Safety and Mobility Challenges of Pe ople with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport Final Report October 2024 HVT055 - SE012 – Mekelle University This research was funded by UKAID through the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office under the High Volume Transport Applied Research Programme, managed by DT Global . The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies. Reference No. HVT 055 - SE012 Lead Organisation/ Consultant Mekelle University Partner Organisation(s)/ Consultant(s) Title Safety and Mobility Challenges of Persons with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport Type of D ocument Project Report Theme Policy Regulation Sub - theme Disability, M obility, Inclusion, Safety, Accessibility Author(s) Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos, Ataklti Gebrehiwet Gebrekidan, Berhane Grum Woldegiorgis, Bizuneh Asfaw Abebe , Birhane Araya Asfha Lead C ontact Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos Geographical Location(s) Mekelle, Ethiopia Abstract Keywords Mobility, S afety, Disability, Inclusion, I nfrastructure Funding Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), UKAID Acknowledgements Cover Photo Credit: Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos Issue Status Author(s) Reviewed By Approved By Issue Date 1 Draft Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos, Ataklti Gebrehiwet Gebrekidan, Berhane Grum Woldegiorgis, Bizuneh Asfaw Abebe, Birhane Araya Asfha Final i Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Contents Executive Summary iv 1. Introduction 6 1.1 Background 6 1.2 Aims of the project 7 1.3 Project alignment with the HVT Programme 8 1.4 Expected project outcomes and impacts 8 2. Research approach and methodology 8 2.1 Overview of the project 8 2.2 Study area description 8 2.3 Research methodology 9 2.3.1 General ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......... 9 2.3.2 Review of literature ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 10 2.3.3 Sampling techniques ................................ ................................ ................................ .................. 11 2.3.4 Data collection ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................ 11 2.3.5 Data analysis ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................. 14 3. Results and discussion 17 3.1 Disability and mobility in Mekelle city 17 3.2 Suitability of existing transport facility 20 3.2.1 Road infrastructure ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................... 22 3.2.2 Public transport and facilities ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 26 3.2.3 Building facilities ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................... 27 3.3 Impact of poor urban transport i nfrastructure on the livelihoods of people with disabilities 29 3.4 Assessment results on policy issues 31 4. Conclusion and recommendations 34 4.1 Conclusion 34 4.2 Recommendations 34 5. References 36 Appendices Appendix A: Design and Implementation Guide: Persons with Disability Inclusive Urban Transport Infrastructure 37 Appendix B: Policy Brief 38 ii Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Tables Table 2 - 1: Educational background of respondents ................................ ................................ ................... 13 Table 2 - 2: Grouping of parameters to the aspects. ................................ ................................ ................... 15 Table 3 - 1: Weighted average walkability index of Mekelle city streets ................................ ...................... 22 Table 3 - 2: Causes for poor urban transport infrastructure/facility for PWD in Mekelle city ......................... 30 Table 3 - 3: Impacts of poor urban transport infrastructure on PWDs’ livelihood of Mekelle city .................. 30 Table 3 - 4: Quantitative survey questionnaires analysis result ................................ ................................ .... 33 Figures Figure 2 - 1: Location map of Mekelle city in Tigray and Ethiopia 9 Figure 2 - 2: Methodological framework of the research project 10 Figure 2 - 3: Age distribution of respondents 12 Figure 2 - 4: Number of respondents from each sub - city 13 Figure 3 - 1: Causes of physical and vision impairments in Mekelle city 17 Figure 3 - 2: Mobility aids used by persons with disabilities in Mekelle city 18 Figure 3 - 3: PWDs respondents frequency of making trips in Mekelle city 18 Figure 3 - 4: Respondents experience of accidents on the urban built environment of Mekelle city 19 Figure 3 - 5: Transport mode choice of persons with disabilities in Mekelle city 20 Figure 3 - 6: Suitability of existing transport facility in Mekelle city 21 Figure 3 - 7: Proposed measures to be implemented to improve suitability of existing transport facility in Mekelle city 22 Figure 3 - 8: Average walkability index per parameter of Mekelle city streets 23 Figure 3 - 9: Sidewalk widths of surveyed roads of Mekelle city streets 23 Figure 3 - 10: Effective sidewalk widths of surveyed roads of Mekelle city streets 24 Figure 3 - 11: Sidewalk obstructions in Mekelle city main streets: Alula Street (a, b, c) and Adihawsi - Hawelti Dldi Street (d) 24 Figure 3 - 12: Obstacles and safety hazards on sidewalks of Mekelle city: extended ramp and tree with planter box (a); sidewalk café, planter container and street furniture (b); open manhole (c); and missed ramp, congested utility poles and perpendicular on street parking (d) 25 Figure 3 - 13: Poor sidewalk space management on the Agazi Street in Mekelle city 25 Figure 3 - 14: Cobblestone roads in Mekelle city 26 Figure 3 - 15: Public transport stops and services in Mekelle city 27 Figure 3 - 16: Access ramps and stairs in some public/commercial buildings extended to street sidewalks in Mekelle city 28 Figure 3 - 17: Access ramps, lift and amenity in hotels in Mekelle city 29 Figure 3 - 18: Proposed measures of quantitative survey respondents 31 iii Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Abbreviations/Acronyms ADA The American s with Disabilit ies Act FCDO Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office FDRE Federal Democratic Republic Ethiopia FGD Focus Group Discussion GDP Gross Domestic Product GTP Growth and Transformation Plan HVT High Volume Transport IDI In - depth Interview ILO International Labour Organization IT Information Technology KII Key Informant Interview LICs Low Income Countries ODK Open Data Kit PWDs P eople with d isabilities RII Relative Importance Index SDGs Sustainable Development Goals SPSS Statistical Package for Social Sciences TDVA Tigray Disabled Veteran Association UKAID United Kingdom Agency for International Development UN CRPD United Nations Rights of Persons with Disabilities USD United States Dollar WHO World Health Organization iv Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Executive Summary People with disabilities usually have to deal with various social, economic, and political challenges and inequalities. S tigma, discrimination, barriers to basic services, unequal opportunity to employment, and exclusion from decision - making are some of the most common problems people with disabilities face. When people with disabilities are excluded from accessing transport, it can lead to low self - esteem, limited access to education and work, poverty , health problems, and lower quality of life. The se negative im pacts affect not only people with disabilities, but also their families and communities , both national ly and global ly . D eveloped countries have been making encouraging efforts to address the challenges people with disabilities face with accessing transport, including establishing inclusive policies and strategies . However, these are still emerging in low income countries (LICs) , but are encouraging . Awareness towards inclusive development is still low in LICs and i nfrastructures and services remain full of barriers for people with disabilities . I n urban areas , planners, designers and administrators tend to prioritise vehicular traffic . This means the needs of people with disabilities remain neglected. Public transport systems and facilities do not accommodate the needs of people with disabilities , such as space for wheelchair users or adequate ramps . This study assessed the safety and mobility challenges faced by people with disabilities in Mekelle city , northern Ethiopia . Based on the findings of this study and experiences from other countries, a disability - friendly design and infrastructure guide of urban transport was developed. A policy brief was also produced for Mekelle city to inform policy makers and provide recommendations based on the findings of the study . The study consists of a review of both scientific and grey literature , as well as primary data collection. Quantitative data was collected through digital questionnaire s conducted through face - to - face interview s and on - site assessment s of public roads, buildings, transport services and stops. Qualitative data was also collected by interview ing key informants and through focus group discussions (FGDs) . The r esearch findings were discussed among various stakeholders in consultative meetings. This study found that while directives and guidelines exist for building infrastructure that meet the needs of people with disabilities , communication across the regulatory framework is inadequate and lacks clear mandatory enforcement for the effective implementation of rules and regulations. In Mekelle city, there are no inclusive directives or guidelines for road infrastructure and transport services that address the needs of people with disabilities . While p eople with disabilities should be involved in the planning , design and implementation of public infrastructures and services , this study found their participation in urban transport policy preparation remains limited. The built urban environment in Mekelle city is not inclusive for people with disabilit ies . Building entrances and transport infrastructures are often un suitable to the se disadvantaged groups . Among the various urban transport infrastructure s and facilities needed and provided in Mekelle city , a lack of or poor accessibility, and inadequate design and management of sidewalks we re found to be major factors that negatively impact the safety and daily mobility of people with disabilities . Road sidewalks and entrance ramps to public buildings were identified as some of the least suitable facilities for people with disabilities in Mekelle city. Walkability index (WI) on a scale from 0 (least walkable) to 100 (most walkable) was used to evaluate the walkability of the main streets in the city. This study revealed that t he overall walkability of the main streets in the city was found below average , with WI of 46.5 . The low WI of sidewalks confirms the findings of the questionnaire based s urveys, k ey informant interview (KII s ) and FGDs surveys . Sidewalks in the main streets of the city are available , but they are narrow, full