Walkability, Adaptability, Accessibility and Parking in Rapidly Growing Cities: The Case of Kigali City

Abstract

Walking, accessibility, and parking spaces are the major pressing challenges today in rapidly growing cities in the global south. Despite the fact that automobiles in these cities increase daily, many cities still have not coped with these changes due to various factors, such as a lack of appropriate technology to react to this. Therefore, this study aims to examine how walkability, accessibility, and parking spaces are taken into consideration in rapidly growing cities, using Kigali City as a specific case. Primary data were collected through observations and interviews that were conducted through the use of structured questions addressed to one administrative official in charge of road and bridge construction and maintenance in the infrastructure management unit at the district level. Secondary data were gathered from existing literature similar to this study. Moreover, 75 city residents from three districts (i.e., 25 residents from each district) were chosen randomly. Findings have revealed that pedestrian walkways are used 24/7 by people going to work, hospitals, buying commodities, and playing various games. In addition, the study has shown that the CHIC building parking yard can accommodate more than 400 cars when fully utilized, and the parking price is 200 Frw (0.2 USD) per minute. This parking space had the option to go in and out on both sides of the parking lot. Regarding accessibility, there is Kanombe International Airport, which makes the city accessible to international travelers, and Bugesera International Airport, which is 25 km south-east of Kigali and under construction. Additionally, the lack of smart parking and protected walkways against car accidents on commuters were highlighted by 77% of the respondents as the major emerging challenges that hold back walkability and parking in Kigali City. In conclusion, transformation in Kigali City is taking place, and the city is trying to cope with emerging technologies by making the city accessible, walkable, and parking spaces available in front of high-raised buildings as well as commercial areas. This goes hand in hand with the use of IOT and further emerging technologies to improve walkability in urban areas as well as adaptability, especially for rapidly developing cities like Kigali City.