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The puzzle of mobility and access to the city in Sub-Saharan Africa

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  • Diaz Olvera, Lourdes
  • Plat, Didier
  • Pochet, Pascal

Abstract

This paper examines access to the city as revealed by the daily travel behaviour of urban dwellers. It is based on secondary analyses of six household travel surveys carried out in cities in West and Central Africa between 1992 and 2003. Vehicle ownership rates are low in these cities and the cost of public transport is a major item of expenditure in household budgets, which limits its use. Walking is therefore the main mode of transport for most urban dwellers. The paper highlights the difficulties and issues linked with trip-making to conduct the major types of out-of-home activities (work and education, household management, and sociability). Our analyses show that the shortcomings of the transport system restrict the ability of urban dwellers, particularly the poor, to travel outside their neighbourhood and play a part in maintaining social inequalities.

Suggested Citation

  • Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2013. "The puzzle of mobility and access to the city in Sub-Saharan Africa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 56-64.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:32:y:2013:i:c:p:56-64
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.08.009
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2008. "Household transport expenditure in Sub-Saharan African cities: measurement and analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13.
    2. Lucas, Karen, 2011. "Making the connections between transport disadvantage and the social exclusion of low income populations in the Tshwane Region of South Africa," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(6), pages 1320-1334.
    3. Schafer, Andreas & Victor, David G., 2000. "The future mobility of the world population," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 171-205, April.
    4. repec:dau:papers:123456789/4536 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 1998. "Villes africaines au quotidien," Post-Print halshs-00139419, HAL.
    6. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2001. "Immobiles ou invisibles? Les mobilités quotidiennes des femmes à Bamako et à Ouagadougou," Post-Print halshs-01357243, HAL.
    7. Roger Behrens & Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2006. "Collection of passenger travel data in Sub-Saharan African cities: Towards improving survey instruments and procedures," Post-Print halshs-00068328, HAL.
    8. Monique Bertrand, 2010. "De l'accès au logement à la relation domicile-travail : enjeux sociaux et spatiaux des mobilités dans la région du grand Accra (Ghana)," Revue Tiers-Monde, Armand Colin, vol. 0(1), pages 87-106.
    9. D. F. Bryceson & T. C. Mbara & D. Maunder, 2003. "Livelihoods, daily mobility and poverty in sub-saharan Africa," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 177-196, January.
    10. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2008. "Household transport expenditure in Sub-Saharan African cities: measurement and analysis," Post-Print halshs-00264231, HAL.
    11. Baker, Judy & Basu, Rakhi & Cropper, Maureen & Lall, Somik & Takeuchi, Akie, 2005. "Urban poverty and transport : the case of Mumbai," Policy Research Working Paper Series 3693, The World Bank.
    12. Behrens, Roger & Diaz-Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2006. "Collection of passenger travel data in Sub-Saharan African cities: Towards improving survey instruments and procedures," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(1), pages 85-96, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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