Traffic and Mobilty Challenges in Mamfe-Manyu Division, South West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Increase in private and commercial car ownership in Cameroon like in most developing countries of the world have not kept pace with road infrastructural development. As a consequence, traffic disorder, congestion, late arrival at job sites and increasing number of accidents are some of the social costs road users have to pay. It is against this background that this study sets out to investigate traffic and mobility challenges in Mamfe municipality. This study made use of secondary and primary data sources. The secondary data were gleaned from published and unpublished documents. Primary data were sourced using a convenient sampling technique where 136 questionnaires were administered to 8 sampled communities in Mamfe municipality. Supplementary data were obtained via field observations, interviews and collection of way points using a GPS. After processing and presenting the data, results revealed that key causes of mobility challenges in Mamfe were; traffic jam (25%) inaccessibility to neighbourhoods (19.8%) and insecurity (15.2%). Also, consequences of mobility challenges, were noted to be; drop in transporters incomes (31%) resulting from traffic jam and increase fuel prices, late arrival at work (27%) and a slow turn-over of economic activities (trade and commerce) representing 33% of respondents scores. More so, traffic jam was notice to be very high in the rush hours of the morning between 7:20am to 10:05am. In the evening rush hours between 3:00pm to 9:00pm. Strategies to reduce mobility challenges were basically infrastructural-base (increase road sizes, construct more roads and rehabilitation of dilapidated ones, and a proper road designation). This study recommends private sector participation in the development, provision, maintenance, public-private partnership and modernisation of transport infrastructure and services. These are all lacking in the study area which if effectively implemented will boost urban mobility in the town of Buea and beyond.