CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

 1.1 Background to the Study

Urban transport constitutes a major share of an economy’s infrastructure. The amount of investment in this area in any country is immense. While cities present an engine for growth, roads constitute the main infrastructure serving urban connectivity carrying at least 80% of goods and 90% of passengers. These Roads are fundamental to development in a large scale and have profound and personal impacts on individual lives (Habitat III New Urban Agenda Report, 2017). Urban transport promotes development, link people, connects local communities and facilitates trade within an urban area. The world would be severely limited in development without transport means (Absar, 2013).

Efficient transportation policies and regulations play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of traffic flow and the overall mobility within urban and suburban environments. The impact of these policies extends to various aspects, including the movement of people and goods, public safety, environmental sustainability, and economic vitality. Understanding the impact of transportation policies and regulations on traffic flow is essential for enhancing urban planning, transportation infrastructure, and the overall quality of life for communities (Agyapong and Kolawole., 2018).

A current global trend of the world’s population growth is about 50 million urbanites each year, roughly one million a week (World Cities Report, 2016). About 55% of the world’s population lives in urban areas, a proportion that is expected to increase to 68% by 2050 (Yuhui et al., 2020). More than 90% of this growth is occurring in developing economies which places intense pressure on urban infrastructure particularly transportation (World-Cities-Report, 2016)

In the context of today’s ever growing development challenges, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs), perceive road transport as the ultimate means to a sustainable solution that supports development in Inland transportation, whereas, traffic congestion tends to increase with increase in wealth as consumers purchase more vehicles whereas the supply of land does not increase. Therefore roads and parking compete for land that is increasingly expensive due to demand for other uses. (United-Nations-Habitat-Report, 2016). 

Urban areas of the third world countries become increasingly automobile dominated and face growth in transport related challenges including pollution, congestion, public transport decline and lack of accessibility to the urban poor. The high rate of transportation activity has generated negative effects on the population who are experiencing numerous traffic problems. In Cameroon, traffic congestion is commonplace problem rocking inner and outer city areas and increases where there is an inverse relationship between road users to road size, density and number of nodes (Fogwe, 2020).

In 1996, Road Fund of Cameroon was created to implement the government policy on the road sector. During this period, government focus was to improve upon the condition of Cameroonian roads network of about 27,000km (Cameroon-Road-Network, 2022). In order to meet up the expectations of roads users, the public authorities set up a high value added and maintenance approach in 2016 to improve the service level of the infrastructure sector (Road Fund Annual Report, 2016). That notwithstanding, there is still need to improve the sector performance so far, some of which relate to the operationalization of the institutions and performance work in the sector. The operationalization and the performance level of these roads within the urban cities is the concern for the present study as some of these major or manor roads are either over or under used base on their capacity that bring in the issue of traffic within the cities. 

Furthermore, the evolution of transportation technologies and the emerging concept of smart cities have introduced new opportunities and challenges in addressing traffic flow and mobility. The integration of intelligent transportation systems, data-driven traffic management, and the rise of autonomous vehicles adds layers of complexity to the impact of policies and regulations on urban mobility (Turoń, 2017)

In the centre region of Cameroon, traffic flow remains a daily huddle especially in the activities, population concentrated sections along whose roads lead to other towns and areas of the Region like Biyem-Assi and Essos leading to Ekonou, then Mvan, Efoulan, Ngoa Ekele, Bastos, Nsimeyong, Mballa I And II etc and out of Yaoundé. This implies that traffic flow towards these areas suffers from car traffic jam pressure to transport goods and persons (Velazquez, 2015)

In the city of Yaoundé, much attention in managing traffic congestion and road sidewalks has often been given to the Etoudi, Tongolo, Kolbison Biyem,-Assi stretch of road (Central Business District, (CBD)) with less regard to neighborhood streets which are recently impaired with parking space and wrong parking. It has been observed that congestion has become a crisis in the Yaounde metropolis which has emerged as bourgeoning trails of economic, social, cultural and intellectual undertakings. This results in too many vehicles, bad roads, vehicle breakdown and on-street parking affecting all age cohorts of urban users. According to Yemmafouo (2019), stakeholders (Municipal Councils and Transporters) assumed that the decongestion of the urban centers by removing travel agencies and other bus stations at city entrances will reduce the incidence of traffic congestion and free up commercial centers. From the background of the study, such transportation issues will be appropriately addressed with the support of academic research and the influence of policy makers. (Yemmafouo, 2019)

