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In a recent study, the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation scrutinizes the consequences of poorly controlled urbanization, with the birth of so-called “spontaneous” neighborhoods, and its impact on the living environment of Dakar residents.
With our correspondent in Dakar, Charlotte Idrac
Dakar lives to the rhythm of construction sites, land speculation and traffic jams… According to the report by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, households in the Dakar region devote 11% of their income to mobility. And the populations of the suburbs – in particular of Pikine and Guédiawaye – are the most affected, because of “ the hyper concentration of activities in the department of Dakar »
« With Ramadan, traffic jams start earlier and earlier “, grumbles a motorist stuck on the North release lane (VDN). However, according to Dr. Oumar Cissé, director of the African Institute for Urban Management and author of the study, “theafoot is the most important means of transport for people in Dakar, with 70% of the total “. And with shortcomings: the absence, congestion or poor condition of sidewalks », « lack of lighting at night “, or ” the failure of pedestrian crossings ».
Motorized travel is essentially provided by public transport, at 80%, led by the Indian brand Tata minibuses, then fast coaches and clando taxis. The buses of the public operator Dakar Dem Dikk ” cover only 6% of trips. »
Faced with dysfunctions, structuring projects have been designed, underlines the study: regional express train, in service as far as the new town of Diamniadio, and the BRT, the Bus Rapid Transit which will connect the capital to Guédiawaye over 18 kilometres. But ” improving the quality of travel for populations in the suburbs of Dakar inevitably involves more regular urbanization “, concludes the report.