of roadside static obstacles and encroachments , and are poorly managed and un clean. According to the assessment result, the availability of infrastructure for people with disabilities is limited , unsafe and not in a usable condition. The availability of pedestrian crossings in the main streets is below average with a WI score of 41.2. Most of the streets assessed in the study had a width of below 3.5 metre s . The sidewalk space was poorly managed , with static obstructions located arbitrarily , creating a cluttered sidewalk environment. This results in obstructed path s for pedestrians and creates safety hazard s for visually impaired people . According to the effective sidewalk assessment result, only 19.2% of the assessed sidewalks were found to fulfil the recommended width of 2.4 metre s which is required to allow two wheelchair users to pass each other. Also , 46.2% of the assessed sidewalks were found to have a si dewalk width of less than 1.2 metre s, which is below the bare minimum width required to allow two non - disabled people to pass each other . Cobblestone roads in the city serve as shared paths for pedestrians and car drivers with no defined standards . These are sometimes used as sidewalk paving in the main v Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` streets , but cobblestones are unsafe, inconvenient, and uncomfortable for pedestrians and especially for people with disabilities . Assessments made on public transport vehicle s, stops and public buildings indicated that a ll of the public transport vehicles operating in the city were found to be inaccessible to wheelchair users and do not have facilities that aid visually impaired people . Some of the vehicles do not have space to carry wheelchairs. Public transport stops in the city are limited with no access ramps, tactile guidance, and other supporting facilities for people with disabilities . More than 75% of the available entrance an d exit ramps for hotels and commercial centres were constructed in inappropriate location s , with inadequate slope s , landing s , and width s . An assessment was made to know how the urban transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city are affecting the daily activities of people with disabilities. People with disabilities were made to rate the negative impact of the existing transport infrastructure and services on a scale from 1 (not sever) to 5 (extreme sever). These Likert scale results were used to estimate the s everity index (SI) on a scale from 0 (low negative impact) to 100 ( very high negative impact) . The study revealed that people with disabilities in Mekelle have serious difficulties accessing work, education and healthcare, elaborated with high value (87.5%) of SI. The results from the workshops, key informant interviews and FGD s indicated that the major challenges that result in the exclusion of people with disabilities in the built environment and transport services in the city are due to poor law enforcement , a lack of directives and guidelines , poor awareness o f the needs and rights of people with disabilities , and a lack of professional ethics. People with disabilities in Mekelle city are facing serious safety and accessibility difficulties in the built environment and in accessing transport services. The challenges are mainly institutional, physical, and due to a lack of awareness. Therefore, to remove the safety and mobility barriers facing people with disabilities in the urban built environment, as part of the research objective, a policy brief and a n infrastructure guide were prepared to gether with th is report . As Mekelle city is grow ing fast in terms of population and construction of civil infrastructures, the challenges people with disabilities and other pedestrian s experience need urgent integrated policy intervention s . The policy responses to remove the barriers need to be tailor - made or city - specific, but should incorporate lessons and best practices from other countries and cities around the globe. T he policy interventions should be supported with results from this research work. The guide is prepared to support the develop ment of disability - inclusive urban transport infrastructure in Mekelle city and other cities in LICs. The guideline provides information about the recommended design approach es to include the needs of people with disabilities. While this document does not provide all design approaches and principles for the inclusion of people with disabilities in the transport sector or context, urban planners and designers in Mekelle city and in other cities of LICs can apply the design principles and recommendations enclosed in this guide to develop inclusive urban transport infrastructures. The aim of this guide is to show how the transport infrastructure barriers facing people with disabilities can be removed or at least be re duced. This will have a positive impact on improving the design of infrastructures that are suitable for all pedestrian groups , with minim al effect on the level of service to car drivers. 6 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 1. Introductio n 1.1 Background T he term disability is often used interchangeably with impairment despite its different concept . The American s with Disabilit ies Act [1] defined disability as “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities”. WHO [2] defined impairment as a problem in body structure and appearance or problem in organ function; and disability as an individual’s limitation in executing an activity due to impairment. In other words, disability is the result of negative interactions between a person with impairment and its environment [3]. It is the result of barriers in society that are imposed on people with impairments restricting their day - to - day activity [4]. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency [4] classify impairments into four: physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental. It also categori s e s barriers for people with disabilities into attitudinal, physical, and institutional barriers. Global estimates indicate that people with disabilities comprise approximately 15 % of the w orld’s population, with over 80 % living in developing countries [ 5 , 6] . The Horn of Africa is globally known as a conflict and drought prone area. Frequent conflicts in Somali a , Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Sudan; famine of the 1980s in Ethiopia; political tensions in Sudan and South Sudan and drought and conflicts in Ethiopia and Somalia are examples. These natural and human - made adversities cause poverty and poor health conditions, increasing the number of people with disabilities. People experience physical disabilities from shortage of vitamins, various disease s , and war injuries. Together with disabilities as a result of other factors, it means there are a significant number of people with impairments in the region. The World Report on Disability [ 7 ] revealed that people with disabilities in Ethiopia constitute 17.6 % of the total population. According to the International Labour Organization ( ILO ) report [ 8 ], around 95 % of these disadvantaged groups live in poverty , making their livelihood dependent on family support and begging. Even though clear data was not found , the number of people with disabilities in Tigray region is believed to be above the national average. Government r eports from Tigray region showed that around 10 0 ,000 Tigray People’s Liberation Front ( TPLF ) militants were disabled during the fight against the Derg regime from 1975 to 1991 . R ecent reports also indicated that the war fought in the last couple of years in Tigray has left hundreds of thousands either death and or with injuries. The serious impact of the war is visible , with people moving with mobility aids, wheelchairs and crutches are seen on the streets of Mekelle city. I ncluding impairments as a result of other factors, a huge number of people with disabilities are believed to live in the region . People with disabilities usually deal with various social, economic, and political challenges and inequalities [3] . These challenges differ depending on the type and severity of the disability. E xclusion including stigma, discrimination, barriers to basic services such as healthcare, education, water and sanitation, unequal opportunity to employment, and exclusion from decision making are some of the most common problems people with disabilities face . Exclusion of people with disabilities result in l ow self - esteem, poverty, aggravated health problems , and lower quality of life [ 9 ]. The negative outcomes of these exclusions range from the vulnerable individuals and their families to the community at a national and gl obal level. The World Bank [1 0 ] estimates that the exclusion of people with disabilities result s in an annual global GDP loss between 1.71 to 2.23 trillion USD. People with disabilities constitute the most disadvantaged groups in a society [ 11 ]. The Rehabilitation Act [ 11 ] described disability as a natural human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate and benefit from full participation in economic, soc ial, and political mainstreams. People with disabilities have the right to inclusive, integrated and accessible urban infrastructure and services that meet their needs. This requires that all barriers to people with disabilities get eliminated or reduced , and these vulnerable groups be afforded equal opportunities to education, work and employment, healthcare services, decision making, among many others. Globally, the United Nations and its member states have been making encouraging efforts to address the challenges of people with disabilities and to realise the motto of “ no one is left behind ” . These efforts are well established in the policies and strategies of developed countries, but are still emerging, though encouraging, in low and middle income countries (LMICs) [1 2 ]. In 1969, the UN General Assembly adopted a declaration with a view to protect the rights and welfare of people with disabilities that gave international recognition that it is the society that creates barriers for the full participation of disadvantaged groups. Since then , the UN has been adopting declarations and establishing conventions . This includes the 2006 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) , aimed and used as an instrument for protecting the rights , dignity and inclusive development of people with disabilities . 