Abstract:
This research investigated strategies to enhance active transportation (walking and cycling) conditions along a critical 2-km segment of National Road 1 (NR1) in Huye City, Rwanda. Like many African cities, Huye faces significant challenges: low accessibility to public transport (28% within 500m), high reliance on walking out of necessity (average 80+ minutes daily), and virtually non-existent dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. This forces vulnerable users to share roads with motor vehicles operating at high speeds (85th percentile: 60 km/h), resulting in severe safety risks.
The objectives were to carry out the inventory of the existing road infrastructure, to carry out traffic counts or surveys and to design both pedestrians and cyclists’ facilities resulting into a model reflecting to the sustainable active transportation. To achieve these objectives, both quantitative and qualitative methods were used.
Primary data collection included manual traffic counts (average daily traffic: 2,032 vehicles; peak cyclist flow: 308/hour; peak pedestrian flow: 737/hour), spot speed surveys, road infrastructure inventories, and user perception surveys. Findings confirmed inadequate facilities: absent sidewalks and cycle lanes, discontinuous shoulders used by pedestrians, and minimal safety features. User surveys highlighted safety concerns (75% felt unprotected) and identified cost savings (41%) and health (36%) as key motivators for active transport adoption.
Based on international standards (AASHTO, IRC, CROW) and observed demand, the study proposed an integrated redesign for the corridor:
✓ Dedicated infrastructure: 2.0m protected cycle lanes and 2.0m sidewalks on both sides, separated from traffic by 0.5m buffers/curbs.
✓ Supporting facilities: 100-capacity bicycle parking with shelters, integrated air pump and repair stations (2.0m x 4.9m), enhanced lighting, and improved drainage.
✓ Safety enhancements: Physical separation (0.5m raised buffer), green thermoplastic cycle lane markings, and optimized geometric design (e.g., 30m horizontal radius).
The model prioritizes safety, equity, and sustainability, addressing critical gaps in Rwanda’s urban mobility planning. Recommendations include infrastructure investment, public awareness campaigns, financial incentives for cyclists, and integration with public transport. Implementing this design is
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expected to reduce conflicts, lower emissions, improve public health, and foster inclusive urban mobility in secondary African cities.
