Factors Affecting the Utilisation Rate of Footbridges in Lusaka: A Case Study of UNZA Footbridge
Keywords:
Pedestrian Footbridge, Pedestrian Safety, Footbridge Utilisation, At-grade Crossing
Abstract
This study examined the factors affecting pedestrian bridge utilization rates through a case analysis of the University of Zambia (UNZA) footbridge in Lusaka, Zambia. Findings indicated a utilization rate of 24.6%. Additionally, a questionnaire survey involving 50 pedestrians was conducted to identify key motivational factors influencing pedestrian behaviour. Descriptive analysis of the results addressed issues related to the determinants of footbridge usage and potential measures to enhance bridge use in Zambia, considering pedestrian preferences. Most respondents indicated that time saving was the primary reason for non-compliance with footbridge usage, further supported by the convenience factor R value of 3.48 for crossing at the UNZA footbridge. This suggests that at grade crossing offered pedestrians time savings exceeding 300% compared to using the footbridge. To increase pedestrian bridge usage, respondents most frequently recommended the installation of escalators or elevators; however, socioeconomic conditions in the area suggest that implementing a physical barrier may be a more practical solution. Ultimately, if the safety and convenience benefits of the footbridge can be demonstrated to pedestrians without significant time loss, usage rates are likely to improve.References
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Hasan, R. and Napiah, M. (2018) ‘The perception of Malaysian pedestrians toward the use of footbridges’, Traffic Injury Prevention, 19(3), pp. 292–297. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2017.1373768.
Hasan, R., Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. and Napiah, M. (2020) ‘An intercept study of footbridge users and non-users in Malaysia’, Transportation Research Part F, 73, pp. 66–79. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2020.05.011.
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Shah, S.A.R. et al. (2018) ‘Road safety risk assessment: An analysis of transport policy and management for Asian countries’, Sustainability, 10(2). doi: 10.3390/su10020389.
Shumin, F., Ning, D. and Ying, Z. (2010) ‘Research on the using features of pedestrian crossing facilities’, WASE International Conference on Information Engineering, 3, pp. 396–400. doi: 10.1109/ICIE.2010.272.
Sisiopiku, V.P. and Akin, D. (2003) ‘Pedestrian behaviors and perceptions towards various pedestrian facilities’, Transportation Research Part F, 6(4), pp. 249–274. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2003.06.001.
Skandami, M.O., Anapali, I.S. and Basbas, S. (2021) ‘Choosing footbridge or signalized crossing in an urban area’, Transactions on Transport Sciences, 11(3), pp. 37–51. doi: 10.5507/TOTS.2020.013.
Soathong, A., Wilson, D., Ranjitkar, P. and Chowdhury, S. (2019) ‘A critical review of policies on pedestrian safety’, Sustainability, 11(19). doi: 10.3390/su11195274.
Truong, L.T. et al. (2019) ‘Pedestrian overpass use and its relationships with distractions and overpass characteristics’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 131, pp. 234–238. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2019.07.004.
Wegman, F. (2017) ‘The future of road safety: A worldwide perspective’, IATSS Research, 40(2), pp. 66–71. doi: 10.1016/j.iatssr.2016.05.003.
World Health Organization (2013) Pedestrian Safety: A road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_101118.
World Health Organization (2018) Global Status Report on Road Safety. Available at: http://apps.who.int/bookorders.
Axler, E.A. (1984) Warrants for Pedestrian Over and Underpasses.
Banerjee, A. and Maurya, A.K. (2020) ‘A comparative study of pedestrian movement behavior over foot over bridges under similar land-use type’, Transportation Research Procedia, 48, pp. 3342–3354. doi: 10.1016/j.trpro.2020.08.119.
Biemba, G. and Ne, M. (2016) ‘Behaviours of drivers on Zambian roads: A cross-sectional study’, International Journal, 3(April 2013), pp. 1–8.
Campbell, B., Zegeer, C., Huang, H. and Cynecki, M. (2004) A review of pedestrian safety research in the United States and abroad. Available at: http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=697038.
Demiroz, Y.I., Onelcin, P. and Alver, Y. (2015) ‘Illegal road crossing behaviour of pedestrians at overpass locations’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 80, pp. 220–228. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2015.04.018.
FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) (1999) Florida Pedestrian Planning and Design Handbook. pp. 1–200.
Hasan, R. and Napiah, M. (2017) ‘Utilization of footbridges: Influential factors and improvement proposals’, Advances in Transportation Studies, 43, pp. 43–60. doi: 10.4399/97888255077374.
Hasan, R. and Napiah, M. (2018) ‘The perception of Malaysian pedestrians toward the use of footbridges’, Traffic Injury Prevention, 19(3), pp. 292–297. doi: 10.1080/15389588.2017.1373768.
Hasan, R., Oviedo-Trespalacios, O. and Napiah, M. (2020) ‘An intercept study of footbridge users and non-users in Malaysia’, Transportation Research Part F, 73, pp. 66–79. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2020.05.011.
Hidayati, I., Tan, W. and Yamu, C. (2020) ‘How gender differences and perceptions of safety shape urban mobility in Southeast Asia’, Transportation Research Part F, 73, pp. 155–173. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2020.06.014.
Institution of Highways and Transportation (IHT) (2000) Guidelines for Providing for Journeys on Foot. p. 25.
