Human-Centric Urban Mobility Solutions for High-Density Regional Transportation Hub: The Case of Lamberet Long-Distance Bus Station and Its Neighbourhood
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Date
2025-12-01
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This master thesis is about human, centered urban mobility challenges at Lamberet Transport Hub, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Lamberet is a hub regional bus terminal serving northern Ethiopia. The research delves into aspects of how the bus station influences the efficiency, accessibility, safety, and daily experiences of different stakeholders such as commuters, drivers, vendors, and residents of the nearby areas. The study points to main issues such as a lack of proper infrastructure, accessibility challenges, absence of safety features, poor environmental management, and the non, implementation of urban planning and zoning regulations. The movement of pedestrians around the place is a major struggle due to a lack of sidewalks, ramps, crosswalks, adequate lighting, and signage. Moreover, uncontrolled street vendors, and a mixture of pedestrian and vehicle movement have led to congestion and safety issues. Among the vulnerable, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and children are the most impacted. Field observations, infrastructure inspections, pedestrian movement studies, land, use and mobility, pattern mapping, and ethnographic interviews with local inhabitants and commuters formed the study's core methodology. Besides, transport hub, related policies and regulations were also analyzed to pinpoint discrepancies between standards and field realities. The study uncovers that, while the terminal is an engine of the local economy, its social and environmental costs overshadow the benefits, as evidenced by overcrowding, noise pollution, inadequate waste management, and inefficient spatial arrangement. The terminal is not yet integrated with world, class standards in accessibility, inclusive mobility, and community participation. The study finds that by redesigning the Lamberet Transport Hub, the efficiency of the system as well as the experience of the users can be improved by clearly defining pedestrian, vehicular, and vendor areas; strictly applying existing regulations; upgrading accessibility infrastructure; making safety measures more effective; and involving the community. The use of human, centered and universal design approaches can help the hub to become a regional transport facility that is more inclusive, safe, and environmentally friendly.
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Human-Centered Mobility, Urban Planning, Accessibility, Infrastructure