Trafficnoises

Sound of traffic in Rio de Janeiro

Horn. An instrument made up of a small rubber bulb joined to a twisted metal trumpet, which produces a loud sound but can't, on its own, make traffic move any faster. At least not yet. Cariocas are nationally known for their (bad) behavior in traffic. They're stressed out. The light is about to turn red and... "Beeep Beeep".

Photo: Rogério Reis

Image description: This is a photograph of an aerial view of the Linha Vermelha at dusk. On the left, we see an overpass with vehicle lights forming white and yellow streaks. In the center, there is a large expressway congested with traffic, with fast-moving vehicles creating red and yellow lines. On the right, there are more overpasses and smaller roads. In the background, we see a landscape with water and distant lighting, as well as a mountain on the horizon.

Car horns mix with the grinding of engines, the sudden screech of rubber tires on asphalt. And there's more. In the areas surrounding Santos Dumont and Galeão airports, we also have the noise of planes taking off and landing in the Marvelous City. Inside the subway cars, passengers are already used to the voice announcing arrivals at stations, possible transfers, and which side to exit from — not only in Portuguese, but also in an English softened by the carioca accent.

Image description: This is a photograph of an urban street during the daytime. On the left, there is a bus stopped with people waiting. In the center, a modern train is moving along the tracks. On the right, there is another train and some people walking. The background features tall buildings and green trees.

Groups of musicians perform in the train cars, and enthusiastic claps and shouts occasionally cut through the ride. Outside, we know the subway is passing by when we hear the typical metallic screech of the rails. The same noise signals the train's arrival at the station. Nuances of a noise pollution that, in its own way, has already become part of the profusion of sounds emanating from the streets of Rio.

Artist rhyming on one of the Rio Metro cars