Assessment of non-motorized transport implementation.

Abstract

At a time when Uganda is embarking on the provision of sustainable multimodal transport system in the capital city Kampala, one the modes spotted as crucial for any developing city is Non-Motorized transport. However, limited research has so far been done formulating complete methodologies for its implementation. This report examined how to determine optimal routes for incorporation of bicycle and walking lanes using multicriteria evaluation. In this analysis, crucial factors that cyclists and pedestrians face were assessed i.e. road difficulty, too much motorized traffic volumes, road width, land use and junction density. The factors were weighed depending on the cyclists and planning experts’ views to give each of them an appropriate importance in the multicriteria evaluation. Results of the MCE was a suitability raster indicating how each of the roads in central division are adapted to cycling and walking from which an optimal cycling and walking network was obtained. The network was predominant in the areas of low traffic volumes than those of high traffic. However, to promote cycling and provide more bicycling facilities one of the techniques used was to determine numerous places that are suitable for establishment of bike sharing stations in reference to the Uganda Non-motorized transport policy and planning expert views. This research looked at how each of the numerous proposed station locations could be determined with in the study area and then their capability in terms of the number of demands they could satisfy assessed using the location allocation tool putting demand into consideration. The location allocation tool gave results showing the number of demand points that each station could serve. The researcher was able to ascertain which of the chosen stations from the candidate stations served the most demand which could guide the allocation funds for implementation. The candidate stations were established in places ought to be intersection points for different modes of transport and leisure places as well as places with high population. It was observed that a station proposed to be located at city square in Kampala central division had the highest number of demand points served which was in agreement with the plan that it is to be the main bicycle sharing station and a meeting point for proposed Bus Rapid Transit models of transport. Its central location was a big factor as it’s a meeting point for many major roads leading to people’s residences and had the highest number of total weighted demand.