“Highway economy”

Traffic is like a global blood circulation with the big cities as pumping hearts.   
More asphalt is how we tackle congestion in the Netherlands. But then again the people move further away from their work place to where the houses are cheaper and  the traffic will stand still again. In Detroit, the roads are empty. Everyone a detached house and several cars in front was the American dream.When the car industry collapsed, people abandoned their houses.   In former Soviet states such as Kyrgyzstan capitalism made its way. A small number of people became enormously rich in a short time. With great speed they tear their SUVs through the streets.  In Dhaka Bangladesh you hear the traffic ‘come on’ at six o’clock every morning. A huge economy has developed around the crawling traffic here.  In Sao Paulo there is stuff sold in the traffic jam as well. Some sellers will try to rob you, when you open up your car to buy, is the general warning.  The city of Lagos with its endless traffic jams crackles with energy. You can buy everything in the traffic jam. You can have your laundry collected and returned the next day at your car window.

Lagos -  The street salesman in this shot is trying hard to convince the man in the vehicle why he needs to buy a shoe rack from him. Check out his shoes…
Tuoyo Omagba – Lagos Lab

Lagos -  A young migrant from northern Nigeria hanging around in heavy traffic in Lagos to clean dirty windows for cash. In less than one hour he earns as much a 50…
Andrew Esiebo – Migrationpapa

It’s 10 a.m. and Michigan Ave. is almost empty. Michigan Ave. is one of the main streets in Detroit. It was built to accommodate several lanes of traffic going…
Marcin Szczepanski – Migrationpapa

A man runs from car to car and hangs a few sweets in a special plastic cover on the car mirrors. Who started this way of offering sweets?…
Lino Hellings – Sao Paulo Lab

Barefoot teenager shows “his art” between the cars in exchange for some money to be able to eat. There are many people in town that sell things or show their…
Luciana Camargo – Sao Paulo Lab

Many people engage in extreme sports. People experience it every day and everywhere. This way extreme sports are for free. Break the rules by crossing the street and you will…
Anastasia Slastnikova – Bishkek Lab

Although the distinction is sometimes negligible, there are also traders who have something that actually resembles merchandise: children with nets of lemons, towels or bags of popcorn. When I…
Lino Hellings –

I am in a chic car on my way to the Independent University, where I am to give a lecture. It is Dhaka, Bangladesh and the traffic is stationery more…
Lino Hellings –

Within a fraction of a second they resume their professional doleful posturing.  …
Lino Hellings –

The sweets are manually packed. Not many people do buy the package.…
Lino Hellings – Sao Paulo Lab

A sea of street hawkers and vehicles, every hawker trying to sell their goods ranging from books to toys etc. Sometimes people leave their homes with money in anticipation of…
Tuoyo Omagba – Lagos Lab