Workshop in Zambia Charts a Bold Future for Bicycle Mobility
© 2024 EPFL
A transformative workshop on bicycle mobility in Zambia convened a diverse group of stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and local cycling communities on October 31, 2024, at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka. Organized as part of the "Assessing Bicycle Mobility Patterns in Africa" project, funded by Swiss TPH, the workshop focused on research conducted in Rwanda and Zambia. Its goal was to foster dialogue, share findings, and develop actionable strategies to promote bicycles as a viable and sustainable mode of transportation in Zambia.
The event was attended by the research core team that was composed of Dr. Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka, scientific collaborator and research coordinator at EPFL CEAT, representing lab director Dr. Jerome Chenal; Dr. Gilbert Siame, Head Centre for Urban Research and Planning in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies at the University of Zambia (UNZA); and Dr. Josephine Malonza, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Rwanda. Their contributions highlighted the critical role of cross-border collaboration in addressing mobility challenges and creating sustainable solutions.
The workshop, co-hosted by the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), addressed the potential of cycling as a solution to transportation challenges, especially in rural and urban areas. The event featured dynamic sessions, including discussions on research findings from Chipata (Zambia) and Kigali (Rwanda), and explored opportunities for improving cycling infrastructure and policies in Lusaka.
Dr. Jean-Claude Baraka Munyaka, begun by presenting the research findings from Chipata, highlighting the following:
- Cycling's affordability, accessibility, and role in improving access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
- Challenges such as road safety concerns, limited infrastructure, and the absence of organized cycling associations to advocate for policy changes.
Dr. Josephine Malonza, then presented the findings from Kigali underscoring similar issues, adding gender-specific barriers like cultural stigmatization, lack of insurance, and restricted access to bicycles for women due to financial and societal constraints.
Dr. Gilbert Siame, then, posed two pivotal questions to kick off the discussions:
- What must be done for cycling to become a dominant means of transportation?
- How can research fully support cycling in urban and rural contexts?
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to collaboratively identify barriers and brainstorm solutions:
- Infrastructure Challenges: Participants highlighted the lack of dedicated cycling lanes and emphasized the need for road designs that include non-motorized transport (NMT).
- Safety Concerns: Addressing safety on shared roads was deemed essential, with calls for better regulations and public awareness campaigns.
- Gender Inclusivity: Discussions stressed the importance of empowering women through cycling education and targeted interventions.
- Policy Integration: Stakeholders recommended embedding bicycle mobility into Zambia's Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) for long-term sustainability.
The workshop concluded with a forward-looking action plan, emphasizing:
- Investments in inclusive cycling infrastructure.
- Enhanced safety measures and public awareness campaigns.
- Development of cycling education programs, especially for women and children.
- Leveraging technology to improve mobility patterns and monitoring, including exploring e-bikes and GPS tools.
Dr. Siame urged participants to transform insights into action, emphasizing that real impact depends on implementing these recommendations.
As Zambia navigates rapid urbanization, this workshop marks a critical step toward promoting cycling as a sustainable, equitable, and environmentally friendly mode of transport. By leveraging research and fostering partnerships, stakeholders aim to make bicycle mobility an integral part of Zambia’s urban and rural transportation landscape.
Stay tuned for the next phase of this transformative project as it accelerates efforts to redefine mobility in Africa!
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