2025/06/04 by Mpemba, John
Engineering · Social Sciences · #Accessibility #Inner Cities #Mobility #Pedestrians #Place Attachment and Urban Studies #Street Patterns #Urban Design and Spatial Analysis #Urban Mobility #Urban Transport and Accessibility
paper · doi:10.48346/imist.prsm/ajlp-gs.v8i8.57478
openalex publication_date 2025/06/04 · openalex created_date 2025/11/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/07
Contexte and Background: This paper analyses the influence of street patterns on enhancing pedestrian mobility and accessibility to services in inner cities. Walking is potentially the most equitable mode of transport that is available to everyone and most abled-bodied urban residents. Walking entails several benefits to inhabitants such as money savings, reducing emission of motorized transport and health improvement. Despite its benefits, walking is not a priority in the urban planning agenda of some cities, especially in the Global South. As result, many individuals opt for and use motorized means of transport instead of walking which in turn leads to traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, and unsafe walking environment. Little attention is given to the pedestrians who constitutes over 80 % of the street users in the city. Goal and Objectives: The overall objective of this paper is to explore the influence of Streets pattern on enhancing pedestrian mobility pattern and accessibility to services in inner cities, using Kariakoo, a commercial centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania as a specific case. Methodology: On methodological fronts, the study adopted a mixed research methodological approach and a caste study research strategy. Data were collected by using observations, questionnaire and checklists, mapping, photographic registration, and use of walk score. Open and closed questions were developed and addressed to the resident households, pedestrians and professional experts to provide views regarding the influence of street patterns in enhancing pedestrian mobility and accessibility to services. A total of 20 resident households were purposely selected for in-depth interviews. Results: The study has revealed that the grid iron patterns adopted in inner cities have influenced most people within the area to walk and access basic services and facilities on foot. The trend of walking is increasing due to availability of services located in proximity, particularly higher order of facilities and services like commercial services, wholesale and retail shopping facilities, local shops, restaurants, cafes, religious facilities, and other community services. The analysis shows that some basic services like market place, primary schools and health facilities are inconveniently located. People are forced to walk over a Kilometer to access basic services needed for everyday life activities. Most streets are congested by street vendors and car parking activities within pedestrian ways, which limit pedestrian mobility in the area. To improve the pedestrian mobility and access to basic services, the study recommends for promoting land use mix development, provision of planning standards and guidelines for action, revision of road space standards and introducing prerequisite conditions to be meet before approval of Town Planning Drawings. Additionally, separation of motorized and non-motorized transport, promoting shared space concept, and the need for special policy for non- motorized transport should be applied to enhance pedestrian safety.