening ceremonies. The collapse adds to the <\/span>shadows of the<\/span> political and corruption crisis, and concerns around Zika and water pollution<\/span><\/a>. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Critics of the City’s preparations for the Olympics see the collapse of the bike path as yet another example of how preparations have been rushed, operating in a <\/span>state of exception<\/span><\/a>\u00a0justified by the mega-event, and subverting traditional processes. Nearly half of Concremat\u2019s contracts with the City were signed without going through competitive bidding processes, as \u201c<\/span>emergency works<\/span><\/a>.\u201d The emergency contracts with Concremat alone amount to\u00a0<\/span>R$409.3 million, <\/span>R$12.3 million of which were for seven projects for the Olympics<\/span><\/a>. <\/span>Overall, since the beginning of the Paes administration, 46.3% of contracts have been executed as emergency works.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"The<\/a><\/p>\n

    A common criticism is that a large portion\u00a0of these works have been\u00a0carried out with greater consideration of image than safety and function.\u00a0In December 2014, <\/span>workers on the bike path construction<\/span> protested against\u00a0inadequate working conditions<\/span><\/a>, including a lack of proper equipment and safety precautions. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Following the bike path collapse,\u00a0Paes was quick to assert that image is not the primary concern in assessing the aftermath of the bike path collapse. However he went on to say<\/a>: \u201cI<\/span>t\u2019s unlikely that you\u2019d see the Instagram of a Rio resident\u00a0who doesn\u2019t have a photo from this bike path<\/span>.\u201d As a <\/span>recent RioOnWatch<\/em> piece<\/a>\u00a0explores<\/span>, the city has been lauded for some\u00a0recent programs through a series of international awards, but a closer look reveals that these are often superficial changes (if changes are implemented at all)\u00a0“for the English to see<\/a>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    One of the most controversial of the mayor\u2019s actions in the preparations for the Olympics has been the forced removal<\/a> of residents of Vila Aut\u00f3dromo<\/a>. According to Rio Transparente<\/a>, <\/span>the first contract that Concremat fulfilled\u00a0with the Paes administration was to develop technical assistance for government projects in favelas<\/span> like <\/span>Metr\u00f4-Mangueira<\/span><\/a> and Vila Aut\u00f3dromo, both removed for the World Cup and the Olympics respectively. This contract was also awarded as an “emergency” contract, without competitive bidding.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Following the bike path collapse, protests were organized on Facebook, including a <\/span>protest on bicycle<\/span><\/a> by Rio’s Critical Mass, part of an international cyclist movement. They wrote on their Facebook invite that (a well-built) bike path is a long-time desire of Rio\u2019s cyclists. \u201cToday, we pedal for lives lost in the incident (and not accident), for the City Government\u2019s neglect of the lives of those who use bicycles, and for more safety in transit for people (and not cars).\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

    Bike Path for Whom?<\/b><\/h3>\n

    With a mere three months of use, it is hard to know exactly to what extent residents of surrounding neighborhoods were using the bike path as a mode of transport. However, last Thursday after the fatal death of Rocinha resident Ronaldo <\/span>Severinho da Silva, 60, <\/span>his wife, Eliane said<\/a>,<\/span>\u00a0Ronaldo often would \u201cgo for a ride\u201d on the bike path and on that particular day he was cycling from Rocinha to Copacabana and back. <\/span>According to his cousin<\/span><\/a>, Marco Ant\u00f4nio, Ronaldo was a hard working man who became \u201cused to cycling on the bike track.\u201d Another resident of Rocinha, <\/span>Michel Silva shared on his Facebook page<\/span><\/a>: \u201c<\/span>I already imagined that something bad could happen [on the bike path]. The part that collapsed had imperfections… Now I am afraid to use that path to go to work or university. It\u2019s sad.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    On the Mar\u00e9 Vive community Facebook\u00a0page<\/span><\/a>, residents\u00a0compared the Tim Maia bike path with the bike path installation in Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>. The Tim Maia bike path, which was 4km in length and cost over R$44 million, opened in January. Mar\u00e9\u2019s cycle path, at 22km long, cost R$7 million and took one year to be \u201cready.\u201d Residents assert that the Mar\u00e9 bike path looks like it was hastily painted, and is already so faded that it is no longer visible from\u00a0the road. <\/span>The Facebook comment highlights<\/span><\/a>, “in both cases it is a classic diversion of money… The difference is they will spend the money to remake the Niemeyer track but the topic of Mar\u00e9’s bike track won\u2019t even be considered by the government.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Desensitization\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    Others made use of social networks in the wake of the bike path collapse to express their <\/span>dismay that a game of beach soccer continued as<\/span> two collapse victims\u2019 bodies washed up on the shore<\/span><\/a>. While a priest with some two million Twitter followers said\u00a0the image and situation\u00a0“leaves us all <\/span>less human<\/span><\/a>,\u201d others pointed to the general desensitization towards death that takes place in favelas experiencing high rates of police violence and armed conflict. Reportedly, a boy at the scene told the photographer of the now well-circulated photo, \u201c<\/span>in the favela this happens every day<\/span><\/a>.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

