As we near the end of the HVT programme, we’ve been reflecting on the key themes of our work with stakeholders in the programme.
Here, Carly Gilbert-Patrick from the UN Environment Programme, explains how harnessing walking and cycling can lead to a healthier, more inclusive future.
Active mobility—walking and cycling—is the backbone of sustainable transport in LMICs. It provides affordable (often free) mobility while mitigating congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, despite its immense value, active mobility remains underfunded and undervalued in planning and policy.
Through UNEP’s Share the Road Programme, we have spearheaded efforts to elevate walking and cycling across Africa, including the launch of the Pan-African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM) in 2024.
HVT’s active mobility research has contributed to the much-needed evidence base to support this critical agenda.
For decades, walking has been the primary mode of transport for most people in African cities, often out of necessity rather than choice. However, walking and cycling are constrained by safety challenges, limited infrastructure, and a lack of policy attention. HVT’s research fills this gap by identifying the barriers pedestrians and cyclists face, from insufficient investment to ineffective policy frameworks. By providing robust data and insights, the research equips practitioners and decision-makers with the tools to address these challenges and reshape urban transport systems.
The potential of this research is transformative. Findings highlight the importance of prioritizing active mobility and tools developed from the research, such as policy briefs and training frameworks, are available for cities to integrate active mobility into their planning processes.
Looking forward, HVT’s research offers a clear pathway to a healthier, safer, and more inclusive urban future. By aligning evidence with action, UNEP’s Share the Road Programme, supported by HVT insights, is helping cities unlock the potential of active mobility to drive sustainable development, improve lives, and create vibrant, equitable cities across Africa.