High Volume Transport

Vital transport research to ensure accessible, affordable and climate friendly transport for all.

Building an inclusive city: improving transport for people with disabilities in Mekelle

Mekelle, the capital city of Tigray, is the second largest and fastest growing city in Ethiopia. Traditionally, the city’s transport planning and infrastructure has prioritised vehicles, which means the needs of pedestrians, and especially people with disabilities, have been neglected.

Accessible transport and safe walkways are essential for people with disabilities to access education, employment and healthcare, as well as social contact with family and friends. Research undertaken by Mekelle University has explored the accessibility of the current transport infrastructure and produced new guidelines and a policy briefing to support accessible transport for everyone.

Here, Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos, lecturer at Mekelle University, explains what can be done to improve inclusive transport across all cities in lower-income countries (LICs).

HVT: What are some of the challenges that are affecting accessible transport in the city?

Dmtsu Gebremariam Hagos: Two of the main challenges are a lack of awareness and policy. Many people, including government bodies, policy makers, engineers, urban planners and the wider transport community, are unaware of the difficulties people with disabilities face when trying to get around the city.

Current law enforcements, directives, and design guidelines are insufficient to address the barriers people with disabilities experience. Without adequate policies being implemented, change can’t happen on the ground. People with disabilities have equal rights to access opportunities to enjoy life, so it’s vital their needs are met.

What research did you undertake?

The study consisted of both a literature review and quantitative data collection. We conducted face-to-face interviews with over 400 people with disabilities and on-site assessments of public roads, buildings, transport services and stops. We interviewed key informants and held focus group discussions with people from government and private institutions, practitioners, higher education, NGOs and associations for people with disabilities. The research findings were discussed among various stakeholders in consultative meetings.

What did your research reveal about the challenges people with disabilities are facing?

The city’s infrastructure and the transport system aren’t inclusive for people with disabilities. They are poorly designed and managed. Public transport vehicles operating in the city are inaccessible to wheelchair users and some of them don’t even have space to carry wheelchairs. There are also no facilities to aid visually impaired people. Transport stops are also undefined, and while there are some shaded areas with seating, they lacked access ramps and tactile guidance to help people with disabilities to use them.

The streets aren’t walkable for pedestrians, let alone people with disabilities. They are often made of rough, uneven paving materials, making them unsafe and inaccessible. Sidewalks are too narrow for wheelchair users or people with mobility aids like walking sticks. Only 19% of the sidewalks we assessed met the recommended width of 2.4 metres, which is needed to allow two wheelchair users to pass each other. The streets are also cluttered with static obstacles, like utility poles, bins and signposts, and trees making them difficult to navigate for people with disabilities. They are also poorly maintained and unclean.

What changes need to be made in the city?

The first thing we need is to increase awareness among the key stakeholders about inclusive transport and have clear and inclusive policies. Together with implementation directives and guidelines, this will make a difference. We need to bring change on this agenda.

What outputs have you developed from your research?

We have the final research report, along with a policy brief document and an infrastructure guide. These documents will help stakeholders understand that providing inclusive transport for people with disabilities is a fundamental human right. We’re also preparing a manuscript for publishing in a journal in the future.

What is your advice to people working in the transport sector?

Inclusive policies should be properly enforced and monitored. Urban planning and design work should take into account the needs of people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups should be consulted and participate in policy formulation and implementation.

How do you hope this research will change the situation in Mekelle city?

One big problem in cities of developing countries is the lack of data. This study will be a source of data for researchers and it will help policymakers with information about the challenges that people with disabilities face. It will work as a tool to create awareness regarding the safety and accessibility of transport for people with disabilities.

How can it help people working in other LICs?

From the literature we saw in our assessment, we know that other LICs share similar challenges to Mekelle city. The outputs from our research will play a role in awareness in all our cities and will help develop inclusive transport policies for people with disabilities in other countries too.

What are you most proud of from this research?

It’s been crucial to highlight the issues faced by disadvantaged groups and to play my part in removing the barriers that hinder them in their day to day lives. Working with international research programmes, like HVT, has given me great pleasure.

What is your message to others working in the sector about inclusive transport?

Providing accessible transport infrastructure for disabled people is not a privilege, it’s a right. This needs to be emphasised, with a clear focus on creating safe and accessible infrastructure to achieve inclusive development in our country, and especially in our city. We need to give priority to all disadvantaged groups and adopt a fully inclusive approach.


Read more about this project, including the infrastructure guide and policy brief.