7 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` It also included 17 goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) , calling the international community “ to seize every opportunity to include disability as a cross cutting issue ” and ensure “ no one is left behind ” to achieve disability inclusive development [1 3 ]. As a UN member state, Ethiopia has been adopting and implementing a number of conventions, policies, and laws pertaining to people with disabilities . This can be c learly seen in the nation’s 1995 constitution Article 41(5) stating the government’s responsibility for the “ provision of necessary rehabilitation and support services ” for people with disabilities . It also included it in the Proclamation No. 568/2008 that aimed to protect the rights of employment of disadvantaged groups and eliminate any discriminator y laws, practice s , custom, and attitude s that limit equal opportunities for people with disabilities . Among many others, the country also ratified the UN CRPD convention with Proclamation No. 676/2010 and included it as cross - cutting issue under social welfare in its first and second Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP) [14 , 15] . D espite Ethiopia adopt ing many international treaties and conventions and ratifying them as part of its laws and policies , the issue of including people with disabilities is far from reali s ation . The attitude towards inclusive development is still low. Infrastructure and services still remain full of barriers for disadvantaged groups. The construction and transport sectors are clear indicators of the current challenges for people with disabilities in Ethiopia . Despite the ratification of Building Proclamation No. 624/2009 aiming to provide accessibility in the design and construction of any building to ensure suitability for physically impaired people , public bu ildings remain inaccessible for vulnerable groups. On urban roads, planners, designers and administrators are giving higher priority to vehicular traffic . This means the needs of pedestrians and people with disabilities in particular remain neglected. Public transport and facilities do not have room for people with disabilities . Regional states and cities in the country are far from reali s ing disability inclusive development. The existing policies, regulations, and enforcements are not adequate to avoid the problems faced by people with disabilities . Similarly, transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city did not consider the needs of people with disabilities resulting in aggravated socio - economic problems of the disadvantaged groups. This is manifested in terms of inaccessible buildings for people with disabilities ; challenges for wheelchair users to get into bus stations and onto buses; non - existent, narrow or poorly designed and managed sidewalks; missing kerb ramps; lack of signage and information; no waiting areas for wheelchair users ; la ck of elevators and lifting platforms; and access difficulties to education, healthcare, and job opportunities. To make the transport system sustainable in Mekelle city , the planning, design and operation of infrastructure and services need to be inclusive to people with disabilities . Therefore, to overcome the challenges and promote inclusive and sustainable urban transport, the existing situations in the city should be scientifically assessed , challenges should be identified, and best practices of other countries assessed and customi s ed to suit local conditions, and create ground for idea sharing and bring common understanding among stakeholders. T his resea rch project aims to (1) assess the suitability of the existing transport system in Mekelle city for people with disabilities , (2) propose a disability friendly design and implementation guide of urban transport infrastructures, and (3) develop an urban transport infrastructure and service policy brief. The research work consist ed of a review of both scientific and gray literatures, primary data collection, and detail ed data analysis and reporting. Consultative meetings were also carried out to gather and sh are ideas on the research project. 1.2 Aim s of the p roject This study aims to explore the safety and mobility challenges of the existing transport system in Mekelle city, Ethiopia for people with disabilit ies and propose possible solutions . It also intends to develop inclusive transport policies and strategies for people with disabilities in cities of LICs. Generally, this study has the following three objectives : 1. Assess the suitability of Mekelle city transport system for people with disabilities. 2. Propose a disability friendly design and implementation guide of urban trans port infrastructure s for Mekelle city . 3. Develop an urban tran sport infrastructure and service policy brief . 8 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 1.3 Project a lignment with the HVT Programme This research project is in line with the HVT programme themes of “ policy regulation ” and sub - themes “ inclusion, gender and road safety ” and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the transport sector. The research outputs are expected to contribute to bringing urban transport policy, planning, and design changes in Ethiopia and other LICs. 1.4 Expected p roject o utcomes and i mpacts • Developed/improved urban transport infrastructure and service inclusive urban transport infrastructure policy, strategies, and guidelines • Improved transport infrastructure design recommendations • Implemented inclusive urban transport infrastructure for people with disabilities • Improved safety and mobility for people with disabilities • Increased network and connectivity among stakeholders in the transport sector • Improved awareness with stakeholders on planning, design, and implementation of inclusive urban transport system s • Enhanced capacity of stakeholders on planning, design, and implementation of inclusive urban transport system • Drive experiences for cities in LICs. • Improved law enforcement for proper management of urban transport infrastructures • Improved level of satisfaction of persons with disabilities and pedestrians as a result of improved transport infrastructure design and services 2. Research a pproach and m ethodology 2.1 Overview of the p roject The research project was undertaken as applied research work in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. The general objective of the research was to explore the safety and mobility challenges of urban transport system s in Mekelle city with respect to people with disabilit ies . The duration of the research project wa s 6 months starting from 1 st July, 2023 and ended on 20 th December, 2023. The project was planned to be carried out mainly in three parts; ( 1) assessment of the safety and mobility challenges of people with disabilities , (2) proposing disability friendly design and implementation guide for urban transport infrastructure and (3) developing disability inclusive policy directions and strategies. The research work consists of a review of both scientific and gr e y literatures, primary data collection, and detail data analysis and reporting. Project briefing and c onsultative meet ings were also carried out with stakeholders and disability associations to gather and share ideas on the project objectives and activities . Discussions with Mekelle University School of Civil Engineering dean, department heads, and senior staffs were also conducted to create common understanding and for information sharing on inclusi ve urban transport infrastructure system . 2.2 Study a rea d escription Mekelle , which is the capital city of Tigray region , is the second largest and fast growing city in Ethiopia next to Addis Ababa . It is located in the n orthern part of Ethiopia with the geographical location of 13 o 29’36.78’’ N and 39 o 27’56.66’’ E. The population projection of Ethiopia shows that Mekelle city ha d a total population of 358,528 in 2017 [16] . However, due to the current political, social and economic situation in the country, the population is expected to be more than half a million [17 ] . The mode shares of n on - motori s ed and motorised means of transport in Mekelle city are 66.5% and 33.5% respectively [17 ] . A study by Developmental Partners [18] indicated that around 70% of trips are made to and from the city 9 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` centre . W alking is the dominant mode of transport with a 52.8% share of all trips. The majority of the existing roads and roads under construction are narrow with no or inconvenient walkways especially for people with disabilities. Even though there is no quant it atively described evidence , Mekelle city is believed to be the home of many people with disabilities . It is also the home of the strongest disability association in the country , Tigray Disabled Veteran Association (TDVA) . The association has more than 3 0,000 war veteran members in Tigray region, including its 3 , 000 members located in Mekelle city. A number of local NGOs and disability associations were also recently established in the city. Figure 2 - 1 : L ocation map of Mekelle city in Tigray and Ethiopia 2.3 Research m ethodology 2.3.1 General A c omprehensive review of both scientific and gr e y literatures and detail ed analysis of primary data were performed for this study . Primary data was collected using questionnaire - based face - to - face interviews, FGDs , and on - site assessments of the transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city . A t hematic analysis approach was employed to analyse the qualitative data obtained from in - depth interviews (IDI) and FGDs . The analysis began with identifying textual data and organise meanings to detect repeated 10 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` patterns fro m life experiences of people with disabilities and finally end with developing themes. The goal of th e analysis was to illuminate unique information from the respondents and participants , keeping the study objectives in mind. D escriptive and inferential techniques were used to analyse t he quantitative data. Discussions were made on the research findings and these discussions were used as benchmarks to propose disability friendly urban transport infrastructure design guideline s and to develop a policy brief that could promote the safety and mobility of people with disabilities in LICs. The methodological framework of our research project is as illustrated in Figure 2 - 2 . Consultative meetings and FGDs were also carried out to gather and share ideas on the research project objectivities and activities . In - depth discussions we re made on the research findings where conclusions and recommendations we re drawn on developing disability friendly urban transport infrastructure guidelines and policy directions. Policy recommendations and proposed future required improvements were proposed and discussed with local government officials. The outcomes and impacts of this research work will be examined through continuous monitoring and evaluation (M&E) works during and after the project period. Figure 2 - 2 : Methodological framework of the research project 2.3.2 Review of l iterature A n overall r evie w of scientific publications and other relevant documents were carried out in this research. A review of guidelines, policy and regulation documents, and other grey literatures related to people with 11 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` disabilities were also carried out. The