Maintenance strategy for peri-urban pedestrian infrastructure in Pietermaritzburg city

Abstract

Socioeconomic factors, such as a high rate of unemployment and low income resulting in the inability to use public transport, coupled with the rising cost of living, have become core elements compelling pedestrians in peri-urban areas to opt for nonmotorized transport systems (NMTs). Peri-urban areas are nonurban locations directly adjacent to metropolitan areas that house a mixture of urban and rural populations, activities and infrastructure. Walking is one of the most sustainable modes of transport; it not only benefits the health and social interaction of users but also contributes positively to the environment by reducing the carbon footprint. However, the disregard of NMT infrastructure maintenance in most peri-urban areas in South Africa poses safety risks, forcing facility users to walk within roadways and possibly increasing the rate of pedestrian road accidents. A lack of maintenance further leads to defects such as uneven walkways, unsecured or broken manholes, malfunctioning traffic and streetlights, and missing road signs. Therefore, it is imperative to evaluate and develop maintenance plans to enhance the existing infrastructure and ensure sustainable, accessible and safer transport systems. A mixed- method research approach involving exhaustive site surveys of selected pedestrian walkways in peri-urban to urban areas and further investigation of existing maintenance strategies is proposed. The results will provide critical insights into measures to improve pedestrian walkway accessibility in peri-urban areas. Subsequently, a robust conceptual framework for maintenance strategies for NMT infrastructures in peri-urban areas is proposed.