Public Attitude Towards Environmental and Health Benefits of Non-Motorized Transport System; Evidences from Lebu-Jemo Interim Cycling Corridor
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Date
2022-11-20
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Non-motorized transportation presents an auspicious approach not only to address problems of urban traffic congestion, environmental pollution and climate change, but also to provide extensive health benefits. Attitudes are an important term to evaluate people’s perception towards a certain phenomenon, research to date have been vague in their definitions and inconsistent in their methodologies for measuring and analyzing attitudes. This research aimed to explore public attitude towards environmental and health benefits of non-motorized transport system. The study also analyzed practices and challenges of non-motorized transportation in Lebu-Jemo interim cycling corridor. In doing so, the research employed qualitative research design. Data were gathered from respondents through survey questioner, key informant interview and observation. The gathered data analyzed through descriptive statistics. When we see the findings of the study, It intails that majority of the trips commuted by non-motorized transportation is for the purpose of maintaining livelihood. The study also indicated that people whose age group lays on adulthood, married and having a university degree had a better practice of non-motoried transportation than others. Women participation on the practices of non-motorized transportation is minimal while male counterparts had a better understanding on the benefits of consideration of the environment before chosing travel mode. Inline with this, the survey also found that a positive relationship between personal health condition and cycling culture. Similarly, the existance of crime in the area, the presence of street vendors on the non-motorized infrastructure, low community awareness about non-motorized infrastructure and cycling infrastructure damage are among the key findings of the survey that attribute for less involvement in non-motorized transportation. As a remidial of the above mentioned findings the research recommend, close colabration of traffic management agency, health office and environmental protection office in bringing attitudenal change and awareness rising towards non-motorized transportation utilization and benefits. Inaddition continuous followup and maintainace of non-motorized infrastructure along with construction and allocation of public parking space to avoid parking of motorized vehicles on cycling and pedestrian walkway are among the major recommendations.
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Attitude, Environment, Health, Non-Motorized Transport practice, Non-Motorized Transport benefit, Non-Motorized Transport challenge