From bustling Addis Ababa to the scenic hills of Kigali, African cities are transforming urban mobility by embracing cycling and walking. This is reshaping daily commutes, slashing emissions, and creating healthier, greener communities.
Across the continent, governments are advancing non-motorized transport policies and investing in high-quality infrastructure. By integrating cycling into urban networks, they prioritize safety, accessibility, and environmental responsibility while reducing emissions, improving public health, and fostering more inclusive cities
In Ethiopia, where bicycles are popular in cities like Bahir Dar and Hawassa, the country’s Ministry of Transport and Logistics crafted the Non-Motorised Transport Strategy 2020-2029. With technical support from UNEP, UN-Habitat and the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), the strategy also guides improvements in pedestrian facilities.
Addis Ababa has made significant strides since it launched the City Corridor Project in 2022. Ethiopia’s capital has constructed more than 60 km of walkways and protected cycle tracks, with plans to expand to over 76 km of cycle tracks and 200 km of walkways in the next phase. Hawassa and other cities nationwide are following suit, launching corridor projects with high-quality facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
Funded by the national government and overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, Addis Ababa’s City Corridor Project aligns with the Addis Ababa Cycle Network Plan 2023-32. Adopted by the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau (AATB), the plan was developed with policy advice from ITDP and UN-Habitat.
Additionally, a 2021 feasibility study laid the groundwork for the city's first bike-share system, with the Addis Ababa Transport Bureau subsequently recruiting private operators to expand bicycle availability through an IT-based system. The study received support from UN-Habitat, ITDP and the UN Road Safety Fund.
Egypt is poised for transformation with its forthcoming national Active Mobility Strategy,which the New Urban Communities Authority formulated with collaboration from UNEP, UN-Habitat, and ITDP. The country aims to strengthen pedestrian infrastructure and move cycling beyond a recreational mode, establishing active mobility as an integral part of urban transport.
The Cairo Bike Initiative leads the charge with 255 solar-powered rental bikes at 25 stations, offering app-based payment and check-out. The program will expand to 500 bikes across 45 stations, helping Egypt achieve its climate goals.
Kenya's third-largest city, Kisumu, has taken decisive steps toward a bike-friendly future with its Sustainable Mobility Plan, developed with UN-Habitat and ITDP policy guidance. The city envisions 100 km walkways, 31 km cycling tracks, and a bike-sharing scheme with 400 bicycles.
The first phase of Kisumu’s Triangle Project has introduced high-quality walkways and pedestrian infrastructure, with an additional 8.1 km of cycle-friendly infrastructure underway with World Bank funding.
When the world's top cyclists arrive in Rwanda for the UCI World Championship in September 2025, they'll find a city building a future where cycling is central.
“In Kigali, the majority of commuters already rely on non-motorized transport,” says Sheila Uwase, an Engineer at Kigali City Hall. “Our goal is to improve safety and accessibility for all road users.”
Since 2016, Kigali has held bi-weekly car-free days on Sundays, fostering a cycling culture. The city has established car-free zones and 13 km of bicycle lanes in its Central Business District and now records over 1,500 cyclists per hour on major streets, with plans to expand its cycling network along streets and waterways.
In 2021, Rwanda’s Ministry of Infrastructure developed a new National Transport Policy; its non-motorized transport section incorporated policy guidance from UNEP and ITDP with support from the Fia Foundation. Key recommendations include implementing physically protected cycling infrastructure, providing safe at-grade pedestrian crossings instead of footbridges, reducing bicycle tariffs and introducing a bike-sharing system.
With UNEP’s support through the EU-funded SolutionsPlus Project, the City of Kigali introduced electric bicycles for city staff. The city has also enhanced pedestrian infrastructure through the Imbuga City Walk, a pedestrian zone in downtown Kigali, as well as two tactical pedestrian zones in Biryogo and Remera.
Bicycle commuting, a game-changer
Pedal-powered commuting isn’t just an eco-friendly shift, it’s a game-changer for cities. Studies indicate that cycling infrastructure is ten times more cost-effective than metro rail at reducing emissions. Moreover, each kilometer cycled generates economic and health benefits, reducing congestion, improving air quality, and lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
“Bike-share systems further support zero-emission mobility, making short trips and last-mile connectivity to public transport more accessible”, highlights Carly Gilbert-Patrick, UNEP’s Team Leader for Active Mobility, Digitalization and Mode Integration.
Cycling and walking infrastructure is also about saving lives. The 2025 Africa Status Report on Road Safety reveals that, despite having only 3 per cent of the global vehicle fleet, Africa accounts for 24 per cent of global road fatalities with 259,601 deaths annually. This highlights the urgent need for safer pedestrian and cycling facilities to protect vulnerable road users.
With technical support from UNEP and a number of organizations advocating for active mobility worldwide, African governments are integrating bicycles into urban planning, ensuring a smoother, safer ride to a green economy, cleaner air, and healthier communities.
For further information: carly.koinange@un.org
The Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility
UNEP, WHO and UN-Habitat advocate for increased walking and cycling infrastructure through the Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility (PAAPAM), launched at the World Urban Forum in 2024. Implementation has now kicked off following a successful strategic summit in February 2025 in Nairobi. PAAPAM prioritizes and promotes active mobility across Africa by defining common priorities, raising awareness, encouraging investments, fostering regional knowledge sharing, and establishing and monitoring performance indicators for walking and cycling on the continent.
