Bus Rapid Transit Systems as a Governance Reform Project

Bus Rapid Transit systems exist in over 206 cities and 45 countries around the world. They are seen to provide a much lower cost option of mass mobility than fixed rail or underground systems which developing countries struggle to afford. Whilst BRT systems have undoubtedly been seen to be successful from a transport system perspective, they are more than a transport system innovation. They are often introduced to replace what is seen to be a failing, unsafe and poorly regulated informal transit system. This paper therefore focuses on the process of BRT introduction as a governance reform. The paper draws on African experience where adoption of BRT has been slow relative to South America and South East Asia. Using an in-depth analysis of the introduction of a new system in Ghana and data on levels of governance maturity across the African sub-continent, the paper finds that to understand BRT implementation requires an understanding of how the incumbent transport regime could and will be able to be reorganized. The success of BRT systems that result will depend at least as much on how the reforms are achieved as it will on the usual design concerns which typically occupy transport planners

The determinants of demand for public transport services in Kumasi, Ghana

The objective of the study was to establish the major factors influencing demand as well as develop a demand model for urban passenger transport services in Kumasi, Ghana. Data for this study were obtained from 400 commuters grouped into strata with definite characteristics such as income levels and trip making characteristics using the framework defined by Department of Urban Roads during two main field surveys using the simple random sampling technique. The analysis of the data showed that key determinants such as employment status of commuters, trip duration, and population influence the demand for public transport services in Kumasi. In addition, it was found that Taxi is the dominant mode used in Kumasi,  carrying about 44% of respondents. This is mainly because it is the fastest mode in the city. The minibus is the next patronised mode carrying 32% of the respondents while Metro Mass Transit buses were the least patronised, even though they have the capacity to carry more passengers. This is mainly because of the long travel time these buses offer to passengers. The study therefore recommends among others, the use of large  occupancy vehicles by providing them with exclusive lanes to help reduce travel time to make them the preferred option of commuters.Keywords: Demand, Passenger Transport Services, Public Transport, Passenger-kilometre

Colour and Architecture: An Empirical Study of a New Paradigm of Painting of Residential Buildings and Ownership in Kumasi

Colours have been classically used to inspire taste in architecture from antiquity. Colours provide ‘joie de vivre’ (joy of life). However, a cursory observation reveals a noticeable trend in Ghana where residential buildings are receiving paints and colour notations of multinational companies. This paper presents empirical research on colour through multiple methodological approaches and tactics. The research findings presented in this paper used Kumasi, the Capital of the Ashanti Region of Ghana as main case study area. The data analysis of findings revealed that about seventy-five percent of the houses painted in multinational companies’ colours along major arterial roads in Kumasi were approached for advertisement purposes. In addition, the owners of the sampled houses chose to paint with a particular colour for a mark of distinction and monetary reasons. This paper concludes that the companies’ objectives were adhoc and were not guided by any planned scheme as required to enhance the sensibility and aesthetic appeals through the use of colour for buildings and their genus loci in an urban environment. The paper recommends revisions to the current Ghana National Building Regulations of 1996 – The Legislative Instruments 1630 to recognize the importance of colour aesthetics in city environments. Keywords: Company colour and paint, Architecture, Incentivization, Building regulations, Kumasi-Ashant

A subjective measurement of the determinants of quality of life in Kumasi

The measurement of quality of life (QoL) can be used as an urban planning tool to address challenges confronting the management of urban centers. The results of such measurements may provide the required basis for  formulating future spatial and urban  planning policies. Using the city of Kumasi, this paper examines the  determinants of QoL of residents. This study surveyed 500 households. A subjective residents’ assessment of QoL and a Factor Analysis are performed to explore the determinants of QoL and their relative importance. The results show an acceptable goodness of fit, supporting the view that the main determinants of QoL are health, housing, economic status and neighborhood.Keywords: Quality of life; Subjective quality of life; Domain satisfaction; Factor analysis; Kumasi

Demand and Supply of Transport Infrastructure and Services in the Peripheries of Sunyani, Ghana

The disparity between peri-urban areas and larger urban centres and cities in Ghana require that there should be an effective accessibility both in each area and between the distinct zones. This study interrogates the challenges that confront the demand and supply of transport infrastructure and services in the peripheries of Sunyani. The data for this study was obtained from 100 households, who were selected sampled from three study areas, (Abesim, Asuakwaa and Adomako). Findings from the study revealed that, peri-urban development in Sunyani is driven by a complex mix of factors and about 84 percent of the inhabitants in the peripheries demand transport daily amidst inadequate transport infrastructure and unreliable transport services. This is mainly as result of activity locations generating trips from the selected peri-urban communities to Sunyani. It is therefore recommended among others, that promoting multi-nuclei centres and mixed-used development which has to do with identification and development of secondary centres with substantial investment such that they provide intervening and working opportunities to the inhabitants of the peri-urban areas to reduce the number of trips made to Sunyani. Keywords: Peri-urban; Transport Demand; Transport Supply; Infrastructure; Service

Does the planning system in England deliver a sustainable and resilient built environment? A study of the experience of town planners

The case has been made in the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes for the crucial role of the built environment in mitigating the worst excesses of a warming global climate and in protecting people through adaptation. Town planners are essential actors in delivering sustainable and resilient urbanism. Given that legislation is implemented by people, the study aimed to examine how town planners experienced and thought about the changing legislation and how they understood the concepts of ‘sustainability’ and ‘resilience’ in the built environment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 planners working in England who had at least seven years’ experience. In the analysis, we explored meanings of sustainability and of resilience, and how these concepts were seen as incorporated in legislation. Sustainability was seen by the participants as embedded in regulations but its realisation varied substantially. Tensions were evident between the three pillars of environment, society and economy. ‘Resilience’ as a concept was poorly understood and legislative support was patchy at best: while flooding features extensively in local plans, wider issues of climate impact such as overheating are not comprehensively addressed. The conclusions are that planners are often frustrated in their attempts to develop a more sustainable built environment and that the current planning system is inadequate to deliver consistently sustainable and resilient outcomes. However, alignment between sustainability goals and professional identity were also noted, offering avenues to explore beyond the institutional constraints of legislation

