An Assessment of Public Transport Security and Safety: An Examination of Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Nigeria

This paper aims to assess the security and safety of public transport in the context of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Lagos Nigeria. This study takes into cognizance the BRT routes with the operational facilities cum public perception of the public transport security and safety. The study entails exposition of risks and challenges of public transport as part of literature.  It examines the risks and challenges in public transport as it relates to passengers experience in respect with the state of BRT in the study area. The focus of this study is the examination of Lagos BRT, the study of the Mile 12 – Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) corridor. A total number of 153 respondents participated in the survey. From the survey, over 110 responsdents which is more than 70 per cent has not been victim or witness the various incidents either in BRT bus. A Correlation Analysis test is used to test the relationship in the Use of BRT for trip made and other choices. The P value is 0.523, which is greater than 0.005 (P> 0.05) and the decision is to accept Ho. Also, the test result shown that there is positive linear relationship between distance from the BRT bus stops from offices/homes and threat in BRT bus stops as the P value is 0.629, this is greater 0.05 (P>0.05). However, after observing the p value(s) for ‘Occurence’ between the rate of being attacked and being threatened, it is clear that the two groups do not differ (p>0.05).  P value gives conclusive evidence that there is no difference in rate of being attacked and being threatened. Based on this study, there is need to address the risks and challenges identified, this would pen-ultimately posit Lagos BRT to overcome some of these forces that are undermining its safety and security challenges.  The recommendation on the real time devices must be adopted and implemented, this would redefine the entire Lagos BRT as a means of public transport. Key words: Public Transport, Security, Safety, Lagos BR

Examination of On-Street Parking and Traffic Congestion Problems in Lokoja

Parking and traffic congestion is synonymous to each other because failure to meet parking demand of people in a city lead to on-street parking that results to traffic congestion. Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queuing. The availability of less space in urban areas has increased demand for parking space especially in central business area. Inadequate off-street parking in most of our urban centres has metamorphosed to the problem of on-street parking coupled with inadequate traffic management commonly experienced today in most Nigerian cities. In view of the above, this research work examined the menace of on-street parking and traffic congestion problems in Lokoja, Nigeria. The study was conducted using questionnaires and field observation to collect the required data at the locations/corridors in the city where on-street parking and traffic congestion were prominent and also, adequate survey of the traffic devices in the locations of study was also conducted to determine it functionality. Four hundred and fifty one (451) questionnaires were administered to the shop-owners, one hundred and seventy four (174) to the parked vehicle-owners and one hundred and two (102) to the commuters, to make a total of seven hundred and twenty seven (727) research samples. Finding revealed that inadequate parking, infectiveness of traffic devices, absences of loading and offloading bays etc have caused on-street parking and traffic congestion in Lokoja. To reduce the menace, policy measures are recommended among which are; institution of enforcement of traffic rules and regulations by disciplined law enforcement agents, relocation of certain activities that caused on-street parking and introduction of intelligent transport system which make use of sustainable devices such as Bluetooth and other communication/mobile devices, traffic management improvement and provision of off-street parking facilities in the city plan. Key word: Transportation, on-street parking, traffic management, urban center, traffic congestion, Lokoj