Collaboration for Active Mobility in Africa (CAMA)- Newsletter

The project that started in June 2021 to run until May 2025 is a consortium between five (5) universities namely Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences (Karlsruhe, Germany), University of Kassel (Kassel, Germany), Makerere University (Kampala, Uganda), University of Nairobi (Nairobi, Kenya), Mekelle University (Mekelle, Ethiopia).

Walking and cycling provide personal benefits that include good local accessibility as well as low costs. Walking also offers social benefits since is free of emission, it is efficient and space-saving. The health benefits can be realised through its effect on reduced effect of rising non communicable diseases which benefits are essential for sustainable mobility.

Walking and cycling as forms of active mobility have frequently been overlooked in research and planning in Sub- Saharan Africa, and it is only in recent years that national and local governments as well as international agencies, have focused more attention on this topic and provided infrastructure.

Problems persist because most of these new infrastructure projects are of limited scope, have design flaws that render them unusable or unappealing, for example, they are not wide enough to meet walking space standards, and are located in areas that do not serve the majority of those who require access to them.

In order to expand on existing activities and promote active mobility in Sub-Saharan Africa, combined efforts of applied research and continuing education are required to better understand walking and cycling needs.