The role of non-motorised transport (NMT) in spatial integration: the case study of Lamontville in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Abstract

This research focuses on the role on Non-Motorised Transport (NMT) in spatial integration by using Lamontville as the case study. South African Spatial planning under the apartheid regime has heavily shaped the spatial distribution and controlled accessibility and mobility of the South African residents. This has created a constant need for the people especially in the townships to travel to the places of employment often spending a large percentage of their income and time commuting using motorised transportation. Despite walking identified as the most common and widely used means of transportation for many people in South Africa, it is still marginalised and not receiving the recognition it deserves from the spatial and the transport planning professionals. It is for this reason that this study investigates the role of NMT in spatial integration. This study adopted the qualitative methodology from a case study approach to achieve its goals. Primary and secondary data has been used by the researcher to ascertain the opinions and the perception of the various respondents. In - depth interviews has been the qualitative tool used to collect data from Key informants and the local residents. The findings for this study reveal that NMT users in Lamontville are currently subjected to various challenges such safety, lighting, poor development and poor maintenance of the limited existing formal NMT routes. There are numerous informal NMT routes that have developed over the recent years due to population growth in Lamontville. These informal routes are disregarded by the transport planning officials, yet they are widely used and often are the only form of accessibility available to the residents. This study therefore advocates for an urgent need for the development and the implementation of the NMT plan for Lamontville residents in order to promote spatial integration.