| dc.description.abstract | This study focuses) on the socio-economic characteristics and mobility problems of
pedestrians in the Central Business District and along Waiyaki Way Corridor in Nairobi. It
looked at this in the study areas with a view of coming up with comprehensive proposals
to ensure that pedestrian journey is made as convenient as possible.
The study areas chosen were the CBD and along Waiyaki Way Corridor in Nairobi. The
CBD was chosen as a representative of a rapidly growing city in Kenya where more
people and more goods make more trips yet Non-Motorized transport is not considered an
integral component of urban planning and has received little attention despite the obvious
problems associated with motorized transport, such as traffic congestion and air pollution.
Waiyaki Way Corridor was chosen mainly because it is situated along the International
trunk road that links Nairobi to other countries, and this location would enable to answer
the question of how income levels influence the choice to walk over long distances
The study findings reveil that-the backbone of transport for person mobility in the CBD is
walking and along Waiyaki Way Corridor is walking and public transport, both having
approximately equal shares. In number of trips, walking constitutes the primary mode, and
most trips by public transport also start and end with a significant amount of walking.
Forced by the high cost of public transport, in relation to incomes, many people in the
study area walk. The use of private cars, on the other hand, is limited to the group of high middle
and high incomes and is very segregated from the rest of the mobility system.
In order to come up with policy recommendations, the study reviews existing literature on
Non-Motor transport and pedestrian mode in particular The literature shows that
transportation planning has been biased towards motor transport - primarily the car and to
some extent also public transport - and yet the primary mode in Nairobi is walking. The
biased focus is confirmed by the widening of the motor carriage ways to cater for the
minority but only at the expense of diminishing space for the majority. Unfortunately
efforts to improve the urban transport system in Nairobi have for a long time failed to take
into account appropriate needs of pedestrians.
The main mobility issues affecting walking in the study areas are:
a) The design of the traffic circulation system
b) Inadequate infrastructure for the pedestrians
c) Poor NMT traffic management
d) Lack of parking facilities
e) Lack of a comprehensive plan for pedestrians
f) Lack of segregation.and grade separation policy
g) Pollution from motorized transport
h) Insecure pedestrian routes
i) Leaking pavements
In a way of counteracting the outlined problems, the study has come up with policy
recommendations and a design plan for pedestrian accessibility. This plan shows that the
pedestrian mode of travel has a unique role in urban transportation system in Nairobi.
Apart from socio-economic and mobility characteristics, as factors for the choice to walk,
walking is a necessity
The provision of pedestrian facilities shows a recognition of the pedestrian mode of travel
as an integral part of the entire transport system, The study concludes that improved
facilities for pedestrians is recognized as one area that could easily provide a solution that
is affordable and sustainable in the long term - both economically, socially, politically and
environmentally, | en |
