Archives: Guide

Non-motorised transport (NMT) offers basic mobility, affordable transport, access to public transport, and health benefits. Improving the convenience, comfort, and safety of walking and cycling reduces the demand for travel by personal motor vehicles, helping to alleviate the critical traffic challenges facing many cities. As zero-emission modes, walking and cycling are critical to efforts to reduce…

An estimated 1.25 million people are killed in traffic crashes annually and injuries from traffic crashes are currently the ninth leading cause of death globally. The problem is particularly serious in the African region. The World Health Organization (WHO) found that residents of the African region suffered the highest road traffic fatality rate in the…

Greater use of walking and cycling can bring a host of benefits to cities: Economic benefits. Well-designed streets help reduce the use of motorised vehicles and the related costs of traffic congestion; increase retail sales and business transactions; raise property values; offer a lower-cost alternative to construction and maintenance road infrastructure; and lower household transport…

Making non-motorised modes of transport viable and convenient requires rebalancing street space so that it caters to all modes transport. The physical design of streets and the provision of sidewalks, crossings, and other walking infrastructure is crucial to creating a high-quality walking environment. Accommodating NMT involves two basic techniques: Systematic traffic calming on smaller streets…

This section covers the typical components of an NMT strategy or policy: Vision: An expression of how the city or country plans to improve access and safety for NMT users. Goals: Quantitative, time-bound goals for improvements in the walking and cycling environment. NMT initiatives: A description of initiatives that cities can pursue to improve the…

An NMT strategy should begin with a vision statement. The vision statement indicates a desired future direction for the city’s transport system. The vision should respond to the diagnosis of the current transport system, as outlined in the previous section. A sample vision statement is as follows: “The city’s transport systems will improve residents’ well-being…

Along with the vision, an NMT strategy should set quantifiable goals indicating the outcomes the city or country wishes to achieve. Goals should include quantitative targets for major indices, to be achieved within the horizon of the Strategy. The goals should follow the “SMART” principles: Specific: Goals should target discrete outcomes that will measure the…

Following are some of the implementation activities that an NMT strategy can incorporate: Continuous pedestrian realm. Cities and towns need high-quality footpaths. Footpaths should be designed according to the zone system, with at least 2 m of clear space for walking. Crossings and junctions are also essential components of a well-connected street network. Cycle facilities….

To achieve the goals of an NMT strategy, transport budgets must prioritise sustainable transport projects, including footpaths, cycle tracks, cycle sharing, greenways, and public transport. Reserved NMT Funding NMT strategies should incorporate specific guidelines on the allocation of transport budgets. For example, local governments should aim to allocate at least 33 per cent of total…

Multiple agencies have a role to play in the implementation of an NMT strategies, as described in the table below. The implementation of NMT improvements therefore requires a collaborative approach. Regular convening of an NMT working group can help streamline the implementation process by facilitating interaction among relevant agencies. Key agencies and responsibilities. Ministry Responsibility…