Integrating motorcycle transport in the urban transportation planning in Nairobi county: Case study of Thika super highway

Abstract

The study focusses on motorcycle transport in Kenya with emphasis on integrating their use and functioning in the urban areas in line with urban transportation planning. Motorcycle transport industry in the country has been growing at a high rate (KNBS, 2013); which has not gone hand in hand together with modifications in standards and policies and infrastructural considerations in transportation planning to try accommodate motorcycle transport and allow it to work with other forms of transport. This study was guided by the following objectives; to find out the existing operational practices and opportunities of motorcycle transport, to find out the level of infrastructure provisions for motorcycle transport along Thika Super Highway, to evaluate standards and regulations established for enhancing motorcycle transport on the Super Highway; and to recommend a strategies for integration of motorcycle transport to existing public transportation system along development nodes on Thika Super Highway. The study adopted a non-experimental research design. A sample size of 82 motorcyclists was interviewed and the questionnaires analysed. Data was also collected using observation and key informant interviews. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling were employed in this study. Some of the areas looked into by this paper include the operational practices of motorcycle transport, the legistlation and standard that govern motorcycle transport and the infrastructural provision in place. The study highlights findings that include the lack of and need for infrastructure provision for motorcycle transport, a gap in the standards and legislation in place and also highlights various opportunities in the operational practices of motorcycle transport. The study provides various recommendations to include the revision of the Traffic Act, utilization of the existent societies and motorcycle groupings in the management of the operational practices of motorcycle transport, integration of motorcycle speeds in different environments for safety, carrying out of road safety campaigns, the embracing of four stroke engine types as compared to the two stoke engines, and the taking on of motorcycle friendly designs and infrastructure in the maintenance and the construction of roads.