Sustainable Urban Transport: Improving Mobility Conditions for Vulnerable Road Users in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Most Sub-Saharan African cities have a high share of non-motorized traffic (NMT). Their transportation sector does not consume much energy and produces very little greenhouse gas emissions in global comparison. People do not choose to walk or cycle; they simply cannot afford to buy a car. The image of NMT is not a favourable one. Walking and cycling are cost-effective, sustainable, easy-accessible and healthy transport modes though. Based on the description of mobility indicators of Vienna and Addis Ababa, the paper discusses measures of how conditions for vulnerable road users can be improved and how NMT can be marketed as an attractive and trendy modus of locomotion. Good practice examples illustrate the beneficial effects of future oriented sustainable traffic planning and infrastructure.