An investigation into the barriers and facilitators of walkability in the eastern part of Kampala Central Business District
Abstract
Walking is seemingly a forgotten mode of transport and consequently few analytical techniques are available to help practitioners identify low standard walking environments. Providing accessibility to the transport network for all groups of the community is vitally important. For most groups of the community severed from easy accessibility i.e young, old and mobility impaired, walking provides the first, last and often the only mode of transport. Other functions that walking aids include community involvement, health, and recreation are all affected by low quality walking environments.
In Uganda, walking is the oldest and basic form of transportation as it provides mobility to over 70 percent of the population (Ministry of transport), especially the poor who are unable to meet other alternatives, however the transport infrastructures are more biased to motorized traffic rather than part of the public realm for pedestrian experience. This calls for an investigation into the barriers and facilitators of walkability.
The general objective of the study was to assess the barriers and facilitators of walkability in the Eastern part of Kampala CBD. The specific objectives included; investigating attitude and perception of people towards walking, identifying the importance of walking as a mode of transport and developing strategies and recommendations to enhance walkability. The researcher collected data from 47 respondents of whom 2 were purposively selected and 45 were randomly selected from pedestrians along the three networks of Jinja road, Wampewo avenue and Old port bell road. Data was collected using a combination of in-depth interviews and questionnaires as well as analysis of secondary data sources.
The study concludes that walking should be given much attention as another mode of transport which has to be incorporated in the resultant designs since it consumes no fuel, very cheap, helps to promote physical exercises and above all helps to reduce traffic congestion in the city.
ABSTRACT
Walking is seemingly a forgotten mode of transport and consequently few analytical techniques are available to help practitioners identify low standard walking environments. Providing accessibility to the transport network for all groups of the community is vitally important. For most groups of the community severed from easy accessibility i.e young, old and mobility impaired, walking provides the first, last and often the only mode of transport. Other functions that walking aids include community involvement, health, and recreation are all affected by low quality walking environments.
In Uganda, walking is the oldest and basic form of transportation as it provides mobility to over 70 percent of the population (Ministry of transport), especially the poor who are unable to meet other alternatives, however the transport infrastructures are more biased to motorized traffic rather than part of the public realm for pedestrian experience. This calls for an investigation into the barriers and facilitators of walkability.
The general objective of the study was to assess the barriers and facilitators of walkability in the Eastern part of Kampala CBD. The specific objectives included; investigating attitude and perception of people towards walking, identifying the importance of walking as a mode of transport and developing strategies and recommendations to enhance walkability. The researcher collected data from 47 respondents of whom 2 were purposively selected and 45 were randomly selected from pedestrians along the three networks of Jinja road, Wampewo avenue and Old port bell road. Data was collected using a combination of in-depth interviews and questionnaires as well as analysis of secondary data sources.
The study concludes that walking should be given much attention as another mode of transport which has to be incorporated in the resultant designs since it consumes no fuel, very cheap, helps to promote physical exercises and above all helps to reduce traffic congestion in the city.