The relevance and urgency of understanding the impact of transportation policies and regulations on traffic flow are underscored by the increasing need to address congestion, reduce environmental impact, improve accessibility, and enhance overall transportation efficiency in both urban and rural settings (Lomendra., 2018)

1.2 Problem statement

Traffic demand within the city of Yaoundé appears to be one of the urban  problems  in the study area. This is clearly demonstrated by the rapid development of the city and the increase in the number of car owners. The nature of roads within the city, illegal parking, inappropriate  use  of  road  sidewalks  and  poor  traffic  management  on  major  urban  road networks present the progressively worsening traffic condition of the city.

The population explosion seem to have led to increase in the number of dependent people and changed the density  in  settlement  spreading  to  new  areas  across  the  municipalities  where  road infrastructural development has not been planned. This appears to increase the concentration of the urban population on the limited roads. The Road infrastructural development within the city  has  not  been  sustainable  in  order  to  sustain  the economic  activities  or  transportation demands of the growing population. These roads are deplorable in such a way that they have been reduced to patches of tarred surfaces.  During the rainy season, the roads are largely abandoned and dilapidated so much such that these roads are usually covered with mud while they remain dusty in the dry season. This is often after a series of renovation works to at least keep the roads functional which usually leave the roads in no better conditions. The nature of these roads has an implication on the traffic situation of the city. The speed of moving vehicles on these roads is slowed down and creates long traffic queues as the vehicles are confronted with gallops, potholes and narrow roads that inconvenient movement.  This has created a situation whereby there is recurrent traffic jams within the city at particular hours of the day on a daily basis.

Also, inadequate and inefficient implementation of parking rules and regulations by the city managers such as the Yaoundé City Council and the three Sub Divisional Councils within the city is a problem.  This  inefficiency  in  planning  has  a  bearing  on  the  traffic  and  parking situation of the city as vehicles owners both privately owned, taxis and motor bikes tend  to park haphazardly  on sidewalks occupying  road spaces without  any considerations for  other road users. Furthermore, unregulated loading and offloading by land transport agencies located along roadsides in the city are hindrance to free traffic flow that give way to traffic jam within the city. The practice of illegal parks created at each street, and the sitting and location of transport agencies close to major roads axis such as Moghamo and Vatican, General, solidarity, etc agencies at Byemassi, Tongolo, Mvan etc and the construction of buildings by the road without setbacks that all appear to affect mobility.  Sidewalks within the city of Yaoundé have been turned into commercial stop points. Business persons use these sidewalks and even part of the road to display their goods leaving pedestrians with no choice but to use the roads reducing the road lane available to vehicles. Traffic management within the city is inadequate which increases traffic congestion thus this research sought to find out the effect of transport policies and regulations on mobility and traffic flow in the City of Yaounde.

1.3 Research question

1.3.1 Main research question

What is the effect of transport policies and regulations on traffic and mobility in the city of Yaoundé?

1.3.2 Specific research question

1. What is the effect of road check points on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé?
2. What is the effect of Road Signals on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé?
3. What is the effect of parking rules and regulations on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé?

1.4 Research objectives

1.4.1 Main research objectives

To find out the effect of transport policies and regulations on traffic and mobility in the city of Yaoundé

1.4.2 Specific research objectives

1. To investigate the effect of road check points on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé
2. To examine the effect of road signals on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé
3. To find out the effect of parking rules and regulations on traffic flow and mobility of Yaoundé

1.5 Research hypothesis

1.5.1 Main research hypothesis

Ha: Transport policies and regulation have a positive significant effect on traffic flow and mobility on Yaoundé

1.5.2 Specific research hypothesis

Ha₁: Road Check Points have a positive significant effect on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé

Ha₂: Road signals have a positive significant effect on traffic flow and mobility in the city of Yaoundé

Ha₃: Parking Rules and regulations have a positive significant effect on traffic flow and mobility of Yaoundé