Contextualizing urban growth, urbanisation and travel behaviour in Ghanaian cities

This article examines the effects of urban growth and urbanisation on travel behaviour in Ghanaian cities, using Apeadu, Kodiekrom and Apemso; all suburbs of Kumasi as case study communities. Using data from 317 households, document review and agency official interviews, the study findings show that the incidence of urbanisation and urban growth have shaped travel behaviour of respondents in the study communities. This is seen in 45.5% of respondents traveling more than 10 km to work daily and experiencing increases in travel time; 54.1% of respondents had experienced increases in average distance travelled to work and 76.3% of respondents using private vehicle to work. The study also found that 78.6% of respondents reducing the number of daily trips made. These findings have resulted in respondents reducing the number of trips; especially the non-work-related-trips and the use of smart mobile services such as momo to meet their needs. The study concludes that urban transport reforms within the major cities in Ghana is essential and that efforts must be made to promote the use of large occupancy vehicles such as buses and light commuter rails to reduce the growing dependency on personal car use, make the cities competitive and ensure sustainable urban travel

Determinants of urban public transport service pricing in Kumasi, Ghana

The urban transport sector in most developing nations accounts for 50 to 70 percent of Gross National Product hence plays an important role in the development of the urban economy of most cities including Kumasi in Ghana. However, the pricing of urban transport services, especially in developing countries has been riddled with numerous challenges that have led to several associated problems. The main objective of the paper is to identify factors affecting the pricing of urban transport services in the city of Kumasi. Data for this paper were sourced from two key surveys spanning a period of five weeks which involved the interviewing of 150 urban transport services operators and 400 passengers in the Kumasi Metropolis. The paper identified fare level, fuel cost, overhead cost and population density among others as key factors which affected the pricing of urban transport services in Kumasi. Furthermore, it provides insights into how pricing could be used as a strategy to harmonise the interests of all stakeholders in the urban transport services industry in Kumasi. The paper further provides insights into the policy implications of the factors which affected pricing and suggests ways for the management of the pricing system in Ghana.KEYWORDS: Urban transport, developing, Ghana, pricing, Kumasi, far

Understanding the urban spatial structure of Sub-Saharan African cities using the case of urban development patterns of a Ghanaian city-region

Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are undergoing massive spatial transformation owing to rapid urbanization. For many cities in the Global North, Latin America and Asia, spatial transformation has been traditionally characterised by a shift from monocentric to polycentric urban patterns. In the case of Sub-Saharan Africa, however, it is unclear whether the evolving spatial structure of cities conform to or are explained by existing urban geography models. This paper pursues twofold objectives: one, examines the evolution of the spatial structure of a Sub-Saharan African city-region and its relationship with mainstream urban geography models; and, two, explores the urban planning and policy implications of the spatial transformation. The study draws on spatially explicit data from Kumasi City-Region in Ghana, which is analysed with a set of spatial metrics and an urban growth model. The results indicate that, while the city-region's urban spatial structure before the turn of the Twenty-first century largely conforms to the traditional monocentric model, it is increasingly becoming deconcentrated and dispersive, which suggests a likely pending phase of coalescence in a stochastic fractal urban growth process. Contrary to what is observed in other parts of the world, the declining monocentricity has not transformed into a polycentric urban structure, rather, urban growth is becoming amorphous. There is high level of development spontaneity that cast an image of a city-region that is charting inefficient and unsustainable spatial development path. Urban scholars would have to transcend the frontiers of existing urban structure models to better depict the spatial evolution of sub-Saharan African cities like Kumasi City-Region, while Policy makers need to re-position the Ghanaian planning system to be more influential in delivering sustainable development patterns

Understanding the urban spatial structure of Sub-Saharan African cities using the case of urban development patterns of a Ghanaian city-region

Abstract Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa are undergoing massive spatial transformation owing to rapid urbanization. For many cities in the Global North, Latin America and Asia, spatial transformation has been traditionally characterised by a shift from monocentric to polycentric urban patterns. In the case of Sub-Saharan Africa, however, it is unclear whether the evolving spatial structure of cities conform to or are explained by existing urban geography models. This paper pursues twofold objectives: one, examines the evolution of the spatial structure of a Sub-Saharan African city-region and its relationship with mainstream urban geography models; and, two, explores the urban planning and policy implications of the spatial transformation. The study draws on spatially explicit data from Kumasi City-Region in Ghana, which is analysed with a set of spatial metrics and an urban growth model. The results indicate that, while the city-region’s urban spatial structure before the turn of the Twenty-first century largely conforms to the traditional monocentric model, it is increasingly becoming deconcentrated and dispersive, which suggests a likely pending phase of coalescence in a stochastic fractal urban growth process. Contrary to what is observed in other parts of the world, the declining monocentricity has not transformed into a polycentric urban structure, rather, urban growth is becoming amorphous. There is high level of development spontaneity that cast an image of a city-region that is charting inefficient and unsustainable spatial development path. Urban scholars would have to transcend the frontiers of existing urban structure models to better depict the spatial evolution of sub-Saharan African cities like Kumasi City-Region, while Policy makers need to re-position the Ghanaian planning system to be more influential in delivering sustainable development patterns