UNIVERSAL DESIGN OF TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS: A CASE STUDY OF ACCESS AND MOBILITY OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AT SELECTED INTERSECTIONS IN DAR ES SALAAM

Abstract

The pedestrian facilities at intersections must be usable by pedestrians of all ages and
capabilities. Intersections in particular must be designed to safely accommodate
pedestrians of all ages and physical and mental abilities. Often, however, intersection
designs fail to accommodate people with visual and mobility disabilities. In this regard, for
pedestrians with disabilities, intersections can prove to be a challenge. Some of those
challenges include provision of insufficient pedestrian clearance time due to use of
inappropriate design pedestrian speed. Most importantly, the required facilities to enable
People With Disabilities (PWD) to use the intersection without hindrance may be missing.
Obstacles such as uneven surfaces, unstable surfaces, nonexistent curb ramps, road
crossings, changes in height of sidewalks, nonexistent guidance systems, obstructions,
vegetation overhanging sidewalks, poles in the sidewalk, holes, etc. can all be remedied.
This paper presents the results of the study which was carried out in Dar es Salaam to
evaluate the extent to which the design of intersections satisfies the mobility and access
needs of people with disabilities. The results indicate that the design of 20 major
intersections in Dar es Salaam, mostly does not pay due attention to the needs of PWD.