Kane County (2012) Kane County Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
Kavuyi, K. (2017) Analysis of road safety awareness and road user behaviour among public service vehicle drivers: A case study of Kabwe. Mulungushi University.
Landa-Blanco, M. and Ávila, J. (2020) ‘Factors related to the use of pedestrian bridges in university students of Honduras’, Transportation Research Part F, 71, pp. 220–228. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2020.04.016.
Liu, Y. and Tung, Y. (2014) ‘Risk analysis of pedestrians’ road-crossing decisions: Effects of age, time gap, time of day and vehicle speed’, Safety Science, 63, pp. 77–82. doi: 10.1016/j.ssci.2013.11.002.
Lobjois, R. and Cavallo, V. (2007) ‘Age-related differences in street-crossing decisions’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 39(5), pp. 934–943. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2006.12.013.
Lobjois, R., Benguigui, N. and Cavallo, V. (2013) ‘The effects of age and traffic density on street-crossing behaviour’, Accident Analysis and Prevention. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2012.12.028.
Manjanja, R.A. (2013) Non-Usage of Pedestrian Footbridges in Kenya: The Case of Uthiru Pedestrian Footbridge on Waiyaki Way.
Marisamynathan and Perumal, V. (2014) ‘Study on pedestrian crossing behaviour at signalized intersections’, Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering, 1(2), pp. 103–110. doi: 10.1016/S2095-7564(15)30094-5.
Mutto, M., Kobusingye, O.C. and Lett, R.R. (2002) ‘The effect of an overpass on pedestrian injuries on a major highway in Kampala, Uganda’, African Health Sciences, 2(3), pp. 89–93. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v2i3.6784.
Nteziyaremye, P. (2013) Understanding pedestrian crossing behavior: A case study in the Western Cape, South Africa. Stellenbosch University.
Percer, J. (2009) Child Pedestrian Safety Education: Applying Learning and Developmental Theories to Develop Safe Street-Crossing Behaviors. Available at: https://www.ems.gov/pdf/811190.pdf.
Phiri, S.C., Prescott, M.R., Prust, M.L., McCarthy, E.A., Kanchele, C.C., Haimbe, P., Shakwelele, H. and Mudhune, S. (2018) ‘Impact of passenger engagement through road safety bus stickers in public service vehicles on road traffic crashes in Zambia: A randomized controlled trial’, BMC Public Health, 18(1), pp. 1–9. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5780-3.
Renfro, R. (2007) Pedestrian/Bicycle Overcrossings: Lessons Learned.
Räsänen, M., Lajunen, T., Alticafarbay, F. and Aydin, C. (2007) ‘Pedestrian self-reports of factors influencing the use of pedestrian bridges’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 39(5), pp. 969–973. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2007.01.004.
Rizati, H., Ishak, S.Z. and Endut, I.R. (2013) ‘The utilization rates of pedestrian bridges in Malaysia’, IEEE BEIAC 2013, pp. 646–650. doi: 10.1109/BEIAC.2013.6560210.
Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) (2020) The Road Transport and Safety Agency 2019 Annual Road Traffic Crash Report. doi: 10.13140/RG.2.2.22770.53442.
Saadati, M. (2020) ‘Listening to pedestrians: What are the influential factors on bridge use?’, pp. 1–11.
Shah, S.A.R. et al. (2018) ‘Road safety risk assessment: An analysis of transport policy and management for Asian countries’, Sustainability, 10(2). doi: 10.3390/su10020389.
Shumin, F., Ning, D. and Ying, Z. (2010) ‘Research on the using features of pedestrian crossing facilities’, WASE International Conference on Information Engineering, 3, pp. 396–400. doi: 10.1109/ICIE.2010.272.
Sisiopiku, V.P. and Akin, D. (2003) ‘Pedestrian behaviors and perceptions towards various pedestrian facilities’, Transportation Research Part F, 6(4), pp. 249–274. doi: 10.1016/j.trf.2003.06.001.
Skandami, M.O., Anapali, I.S. and Basbas, S. (2021) ‘Choosing footbridge or signalized crossing in an urban area’, Transactions on Transport Sciences, 11(3), pp. 37–51. doi: 10.5507/TOTS.2020.013.
Soathong, A., Wilson, D., Ranjitkar, P. and Chowdhury, S. (2019) ‘A critical review of policies on pedestrian safety’, Sustainability, 11(19). doi: 10.3390/su11195274.
Truong, L.T. et al. (2019) ‘Pedestrian overpass use and its relationships with distractions and overpass characteristics’, Accident Analysis and Prevention, 131, pp. 234–238. doi: 10.1016/j.aap.2019.07.004.
Wegman, F. (2017) ‘The future of road safety: A worldwide perspective’, IATSS Research, 40(2), pp. 66–71. doi: 10.1016/j.iatssr.2016.05.003.
World Health Organization (2013) Pedestrian Safety: A road safety manual for decision-makers and practitioners. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-29613-0_101118.
World Health Organization (2018) Global Status Report on Road Safety. Available at: http://apps.who.int/bookorders.
Published
2025-12-29
How to Cite
[1]
K. Lungu, B. Mwiya, and N. Mubanga, “Factors Affecting the Utilisation Rate of Footbridges in Lusaka: A Case Study of UNZA Footbridge”, Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 15-29, Dec. 2025.
Section
Original Research Articles
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