search mainly included documents from Tigray region and Mekelle city. It also incorporate d national documents relating to transport inclusion for people with disabilities . The search was also expanded to other cities and countries to obtain best experiences that fit the study objectives. The literature review works and findings were used to compare the findings from the primary data analysis. They were also used to support the preparation of disability friendly urban transport infrastructure guideline s and to develop policy directions. Best practice s from around the globe were identified and suggested for application in cities of LICs. 2.3.3 Sampling t echniques This research work consisted of both quantitative and qualitative data collection s . The minimum sample size for the quantitative data collection using digital questionnaire based face - to - face interview s was estimated using the Cochran ’s f ormula (Equation 1) . ! ! = # " $% & " ( 1 ) Where, ! ! is the minimum sample size; Z is the value corresponding to the selected alpha level, in this case is 1.96 considering a 95% confidence level; p is the estimated proportion which is 0.5; q is equal to 1 - p; and e is the acceptable margin of error which in this case is 0.05. Generally, the sample size used for collecting the quantitative data from face - to - face interview of sample persons with disabilities wa s 423, which is relatively higher than the minimum required sample size of 384. R espondents with disabilities were selected using stratified and systematic techniques. At first, communication s with the disability association s and city administrators were carried out . Then, the location of persons with disabilities residen ces , working and training areas were identified . Furthermore, information on the list of persons for the questionnaire study was gathered . Institutions were stratified at first by their geographic location and type (union of war disabled persons, unions of vision impaired persons, care centres, etc.) . Since the number of institutions in the city we re few, all of them were included for data collection . Classification of persons with disability with respect to geographic location, type of impairment ( physical, vision, and hear ing) , sex, and age group was carried out. From each institution , r epresentative samples fr om each of the physical and visu ally impaired groups aged 18 and above were taken randomly and interviewed at their residence or workplace . Some respondents with hearing impairment s were also incorporated. Care was taken to avoid duplication of persons that are in two or more lists of institutions by checking their full names and replacing individuals with similar identit ies . O n - street assessments were also carried out to get additional persons with disability to the survey. Yamane’s formula (Equation 2) was used to determine the sample size of main streets for the onsite assessment of the asphalt roads. ! = + ( 1 + + × & " ) ( 2 ) Where, ! is the minimum sample size in kilometre; N is the population size in kilometre; and e is the acceptable margin of error , which in this case is 0.05. A total of 68 km asphalt roads were assessed. A total of 10 km cobblestone roads were also purposefully selected and assessed. A total of 44 public buildings , including hotels, government offices, education centre s , health centre s , and commercial centres were purposefully selected and assessed. 2.3.4 Data c ollection 2.3.4.1 Interviews and d iscussions A m ixed research design approach was used to collect and analyse data in this study. Digital q uestionnaire based face - to - face surveys w ere carried out to collect quantitative data from people with disabilit ies . The digital questionnaire survey form was developed using an Open Data Kit (ODK) and loaded on to mobile phones and tablets to facilitate the data collection process and save the time needed for data encoding. An information technology expert was recruited to develop the digital form , train the 12 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` data collectors, and manage the collected data. The questionnaire was well structured with mainly closed - ended questions. S ome open - ended questions were also incorporated to enable respondents to deliver additional or new information when necessary. The questions included in the form were categori s ed into seven parts: respondents ’ general background information , (2) types and causes of impairments, routine transport mobility used , and persons with disabilities safety and mobility challenges in using the transport systems. Respondents were able to rate the suitability of existing transport infrastructures using the five point Likert scale from 1 (Very Poor) to 5 (Very Good) and the impact of these facilities on their livelihood from 1 (Very Low) to 5 (Extremely High) . Quantitative Survey Respondents A total of 423 physical (315) and sensory (108) impaired respondents were interviewed using the digital questionnaire based face - to - face interview. These sample participants we re from all of the seven sub - cities of Mekelle: Adi - haki (45), Ayder (54), Hadnet (91), Hawelti (54), Kedamay Weyane (91), Quiha (40), and Semen sub - city (48). Female respondents were 28% of the study and the age distribution is illustrated in Figure 2 - 3 . Only six respondents were incorporated from hearing impaired individuals. This is due to the difficulty find ing these respondents, challenges in find ing good interpreter s and the significance of the data from such respondents on the overall objective of the project. The scope of the project is mainly towards solving the problems of physical and visually impaired individuals. People with learning disabilities and mental health conditions we re not incorporated in this research. Figure 2 - 3 : Age distribution of respondents 36%34%26%4%18-3031-4545-65>65Age range 13 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 2 - 4 : Number of respondents from each sub - city Table 2 - 1 : Educational background of respondents Educational Status Frequency Percentage No formal education 64 15.1 Basic education 49 11.6 Primary school (1 - 8) 73 17.3 Secondary school (9 - 12) 93 22 Diploma 48 11.3 First degree 86 20.3 Second degree 10 2.4 Total 423 100 The persons with disability respondents were from various occupational background s as illustrated in Table 2 - 1 . The educational background ranged from no formal education (15.1%) to first degree (20.3%) and second degree (2.4%) educations. Qualitative Survey In this research, qualitative data was also collected using an in - depth interview of selected people with disabilit ies , interview s with key informants (KII) and FGD s . Based on the unique lived experiences of people with disabilities obtained during the quantitative survey, open - ended questions were prepared and five respondents were contacted and scheduled for in - depth interview task. The respondents were asked questions moving from more general into specific ones. An i n - depth semi - structured interview of 15 key informants from governmental institutions , public transport union s , disability associations, professional associations, practitioners, higher education, and hotel owners was carried out. T hree FGDs , with 6 - 9 participants in each group, were carried out. Participants of the FGD s were selected from different age, sex, impairment, level of education, and employment groups . The discussion focused on the participants understanding of the existing Mekelle city’s transport infrastructure and services with respect to inclusion of people with disabilit ies , identifying the safety and mobility barriers, their experience in participating in planning, design and implementation of the urban transport infrastructures and services, coordination among stakeholders, availability and implementation of existing policies and regulations pertaining to the safety and mobility of people with dis abilit ies , and measure s to be taken to improve the inclusiveness of urban transport systems. 455491549140480102030405060708090100Adi-hakiAyderHadnetHaweltiKedamay WeyneQuihaSemen 14 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 2.3.4.2 Transport i nfrastructure a ssessment T ransport system related p rimary data was also collected using on - site assessments of the transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city. A total of 68 km asphalt roads and 10 km cobblestone roads were assessed. Most of these streets connect residential areas with nearby public transports that go direct to the city centre. The main streets included in this study we re also expected to serve relatively higher numbers of daily walking trips . D ata collection checklists that incorporate d points related to total width of street, total width of sidewalks, sidewalk space utili s ation , street crossing condition, walkway surface condition , signage and information, taxi and bus station facility conditions, building entrance and vertical transport conditions were prepared . A walkability assessment of the main streets was also carried out using 9 parameters (Table 2 - 2) . Overhead obstructions below 2.3 m high were also recorded at sidewalks during the assessment work . To identify the proper utili s ation of street sidewalks, type and placement of sidewalk obstructions were also recorded. These points helped to evaluate the safety and accessibility of the existing infrastructures in Mekelle city , whether the facilities are d irect and/or easy to access , d emand minimum effort to be used by all community groups, including people with disabilities , and a llow sufficient space for users , especially wheelchair users . 2.3.5 Data a nalysis The completeness and consistency of the collected data was checked at first to ensure its reliability. The collected data was stored in Microsoft Excel for storage and further analysis. Thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data obtained from IDI, KII, and FGD. This process included three steps : achieve familiarity with the data through repeated open minded reading, search for meanings and organi sing them in to patterns, organi sing themes and writ ing them in to meaningful text . Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 software was used to organi s e data and make statistical analysis and research. Quantitative data obtained from the digital questionnaire based face - to - face survey was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics . This d ata analysis involve d simple descriptive statistics such as average, frequency counts and percentages. Relevant parametric and non - parametric statisti cal tests were also used to analyse the questionnaire based and field - based measured data. Relative importance index (RII) for importance and s everity index (SI) for impacts were us ed to compare rank of various factors in relation to suitability of urban transport infrastructure on people with disabilit ies and the impacts of poor infrastructure on their livelihoods . RII wa s calculated based on E quat ion 3 , described below. /00 = ∑ 2 ( 3 × + ) ( 3 ) Where RII is relative importance index (%), W is weight given to each mitigation measure by respondents (1 to 5), A is the highest weight (5), N is total number of respondents. Importanc e index was categori s ed as high ly important (5), important (4), moderate ly important (3), less important (2) and not important (1). An assessment was made to know how the urban transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city are affecting the daily activities of people with disabilities. People with disabilities were made to rate the negative impact of the existing transport infr astructure and services on a scale from 1 (not sever e ) to 5 (extreme ly sever e ). These Likert scale results were used to estimate the severity index (SI) using E quation 4 ; 50 = ∑ 6 7 # $ 8 × %&& ' (4 ) Where SI is severity index (%), a is a constant expressing weight given to each response (1 to 5), n is frequency of responses and N is the total number of responses. Degree of severity was categori s ed as extreme (5), high (4), moderate (3), low (2) and not sever (1). The quantitative and qualitative data were integrated during the data collection and analyses. Mixed method research was used to compare results from the quantitative and qualitative data. From the on - site infrastructure condition assessment , t he effective sidewalk width ( " " ) of the main streets in the city w as determined using the following equation 5 [19] : 15 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 2 ( = 2 ) − 2 ! ( 5 ) Where: W E = effective sidewalk width (m), W T = total sidewalk width (m), W O = sum of effective width of fixed objects located on the sidewalk and shy distances from obstructions (m). E ffective sidewalk width determined using equation 5 was compared with the minimum sidewalk width required for wheelchair users. The accessibility of sidewalk surfaces, kerb ramps , and building entrances were also evaluated and results were compared with the standard requirements. 16 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Table 2 - 2 : Grouping of parameters to the aspects. No Aspect Code Parameter Weight (%) 1 Accessibility a spect P2 Availability of sidewalk 25 P7 Infrastructure for disabilities 15 2 Supporting f aciliti es a spect P3 Availability of pedestrian crossings 10 P6 Supporting facilities (amenities) 5 3 Safety a spect P1 Pedestrian conflicts with other modes of transportation 5 P4 Safety of pedestrian crossings 10 P5 Motorist b ehaviour 5 P9 Encroachment 10 4 Convenience a spect P8 Sidewalk obstacle 15 Gener ally, results we re presented in tables and charts. Primary data obtained from different sources were discussed in reference to secondary data outlined in the literature review as well as baseline information describing the situation of the urban public transport conditions in Mekelle city. 17 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 3. Results and d iscussion The safety and mobility of people with disabilities in the built urban environment is affected by a number of factors. Th e s e include the suitability of building entrance/exit facilities, pedestrian facilities, modes of transport , the availability of people with disabilities inclusive policies and regulations and awareness of government bodies, practitioners, service providers and the vulnerable groups on the available policies and regulations . The convenience of transport infrastructures and services may determine the choice of facility and frequency of trips made . Assessments were carried out using questionnaire based face - to - face interview, in - depth interview s , FGDs , and onsite surveys of building and transport infrastructures in Mekelle city to explore how the factors affect the safety and mobility of people with disabilities . The findings of the research work are described and discussed in the following sub - sections. 3.1 Disability and m obility in Mekelle c ity Assessments on the causes of impairments , mobility aids use d , frequen cy of travel and the mode of travel used were carried out using the questionnaire based survey of 423 people with disabilit ies . The study indicated that the major causes of impairments in Mekelle city we re war related incidents (39.95%) and illnes s (28.13%) as shown in Figure 3 - 1 . The higher number of people with disabilities in Mekelle city is most probably because of its locat ion in the Horn of Africa, in which conflict, disease and famine frequently occur. The study result indicated that 85.26 % of people with disabilities in Mekelle city use mobility aids in their usual travels ( Figure 3 - 2 ) . This demonstrates that a significant proportion of individuals with physical and visual impairments rely on various forms of assistive devices to facilitate their mobility. Out of the mobility aid users, 44.48% of the m use a walking stick and 36.26% of them use a wheelchair. Figure 3 - 1 : Causes of physical and vision impairments in Mekelle city 3.089.2219.6228.1339.95051015202530354045OtherTraffic accidentSince birthIllnessWarPercentCauses of impairement in Mekelle city 18 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 2 : Mobility aids used by people with disabilities in Mekelle city Regardless of the purpose of their trip and the suitability of the existing transport infrastructure and services for their mobility, 63% of the respondents indicated that they make a trip at least once in a day. About 21% of them make trips some days in a week. The remaining respondents indicated that they make trips some days in a month (11%) or a year (4%). Only 1% of people with disabilities in Mekelle city never make trips throughout the year. Figure 3 - 3 : People with disabilities r espondents ’ f requency of making trips in Mekelle city T he study indicated that 40% of the respondents encountered additional accidents or injuries as a result of their impairments. More than 50% of these accidents or injuries happened on roadways (sidewalk, carriagewa y, and crossings) and 24.3% of them happened at home ( Figure 3 - 4 ) . The accidents were caused mainly (68%) by lack of inclusive building and transport infrastructure in Mekelle city . During the in - depth interview session with selected people with disability respondents, one interviewee shared an experience from his friends as summari s ed below. “I used to experience some injuries on sidewalks though they were not too bad. However, one time my friend, who is visually impaired , used to walk on a sidewalk and suddenly f e ll in to a manhole and was forced to wait for hours until he got someone who t oo k him out of the hole . Another friend of mine also lost his life after falling in to a manhole ”. 1.135.385.386.5236.2644.4805101520253035404550OtherMotorized wheelchairCrutchAssistance from another personWheelchairWalking stickPercentMobility aids used by respondents14112127360510152025303540Never make a tripSome days in a yearSome days in a monthSome days in a weekOnce in a dayTwice or more in a dayPercentResponses for number of trips made 19 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Most of the respondents agreed that the sidewalks in Mekelle city are a challeng e to people with disabilities . Sidewalks in the city are even inconvenient to non - disabled individuals too. Another participant of a group discussion also shared his experience regarding the problem o f sidewalks as follows: “I was standing along the sidewalk of a main street in my neighbourhood. I saw a woman with a child in her shoulder coming to my direction . Suddenly, I saw her falling downward on the sidewalk and people running toward that area. I was quite surprised! When I went there, I got to an open manhole with the woman and her small kid begging for help. We took them out of the manhole b ut the woman suffered from a broken arm. ” Almost all of the participants in the interview and group discussion s agreed that the streets in Mekelle city are not convenient for people with disabilities in particular and all pedestrian groups in general. During the questionnaire based interview , 81.6% of the respondents who use walking only or wheelchair only as their mode of transport often use the carriageway because sidewalk facilities are narrow , inaccessible, full of obstacles, and have poor surface forcing them to avoid it . Figure 3 - 4 : R espondents experience of accidents on the urban built environment of Mekelle city As illustrated in Figure 3 - 5 , 36.9% of the respondents use walking and public transport during their trip. About 17.1% use wheelchairs during their travels. Only 6 .2 % of the respondents use walking only as their mode of transport. Wheelchair users usually face challenges not only from the transport infrastructure and vehicle design s , but also from m ini - bus drivers and their assistants. The bus transport in the city is usually limited and it was not functional during the survey time . The r ickshaw or b ajaj transport is common mode used in Mekelle . Mini - bus taxi, t he main public transport in the city, however, was described negatively by wheelchair users. T a xi d rivers and their assistants are reluctant to serve wheelchair users and usua lly ask fees for wheelchairs , resulting in double tariffs. One wheelchair user described this problem in a discussion as follows: “I have been living in Mekelle city for the last 20 years, but I never used to take taxi s for my daily trip. Do you know why? Because the taxi drivers and their assistants usually ignore to pick my wheelchair for free. My wheelchair is like my shoes, but they often ask me to pay double, and there is no law that enforces them. The awareness of the taxi drivers is low. Hence, I usually prefer rolling my wheelchair instead of taking taxi for my travels ”. Similarly, another person with a disability also shared his challenges on the public transport as follows: “So many times, because of my disability, the drivers and their assistants did not let me use the public transport. They usually respond to me as there exist no space or the space is not convenient for me, hence, they prefer to load one over the other to maximize their advantages.” Wheelchair users frequently claimed that w hen the y try to take min i- bus taxi s , the drivers pretend the taxi is full while they are calling for others to serve. During one of the FGDs , a participant from the Mekelle city Transport Administration confirmed the challenges wheelchair users face by iterating the problem arises 3.03.611.816.017.823.724.30.05.010.015.020.025.030.0OtherBoarding and alightingZebra crossingCarriagewayWork areaSidewalkHomePercentWhere did the additional accident/damage occur? 