    Rebuilding<\/b><\/h3>\n

    City council member <\/span>Teresa Bergher from the Democratic Social Party (PSD), <\/span><\/a>requested<\/span><\/a> that the court enforce immediate suspension on all projects of Concremat\/Concrejato and<\/span>\u00a0strongly believes that\u00a0<\/span>the cycle path should not be rebuilt. She argues it is \u201cirresponsible… after such tragedy… in a place that is [evidently] not secure\u2026 I\u2019m going to take action to stop this insanity [to rebuild]\u201d and ensure the track is \u201cdemolished.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

    Ana Teresa Nadruz, the aforementioned architect who specializes in engineering project management, <\/span>launched a public petition last Wednesday<\/span><\/a> in favor of having the whole route demolished.<\/span> The petition<\/span>\u00a0argues that the bike path puts cyclists at risk due to the route’s positing between the sea and rock face. By Wednesday afternoon the petition had obtained almost 400 signatories<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    On Monday April 25, Paes<\/span> announced<\/span><\/a> the reconstruction of Tim Maia bike path will take place and completed before the\u00a0Olympics starts on August 5. At a press conference, the mayor stated<\/a>:\u00a0\u201cW<\/span>e want to maintain the bike path. We will make the necessary adjustments to it. It is clear that a contingency plan is needed. In times of very strong waves, people will need to be warned not to circulate on the site<\/span>.\u201d <\/span>He ensured that <\/span>experts will create closure procedures in case of inclement ocean conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n

    \"Cycle<\/a><\/p>\n

    The Concremat consortium itself released a statement\u00a0<\/span>on Sunday April 24<\/span><\/a> that <\/span>\u201can internal investigation into the involvement of independent consultants is underway, in order to assess whether any activity under the responsibility of the contractor contributed to the accident.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    The final report reviewing the bike path\u2019s construction<\/span><\/a> is scheduled to be completed by the end of May 2016 by experts <\/span>at the Rio de Janeiro Municipal Auditing Court\u00a0<\/span>(<\/span>TCM-RJ)<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Whether or not the bike path is ultimately rebuilt, it is clear that the partial collapse, and what Brazilians are decrying as an avoidable loss of life, will not be soon forgotten. The <\/span>official Facebook page of the Tim Maia bike path<\/span><\/a> has turned into a sounding board for Rio residents\u00a0to voice their frustration and sadness. One wrote, \u201cBrazil doesn\u2019t need volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes or tsunamis. We have politicians and bike paths.\u201d Many of the Facebook comments imply that the tragedy is symbolic of the collapse in political institutions and the less concrete, but deeply felt, disinvestment in the quality of life of citizens on several fronts, while politicians’ pockets continue to get lined. The broader implication is that perhaps “rebuilding”\u00a0 should start there<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas On April 21, a 50-meter stretch of the seaside Tim Maia bike path collapsed under a strong wave near the S\u00e3o Conrado neighborhood in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro, […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":106,"featured_media":28505,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1736,1288,452,1869,1329],"tags":[986,1685,988,280,140,272,19,11,327,1259,673,5,529,1402,12,2042,156,207,326,2043,200,4,1385],"writer":[1946,1807],"translator":[],"illustrator":[],"photographer":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-28499","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-1736","8":"category-highlight","9":"category-rio20","10":"category-transit","11":"category-by-international-observers","12":"tag-bicycle-use","13":"tag-bike-path","14":"tag-clean-transport","15":"tag-complexo-da-mare","16":"tag-corruption","17":"tag-mayor-eduardo-paes","18":"tag-favela-do-metro","19":"tag-forced-evictions","20":"tag-legacy-myth","21":"tag-mega-events","22":"tag-misplaced-public-priorities","23":"tag-olympics","24":"tag-public-works","25":"tag-legacy","26":"tag-rocinha","27":"tag-sao-conrado","28":"tag-south-zone","29":"tag-sports","30":"tag-state-of-exception","31":"tag-tim-maia-bike-path","32":"tag-transportation","33":"tag-vila-autodromo","34":"tag-violence","35":"writer-anna-cash","36":"writer-clare-huggins"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/106"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=28499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79401,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28499\/revisions\/79401"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/28505"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=28499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=28499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=28499"},{"taxonomy":"writer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fwriter&post=28499"},{"taxonomy":"translator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftranslator&post=28499"},{"taxonomy":"illustrator","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fillustrator&post=28499"},{"taxonomy":"photographer","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fphotographer&post=28499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}