Lagos will be a city with a general sense of well-being through the development of quality and dignified environment where people are free to walk and cycle; equitable allocation of public space and infrastructure; and access to opportunities and mobility for all residents.
Background
The Federal Republic of Nigeria has experienced an urban population rise since 2010. Currently the country is estimated to have an urban population of 100 million residents (UNEP 2019). Lagos alone has an estimated population between 18 and 20 million and an annual growth rate at 6 percent. With increased urbanization comes urban transport challenges such as traffic congestion, parking problems, accidents, and environmental pollution. Nigerian population highly depends on public transport for their mobility needs.
Challenges
Although 30% of Lagos’ mobility is on foot or by bicycle, the interaction between pedestrian and motorized vehicles in Lagos is unplanned and dangerous. Historically there has been no recognition of Non-Motorized Transport (NMT), with few segregated traffic facilities for pedestrians (such as walkways, zebra crossings, footbridges, underpasses and signs), and bicycle lanes. As a result, pedestrians and cyclists share the roadway with motorized transport. Where efforts have been made to provide facilities, these are under-used because of poor enforcement; many walkways are used as parking lots, trading and storage areas for abandoned material.
The Lagos Metropolitan Transport Authority (LAMATA) 2013 Safety plan recognizes that non-motorized transport ‘has been usually ignored by policymakers when defining transport plans, preferring motorized transport because they regard it as technologically driven. This preference has orientated policies and actions leading to an unsafe and less attractive walking and cycling environment.’
Successes
Through the support of the Share the Road Programme, the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) recently developed a Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) Policy to guide interventions to improve the walking and cycling environment. This policy was developed after in-depth research and stakeholder engagement with Lagos stakeholders.
As well as supporting NMT policy development, Share the Road Programme has also provided technical assistance on bus corridor design and inclusion of NMT. This has included reviewing the designs for the 14 km bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor from Oshodi to Abule Egba being implemented by LAMATA. Recommendations incorporate improved station design and passenger access elements to improve passenger circulation and ensure that the system is accessible to all users.