20 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` because of lack of awareness from the drivers and weaknesses in implementation of the available rules and regulations supporting people with disabilities . Figure 3 - 5 : Transport mode choice of people with disabilities in Mekelle city Unlike wheelchair users, 79.6% of visually impaired people were found to take m ini - bus taxi s for their daily travels . The streets in Mekelle city were found to be unsuitable for visually impaired people and wheelchair user s . Similar to the challenges people with disabilities observed on streets and transport services, there are challenges on the public building entrances and exits too ( Figure 3 - 6 ). During the questionnaire based survey, one respondent shared his daily experience on such problem as follows: “I work in a bank. But at my work place, the existing entrance to the building has no ramp and it is not convenient for me. I usually ask the guards to carry me up to the entrance of the building.” Generally, the suitability of the existing public buildings and transport infrastructures and services are further illustrated and discussed in the next sub - sections. 3.2 Suitability of e xisting t ransport f acility The questionnaire based survey showed that the existing urban transport facility of Mekelle city is unsuitable for people with disabilities . This was revealed by below 50% RII values for suitability of the e xisting urban transport facilities ( Figure 3 - 6 ). The first three most unsuitable facilities were road sidewalks (RII=27.9), disability mobility aids (RII=30.9%), and building entrance ramps (RII=31.3%) respectively . Other building facilities such as toilets and space s (RII=31.4%), and lifts and elevators were found to be uncomfortable for people with disability ’s mobility. 1.01.46.217.117.619.836.90.05.010.015.020.025.030.035.040.0Private carOtherWalking onlyWheelchair onlyWheelchair and public transportPublic transportWalking and public transportPercentResponses for transport mode choice 21 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 6 : Suitability of existing transport facility in Mekelle city This study revealed that the existing transport facility is way below the standard considered to be an inclusive urban transport infrastructure for vulnerable groups. Therefore, the transport policy need to be revised so that an inclusive transport infrastructure can be put in place as soon as possible. T his demands integrated action from governmental and non - governmental organi s ations to start implementing an inclusive infrastructure for future developments. The measures that need to be implemented to improve the existing urban transport infrastructure in Mekelle city are detailed in Figure 3 - 7 . Measures include on time removal of waste and avoiding roadside cafes and vendors (RII=94.6%), improving design of road sidewalks and footpaths (RII=94%) and avoiding illegal parking on road sidewalks . These were the top three priority measures that need to be implemented to improve the existing transport infrastructure in Mekelle city. Furthermore, proper management of sidewalks, increasing public awareness on inclusive transport, improving public transport boarding facilities, providing public transport awaiting facilities, and ensuring smoothness and accessibility of public transport were still important measures with RII values greater than 90%. All o ther measures in Figure 3 - 2 have RII values of greater than 85%. This result indicates that there is a need for a paradigm shift in our current transport policy and strategy to bring about tangible results to improve the suitability of existing transport infrastructure in Mekelle city for people with disabilities . 051015202530354045SidewalksDisability mobility aidsBuilding entrance rampsToilet accessibility on buildingsLifts and elevators on buildingsBoarding facilities at public transport stopsRoadway slopesRoadway surface conditionsDisability mobility aidsRelative importance index, RII (%)Suitability of mobility aids and facilities 22 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 7 : Proposed measures to be implemented to improve suitability of existing transport facility in Mekelle city 3.2.1 Road i nfrastructure Generally, the on ground assessment of the existing public transport infrastructures indicated that the main streets in Mekelle city were found to be poorly walkable. This wa s revealed by a result of 46.5 walkability index (WI) of the selected streets in Mekelle city which is below average walkable ( Table 3 - 1 ). Table 3 - 1 : Weighted average walkability index of Mekelle city streets Parameter Weight (W) Walkability index (WI) Pedestrian conflicts with other modes 5 2.3 Availability of sidewalk 25 12.0 Availability of pedestrian crossings 10 4.2 Safety of pedestrian crossings 10 6.0 Motorist behaviour 5 2.0 Supporting facilities (amenities) 5 2.0 Infrastructure for disabilities 15 4.3 Sidewalk obstacle 15 8.2 Encroachments 10 5.5 Total 100 46.5 Similarly, the assessment on the walkability of the main streets showed that the overall WI per parameter is below average ( Figure 3 - 8 ). Sidewalks in the main streets of the city are available but they are full of roadside static obstacles and encroachments , are poorly managed and un clean as show n in Figure 3 - 11 , Figure 3 - 12 and Figure 3 - 13 . Trees, utility poles, and refuse bins were located arbitrarily on the sidewalk space, building access ramps, shops and cafes were seen encroached onto sidewalks , and open or broken manhole covers were seen in various areas. According to the assessment result (WI=27.3) , the availability of infrastructures for people with disabilities are limited , unsafe and not in a usable condition. The availability of pedestrian crossings in the main streets is below average with a WI score of 41.2. 86.588.189.290.190.891.591.792.293.393.99494.60102030405060708090100Include street signs and direction mapsProvide audible alarms & signs at junctionsProvision of tactile paving on sidewalksEnsure accessibility of pedestrian crossingsAvail public transport waiting facilitiesImprove accessibility of public transportProvide pedestrian protection infrastructureIncrease public awarenessProperly manage sidewalksAvoid illegal parking on sidewalksImprove design of sidewalks and footpathsRemoval of roadside encroachmentsRelative importance index (%) 23 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 8 : Average walkability index per parameter of Mekelle city streets The study also incorporate d sidewalk width assessment of the main streets. Most of the streets in the study had a width of below 3.5 metre ( Figure 3 - 9 ). Figure 3 - 9 : Sidewalk widths of surveyed roads of Mekelle city streets The sidewalk space was found to be poorly managed and static obstructions were located arbitrarily with no coordination. These obstruct path s for pedestrians and create safety hazard s to visually impaired people . According to the effective sidewalk assessment result, only 19.2% of the assessed sidewalks were found to fulfil the recommended width of 2.4 metre s which is required to allow two wheelchair users to pass each other. O f the sidewalks assessed in this study, 46.2% were found to have a sidewalk width usable to pedestrians of less than 1.2 metre s, which is below the bare minimum required width to serve two pedestrians to pass each other ( Figure 3 - 10 ). 45.546.141.258.238.838.827.352.752.1010203040506070Pedestrian conflicts with other modesAvailability of sidewalkAvailability of pedestrian crossingsSafety of pedestrian crossingsMotorist behaviourSupporting facilities (amenities)Infrastructure for disabilitiesSidewalk obstacleEncroachments11.13.740.729.618.50.05.010.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.0< 2.52.5-2.993-3.493.5-3.99>4Frequency (%)Sidewalk width (m) 24 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 10 : Effective sidewalk widths of surveyed roads of Mekelle city streets Figure 3 - 11 : Sidewalk obstructions in Mekelle city main streets: Alula Street (a, b, c) and Adihawsi - Hawelti Dldi Street (d) 46.27.77.715.43.819.20.05.010.015.020.025.030.035.040.045.050.0< 1.21.2-1.491.5-1.791.8-2.092.1-2.39>2.4PercentEffective sidewalk width (m) 25 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 12 : Obstacles and safety hazards on sidewalks of Mekelle city: extended ramp and tree with planter box (a); sidewalk café, planter container and street furniture (b); open manhole (c); and missed ramp, congested utility poles and perpendicular on street parking (d) Figure 3 - 13 : Poor sidewalk space management on the Agazi Street in Mekelle city 26 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Assessments o f cobblestone roads Cobblestone roads in Mekelle city usually serve as shared paths for pedestrians and car drivers with no defined standards. They provide access to residential areas and sometimes connect the city neighbourhoods with the city centre. Cobblestone roads are unsafe, inconvenient, and uncomfortable to be used by pedestrians and especially by people with disabilit ies . They are rough, full of undulations, with no traffic regulations and a lack of tactile paving to help pedestrians with various impairments. Cobblestone roads in Mekelle are often designed with a small ditch on either or both sides of the road and sidewalks are rarely available. O n some roads , the construction of closed u - ditch drainage structure on either side of a road was observed. These drainage structures are use d to serve pedestrians even though they wer e full of level brakes or vertical cuts as they are primarily not constructed for pedestrians. Around a residential area used by war veteran disabled groups , known locally as “Sifra Jeganu” ( Figure 3 - 14 a and b ), the disabled people were observed to walk around the area and access to the nearby asphalt roads using the u - ditch drainage covers serving as sidewalks . Figure 3 - 14 : Cobblestone roads in Mekelle city 3.2.2 Public t ransport and f acilities In Mekelle city , the two most popular modes of transport are the white and blue coloured mini - bus taxi and the auto rickshaw , locally known as “ b ajaj”. Company employee and student service buses are also available , but there is no bus transport that currently operat es to serve the wider public. All of the public transport vehicles operating in the city were found to be inaccessible to wheelchair users and do not have any facilities to aid visually impaired people . Some vehicles do not even have space to carry wheelchairs. Public transport stops in the city are limited. No defined stops were observed in the streets of the city except shades with seating ( Figure 3 - 1 5 a ) , but with no access ramps, tactile guidance, and other supporting facilities for people with disabilities . The pavements and facilities around these shades are similar to the facilities throughout the streets. 