CONSTRAINTS OF USING PEDESTRIAN BRIDGES ALONG LAGOS-IKORODU EXPRESSWAY

Abstract

Walking has been the dominant transport mode for many centuries in all countries. Before industrialisation took place, there were some alternatives such as riding of animals, horse drawn carriages and water transport, but walking must have been by far the most substantial transport mode. It is one means of movement that comes by instinct naturally, without involving any learning process. Pedestrian bridges however are structures made for allowing pedestrians to cross a street, road, highway without being exposed to the risks of vehicle accidents. It is one of the structures that remove pedestrians from vehicle roadway. This study examines the various constraints encountered in the use of pedestrian bridges along Lagos–Ikorodu expressway with fifteen (15) pedestrian bridges in its entire 24.5km road network. Direct observation through reconnaissance survey was employed for the purpose of this research while Global Positioning System (G.P.S.) was used to obtain the coordinate and pattern of distribution of pedestrian bridges on the corridor. Structured questionnaire were also used to obtain the perception of respondents on the constraints of the usage of the bridges. A total of 514 copies of questionnaire were administered using Yammane method of sample determination while stepwise regression analysis was used to analyse the data. The stepwise regression results showed that distance between the bridges 53.8%, inconveniences 11%, height of the bridges 7.1%, poor lightings 2%, lack of enforcement 1% and bad state of the bridges 0.4% are the major constraints faced by pedestrians contributing 75.3% in the variance. The study however recommended the provision of pedestrian friendlier bridges, more awareness campaigns in schools and public places on their usage, installation of elevators to ease the usage and solar energy to lighten up the bridges among others.