Megacities attract disproportionate attention and investments, yet most of the world’s population lives in intermediate cities of fewer than 500,000 people. How can we help those secondary cities get the infrastructure investment they need in order to unleash their potential?
blogs.worldbank.org
Let’s start with the good news: overall, our study found that sustainable transport modes account for the vast majority of trips. Thanks to the small size of secondary cities, on average 60% of residents travel by foot. In larger cities such as Mwanza and Arusha, the second-most used mode is public transport, mostly privately-operated daladala minibuses; in smaller cities, it is motorcycles. In all cities we found that private modes of transport are relatively minor: fewer than 10% of travelers on average use private cars, overwhelmingly due to their cost. Our study found that car ownership drops fast as income declines: 16.9% of the richest 20% of households in intermediate cities own a car, compared to only 4.6% in the second-richest quintile and 0% in the bottom quintile.
Despite this, we found that that existing infrastructure and current transport planning is directed almost entirely toward motorized transport, and primarily toward private cars. connect key residential and commercial areas.
My Opinion:
Kuna jukumu kubwa Kwa serikali kufanya amends kuhusu urban planning kwenye miji yote nchini. Hii article inazungumzia njia mbili kuhusu urban transport in secondary: sustainable and unsustainable transport futures.
Sustainable Modes of transport include non-motorized means of commuting. For example, walking and cycling. Trains and trams are also environmentally friendly.
As the article mentioned, existing infrastructure and transportation planning is directed entirely toward motorized transport. For example, the use of private cars.
I prefer European cities because their urban design concepts mainly support sustainable transport. For example, Amsterdam, London, and Paris have sophisticated sustainable transportation systems. In Amsterdam, you’ll notice that many people use bicycles. Their city was planned in a way that private cars wouldn’t be the main mode of transport.
Such cities are very community oriented because places are easily accessible via walking or cycling. As a result, pedestrian and cyclists have their dedicated lanes to ensure their safety. Also, people spend less money paying for gas to drive private cars as they can Walk, cycle, or use subway trains and trams to move around.
Most American cities are poorly planned. If you take a look at Los Angeles, the freeways and wide highways dominate the city. No wonder LA always has smog and you can’t move around easily without a car! There are a few places in LA that I like. For example, Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills! It’s a high end shopping district, which is very pedestrian friendly. Just look at how beautiful this place is.
I’d like Tanzanian cities to be planned in a way that their transport systems are sustainable. That is, Less private cars and more efficient and sustainable means of transportation. But we cannot achieve this without planning urban areas to support the use of such means of transport.
Our roads should certainly have dedicated lanes for pedestrians and cyclists! Street vendors use the space that is meant for pedestrians and it’s not okay. The picture below is a good example of protected pedestrian and bike lanes .
Our building style near core Urban centers also needs to change. I prefer the construction of town houses than single unit bungalows near urban cores. Three or four storey town houses will house more people and provide opportunities for small businesses to open in these buildings. For example, restaurants, salons, bars etc This is the type of street I prefer seeing. Narrow, tree lined, has townhouses, and wide pedestrian lanes.
