EVALUATION OF SUSTAINABLE URBAN MOBILITY IN THE CITY OF MEK’ELE

Abstract

Currently, cities are looking for all round transport sustainability. Nevertheless, urban transportation can create a problem on economic, social and environmental aspect of the city. Up on observation residents have complaint on the fare for local transportation, vehicles noise disturbance and services provided by public transport. This thesis indexed eleven urban sustainable transport indicators. Based on the indexed results of the tool, SWOT analysis is conducted. The study also sought to identify the remedial measures that should be undertaken to mitigate the problems. The study area is defined to be Mek’ele city. The sustainable urban mobility indicators are assessed through a procedure that requires various method of data collection and data processing. World Bank backed online software was used after data legitimizing and confirmation was made between Tigray Construction Road and Transport Bureau and the world councils of urban sustainable development headquarter at Geneva, Switzerland. The indicator, access to mobility service, is based on percentage of people living within a radius of 400 meters from a public transport stops. Fatalities were considered as the number of deaths per annum per 100,000 inhabitants. For mobility space usage, area of roads, open parking, service areas and petrol stations were considered. Length of road network with sidewalks, with bike lanes, in zone 30 (km/h) and total length of city road network were served as input for the indicator of opportunity for active mobility .The social aspects such as, access for mobility impaired groups, comfort and pleasure, commuting travel time and security is indexed using structured questionnaire as part of the tool. For noise hindrance, sound measurements were taken. Affordability of public transport for the poorest quartile is measured by GDP and population’s lowest quartile income as a data. The sustainability for Mek’le city transport system is 4.93/10, suggesting weak sustainable mobility conditions for the city‘s transport system. The SWOT analysis has the prospects of being used in policymaking, defining strategic directions and the implementation of measures towards the fulfilment of sustainable urban mobility in the city of Mek’ele.