27 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 15 : Public transport stops and services in Mekelle city 3.2.3 Building f acilities Evaluation was carried out on a total of 44 public buildings in order to assess the physical environment (both the entrance and interior) of public buildings with regards to their accessibility for people with disabilities. This survey encompassed various types of institutions including hotels, commercial buildings, educational centres, health centres, and government offices. The findings of the survey revealed that, among the assessed hotels and educationa l centres, 80% and 90% respectively had access entr ances and exits with ramps. O nly 14.3%, 40%, and 42.9% of the surveyed commercial buildings, health centres, and government offices respectively were found to be accessible. I t was observed that more than 75% of the available entrance and exit ramps on hotels and commercial centres were constructed in inappropriate location s , with inadequate slope s , landing, and width s . L ess than 50% of these ramps had supportive infrastructure , such as handrails and other facilities for people with disabilities. T he results of the survey indicated that accessibility within the buildings themselves was limited, with more than 60% of all the surveyed institutions being inaccessible. During the on - site assessment, i n some buildings , the available ramps and stairs were seen to extend in to the adjacent road sidewalks , becoming obstacle s to pedestrian s ( Figure 3 - 16 ) . During the workshops, FGDs, and key informant interviews this issue was raised repeatedly. One participant shared his experience as follows: 28 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` “There should be integration between the street design, city plan, and building regulation s . The land directive contradicts the building regulation. For instance, the regulation demands basement parking in mixed - use and commercial buildings starting from a 200 square metre area. This is too difficult to implement, almost impractical. The questio n is that how far should a building be built if we are going to provide a ramp for people with disabilit ies . This is the problem we have been facing as a building consultant. We want to provide basement for vehicle parking but at the same time we have to provide accessible ramp s for people with disabilities. But, with limited building space, when we provide parking space s , we have to make the ground floor of the building somewhat higher than the nearby street sidewalk making it difficult to provide accessible ramps for people with disabilities . The integration between the building and the street should be considered. As a result of the above problems, we are sometime s forced to design buildings with no or inaccessible ramp s for people with mobility impairments.” Figure 3 - 16 : Access ramps and stairs in some public/commercial buildings extended on to street sidewalks in Mekelle city Through the on - site assessment s made, public and commercial buildings built in wider plan areas were seen installing access ramps to the buildings poorly and significantly extended in to the nearby sidewalks ( Figure 3 - 16 ). The study did not consider this as a result of insufficient space but might be as a result of lack of awareness , poor design and regulation works. T he limited space , together with the poor design works of buildings , are creating obstacles to pedestrians in general and in particular, for people with disabilities . 29 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Figure 3 - 17 : Access ramps, lift s and amenit ies in hotels in Mekelle city 3.3 Impact of p oor u rban t ransport i nfrastructure on the livelihoods of people with disabilit ies The main causes and impacts of existing urban infrastructure on the livelihood s of people with disabilities were studied using a questionnaire with 423 respondents. The results of the questionnaire are summari s ed in Table 3 - 2 and Table 3 - 3 . Table 3 - 2 shows that the problems that influenced people with disabilities’ livelihood mainly arise from absence of disability friendly utilities on sidewalks, lack of or poor design of mobility aids, lack of resting spaces and the bad behaviour of drivers and their assistant s . The top three problems of urban transport infrastructure that negatively impact the livelihood of people with disabilities in Mekelle city are a lack of or poor accessibility features of public utilities, design and management problems of sidewalks with relative importance index (RII) values of 90.1%, 89.6% and 88.8%, respectively. Other factors such as lack of mobility aids (RII=86.9%), lack of resting spaces (RII=85.8%) and poor boarding facilities at public transport systems have also significantly affec ted the livelihood s of people with disabilities in Mekelle city. T he higher values of RII (>75%) in Table 3 - 2 indicate that existing infrastructure in Mekelle city is inconvenient for these people . This problem might have result ed from lack of attention to them in infrastructure planning, development and management from the infrastructure and transport sectors. 30 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Table 3 - 2 : Causes for poor urban transport infrastructure/facility for people with disabilities in Mekelle city No Infrastructure/facility condition RII (%) Rank 1 Lack of/poor accessibility features of public utilities 90.1 1 2 Sidewalk design problems 89.6 2 3 Poor management of sidewalks 88.8 3 4 Lack of wheelchair, walking stick, and other basic mobility aids 86.9 4 5 Absence of resting places for people with disabilities 85.8 5 6 Poor boarding facilities of public buses, taxes, rickshaws, etc. 85.4 6 7 Poor connectivity of road infrastructure to public spaces 84.2 7 8 Poor information and signage on road, and limited timing of traffic light 82.3 8 9 Poor design of mobility aids 82.2 9 10 Uncomfortable interior features of buses, taxes, rickshaws 80.6 10 P oorly developed and managed urban infrastructure in Mekelle city has negatively affected the livelihood of people with disabilities in the area. Based on the results summari s ed in Table 3 - 3 , the primary impact of existing poor urban transport infrastructure in Mekelle city on people with disabilities were difficulties in accessing work, education and healthcare, elaborated with high value (87.5%) of SI . The second ranked impact of poor urban transport infrastructure was limiting mobility and causing delays in personal and work related activities with SI values of 87.4% respectively . Some more significant impacts of poor urban transport infrastructure were physical barriers to access public se rvices, safety and health problems , and discomfort during mobility, usage and rest for people with disabilities. In addition, the poor infrastructure has also limited the ability of people with disabilities to engage in social and political activities in the city ( Table 3 - 2 ). Table 3 - 3 : Impacts of poor urban transport infrastructure on the livelihoods of people with disabilities’ in Mekelle city . SI: severity index. No Types of impacts SI (%) Rank 1 Difficulties in accessing work, education and healthcare 87.5 1 2 Limit personal mobility 87.4 2 3 Delay in personal activities and work 87.4 2 4 Physical barriers to access public services and utilities 87.0 4 5 Safety and health problems 86.6 5 6 Discomfort during mobility, usage and rest 86.4 6 7 Lower daily/monthly incomes 83.8 7 8 Limit social interactions 82.3 8 9 Cause for unemployment 80.3 9 1 0 Quitting or resignation from work 74.6 10 1 1 Limit political and social engagements 72.8 11 1 2 Discriminations and/harassments 70.2 12 31 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 3.4 Assessment r esults on p olicy i ssues Previous experience s of Ethiopia show that various offices have adopted international treaty and developed national policy, regulations and action plans to integrate people with disabilit y needs and rights in different development and social affairs. This inclu d es t he Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MOLSA, 1999), Ministry of Education and Training Policy (1994), Building Proclamation No. 624/2009, National Plan of Action of Persons with Disabilities (2012 - 2021), National Transport Policy (2020), and Road Trans port Proclamation No. 1274/2022. This study found that the proclamation for building infrastructures is supported with directives and guidelines for people with disabili ties. However, the understanding of the various stakeholders on these policies and proclamations is inadequate and the regulatory body lacks clear enforcement rules and regulations for effective implementation. Although policies and proclamations exist, no distinct inclusive directives and guidelines we re found for the road infrastructure and transport services in Mekelle c ity or Tigray region . T he project investigated the need for revision and/or formulating new regulatory framework s that enhance the mobility capability of people with disabilities in Mekelle city. M ore than 60% of the respondent s strongly agree that t he proposed measures in Figure 3 - 1 8 need to be implemented to m inimi s e policy related problems . Figure 3 - 18 : Proposed measures of quantitative survey respondents Involving people with disabilities in the preparation and implementation of policies at all level s play s a significant role in reali s ing inclusive development. People with disabilities should participate during the planning, design and implementation of public infrastructures and services. Establishing strong disabilit y union s and involving disability groups in the preparation of transport policy, strategies, plans and regulation at all level s helps to minimi s e various barriers that people with disabilities face. However, this study found that the participation of people with disabilities in policy preparation of the urban transport sector is limited. During the questionnaire based survey, 36.4% of the respondents indicated people with disabilities do not participate in policy preparation . Furthermore, 49.7% of the respondents did not know if people with disabilities participated in policy formulation. Th ese result s show that the majority of people with disabilities do not believe they have an opportunity in the policy formulation process for the transport sector. 32 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` This was confirmed during the FGD session s where representatives from the city administration confirmed that the participation of disadvantaged groups in policy formulation of the urban infrastructure and transport services was inadequate. It is important to provide comprehensive training on these regulatory frameworks to the disabled society, the general public, as well as to the various staff members working in the city's road administration and other relevant institutions. This project result showed that the majority of disabled people (79%) did not ask other organi s ations beyond their union regarding the challenges of mobility due to their perception that they do not expect positive responses . 33 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Table 3 - 4 : Q uestionnaire - based survey results on policy issues in Mekelle city S/N Question Response Frequency Percent 1 Do you think the disable d group of the society are involve d in preparation of the urban transport policy? Yes 59 13.9 No 154 36.5 I do not know 210 49.6 2 Are you a member of any disability association? Yes 152 35.9 No 271 64.1 2.1 If you are a member, do you know you r association ’s activity ? Yes 72 47.4 No 71 46.7 I do not know 9 5.9 2.2 Do y ou think the efforts made to remove the existing PWDs barriers in the transport sector by your association so far is sufficient ? Yes 15 20.8 No 57 79.2 3.3 Have you ever asked your association to act and minimize challenges on PWDs safety and mobility ? Repeatedly 14 19.7 Sometimes 37 52.1 Once 6 8.5 Never 14 19.7 4 Have you ever asked to other organizations beyond your association regarding the challenges ? Yes 89 21 No 334 79 4.1 Civic society representatives yes 59 72.8 No 22 27.2 4.1.1 Did you get adequate response from the civic society representatives? Yes 1 1.7 No 57 98.3 4.2 Wereda a dministration Yes 73 88 No 10 12 4.2.1 Did you get adequate response from the Wereda a dministration? Yes 1 1.4 No 72 98.6 4.3 Zone a dministration Yes 44 57.1 No 33 42.9 4.3.1 Did you get adequate response from zone ad ministration? Yes 0 0 NO 44 100 4.4 Regional a dministration Yes 43 56.6 No 33 43.4 4.4.1 Did you get adequate response from the regional a dministration? Yes 41 95.3 No 2 4.7 4.5 Other disability associations Yes 53 64.6 No 29 65.4 4.5.1 Did you get adequate response from the d isabilities associations ? Yes 3 5.7 No 50 94.3 4.6 Federal r epresentatives Yes 22 30.6 No 50 69.4 4.6.1 Did you get adequate response from the federal r epresentatives? Yes 0 0 No 22 100 5 If your answer is ‘No’, w hat is the reason you don’t asked to other organizations beyond your association regarding the challenges ? I do not know there exist a solution 51 15.3 I do not believe I can get proper solution 110 32.9 I do not get an opportunity to ask 99 29.6 I do not know to whom I should ask 65 19.5 Other 9 2.7 34 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 4. Conclusion and r ecommendation s 4.1 Conclusion This study investigated the safety and mobility challenges faced by people with disabilities in Mekelle city, northern Ethiopia. The main challenges and policy related issues with regards to urban transport infrastructure and services in Mekelle city are summari s ed below. An overall assessment of the study indicated that the existing built urban environment in Mekelle city is not inclusive for people with disabilit ies . Building entrances and transport infrastructures are un suitable . Among the various urban transport infrastructures and facilities needed and provided in Mekelle city, a lack of or poor accessibility, flawed design , and inadequate management of sidewalks were identified as major factors negatively affecting the safety and daily mobility of people with disabilities . S idewalks and entrance ramps to public and commercial buildings were found to be particularly unsuitable for these people . The main streets in Mekelle city were found to be poorly walkable , with narrow sidewalks cluttered with obstacles , encroachments and are poorly managed and un clean. Static obstructions are located on the sidewalk spaces arbitrarily , creating a cluttered sidewalk environment that obstruct s the path for pedestrians, reduc ing effective widths, and creati ng safety hazard s to visually impaired people . Paving surfaces are rough with no uniform paving material. T he availability of infrastructures for people with disabilities in these facilities are limited , unsafe and not in a usable condition. The availability of pedestrian crossings in th e main streets is below average. A ll of the public transport vehicles operating in the city are inaccessible to wheelchair users and do not have any facilities to aid visually impaired people . Some of the vehicles do not even have space to carry wheelchairs. Public transport stops in the city are limited with no access ramps, tactile guidance, and other supporting facilities for people with disabilities . E ntrance and exit ramps to hotels and commercial centres are often inappropriate ly locat ed , with inadequate slope s , landing s , and width. The study also indicated that the wide spread exclusion of people with disabilities in the built environment and transport services are not only the result of poor law enforcement or lack of directives and guidelines , but also due to a lack of awareness and professional ethics. People with disabilities in Mekelle city are facing serious safety and accessibility difficulties in the built environment and in getting transport services as a result of the existing institutional, physical, and attitudinal barriers . An a ssessment of disability - related polic ies and regulations in Ethiopia indicated that , while there are disability - inclusive policies , proclamation s, directives and guidelines for building infrastructures , the understanding of the various stakeholders on these policies and proclamations is inadequate and lacks clear enforcement rules and regulations for their effecti ve implementation. Although policies and proclamations exist, inclusive directives and guidelines were not found for the road infrastructure a nd transport services in Mekelle city. The study also revealed that people with disabilities are often deprived of their rights to participate in policy preparation of the urban transport sector. 4.2 Recommendation s Based on the findings of the research work, the following recommendations are drawn: • Public buildings and streets should be planned, designed, and implemented to ensure they are safe, accessible, and comfortable for people with disabilities , as well as for all pedestrians. Disability - inclusive public transport vehicles s hould be introduced to the city . • The plan and design of public buildings , particularly in relation to basement parking spaces , must include disability - accessible ramps that do not extended in to road sidewalks . • Existing laws on buildings and public transport vehicles should be implemente d and enforced properly to ensure safe accessibility and protect the rights of people with disabilities . • D isability - inclusive directives and guidelines for the design, implementation and management of transport infrastructures should be formulated to real ise the safe and easy mobility of the vulnerable groups . 35 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` • The f ormulation of policies and regulations in Mekelle city should include people with disabilities through their associations and advocacy groups. The proper implementation of the available rules and regulations in the city should be monitored and evaluated . • Available policies, proclamations, directives, and guidelines should be easily available and well communicate d among stakeholders and the wider community to reduce confusion . • Enhance the integration of sectors in urban transport infrastructure planning, desig n, implementation and management stages . • Awareness program mes targeting government personnel, architects and engineers, contractors, public transport providers and drivers, and the community should be arranged to highlight the importance of including people with disabilities in the urban built environment and transport services . • Timely evaluation and revision of existing rules and regulations need to be reali s ed to support the timely removal of barriers for people with disabilities. R ules and regulations should be binding and reflect responsibility and accountability of offices, organi s ations and individuals involved . • Collaboration between government bodies, disability associations, architects and engineers, contractors, public transport providers, and other relevant stakeholders should be encouraged to foster inclusive urban built environment and transport services. • The application of universal design principles for public spaces and transportation should be actively promoted . 36 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` 5. References [1] The American s with Disability Act (ADA), 1990. Public Law, As Amended Through P.L. 110 - 325, Enacted January 1, 2009, USA. [2] World Health Organization (WHO), 1980. International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. A Manual of Classification Relating to the Consequences of Disease. [3] World Health Organization (WHO), 2019. FACTSHEET SDGs: Health Targets/Disability. World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark. [4] United Nations Relief and Works Agency, 2017. Disability Inclusion Guidelines. UNRWA for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East, Amman, Jordan. [5] United Nations Economic and Social Council, 2020. Safe and Inclusive Transport and Mobility. ESCAP/CTR/2020/4. [6] Humanity and Inclusion (HI), 2018. Inclusive Urban Mobility and Getting to Work Safely in Developing Countries. Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. [7] World Health Organization and World Bank, 2011. World Report on Disability. Washington DC, USA. [8] International Labour Organization, 2013. FACT SHEET: Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Ethiopia . [9] United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Toolkit on Disability for Africa, Disability Inclusive Development. [10] Robert Metts, 2004. Disability and Development: Background Paper for the World Bank. [11 ] Rehabilitation Act, 1973. Public Law, As Amended Through P.L. 117 - 286, Enacted December 27, 2022, USA. [12] Neil Taylor, Nick Ayland, Subhash C V, Crystal A, Thomas F, Ruby S, Georgia T, Laura M, Ian S, and Chariotte R, 2022. Road Note 21: Enhancing the Mobility of People with Disabilities. Part 1: Guidelines for Policymakers, High Volume Transport. [13] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2018. Disability and Development Report: Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals by, for and with Persons with Disabilities. [14 ] Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, 2010. Growth and Transformation Plan I. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. [15 ] Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, 2010. Growth and Transformation Plan I I . Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. [16 ] Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency, 2013. Population Projection of Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [17 ] Araya, A.A., Legesse, A.T., Feleke, G.G., 2022. Women’s Safety and Security in Public Transport in Mekelle, Tigray. Case Stud. Transp. Policy. 10, 2443 - 2450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cstp.2022.10.019. [18 ] Development Partners, 2011. Transportation Plan and Implementation Strategy of Mekelle city. Final Report. Mekelle, Ethiopia. [1 9 ] Transportation Research Board, 2000. Highway Capacity Manual, Washington D.C., USA. 37 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Appendix A: Design and Implementation Guide: Persons with iii Disability Inclusive Urban Transport Infrastructure See separate attachment 38 Final Report: Safety and Mobility Challenges of People with Disability in Mekelle City: Towards Inclusive Urban Transport ` Appendix B: Policy Brief See separate attachment Mekelle University School of Civil Engineering Mekelle City P.O. Box. 231 Tel: +251921335854 Email: dimtsu.gebremariam@mu.edu.et Web: www.mu.edu.et t