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GGGI, Government of Rwanda and UNEP Proposed area for Car Free Zone in Huye Secondary City

The Global Green Growth Institute’s (GGGI) is committed to supporting government of Rwanda achieve low-carbon development, the Rwanda country program has developed a visualization with Jan Kamensky of the redesign for the proposed car free zone in Huye. Car-free zones have recently been launched in the City of Kigali in the central business district renamed Imbuga City Walk and in Biryogo to create dynamic public spaces for residents and visitors alike.

In an effort to promote sustainable mobility and reduce air pollution, car free zones are an effective means to achieve the redistribution of space, improve the quality of life in urban areas, and encourage the use of active transport modes among residents.

 

Watch the animation of the proposed car free zone for Huye Secondary City.

In the transition to green cities and sustainable urban development, non-motorized transport is a key element to ensuring that cities are more livable, less polluting, and contribute to improved public health outcomes. Active transport investments in particular have a high return on investment when considering the social, environmental, and economic co-benefits. Non-motorized transport infrastructure is one of the most cost-effective measures cities can take to reduce emissions from the transport sector. For example, the IGC (2018) estimates the construction of bicycle lanes in the City of Kigali would be the second most cost-effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transport with a cost of -387 USD/tCOe-2 (bearing a negative cost because it contributes more in terms of co-benefits than the monetary costs incurred). As Kigali and Rwanda’s secondary cities continue to rapidly urbanize, investments in non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure are a low-cost contribution to improve public health outcomes, reduce air pollution, and disincentivize the use of private motor vehicles.

In support of the Government of Rwanda, GGGI is currently implementing a project with the UNEP Share the Road Programme on Strengthening, Prioritizing, and Investing in Non-Motorized Transport Infrastructure. The project aims to enhance and strengthen the capacity of countries in Africa (Ethiopia, Zambia, and Rwanda) at the regional, local and national level to better design and implement policies and make investment decisions that prioritize the needs of pedestrians and cyclists (particularly vulnerable groups). The project activities have included involving youth in a mapathon to identify routes for non-motorized transport (NMT) in Musanze, in a design competition to re-imagine one of the current congested intersections in the City of Kigali to have better access for pedestrians and cyclists, in capacity building on urban planning for sustainable transport in collaboration with the University of Rwanda, and a walk/bike to work challenge in the City of Kigali for African Mobility Month. These activities have aimed to increase engagement and feedback mechanisms with stakeholders in the design and prioritization of non-motorized transport (NMT) infrastructure in the City of Kigali and in secondary cities.

GGGI has worked with Jan Kamensky to develop an animated redesign of the proposed area of the car free zone in Huye. Huye is considered to be one of the areas at risk for flooding in Rwanda. During the course of 2020, flooding episodes resulted in damage to property and infrastructure as well as the loss of life. The imigongo square design integrates nature-based solutions to improve flood mitigation such as the incorporation of green roofs and native tree species. Air quality monitoring also indicates that Huye has air pollution levels that are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. In cities in Rwanda, air pollution is concentrated in urban areas with the majority of pollutants stemming from vehicular traffic. The design features elements to increase the use of non-motorized transport such as bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways to ensure that green mobility modes of transport are prioritized. The design also aims to evoke the unique cultural history of Rwanda by incorporating imigongo patterns on building facades and the pedestrian walkways to attract tourists to the zone. The re-imagined space aims to contribute to Rwanda’s low-carbon development and to add to a portfolio of car free zones that are not being installed throughout the country.

 

 

  1. Igisenge gitoshye: Gishobora kugabanya ingufu z’amashanyarazi dukoresha ku kigero cya 0.7%. Gitanga igicucu, kiringaniza ubushyuhe. Gishobora kugabanya gushyuha kw’igisenge ku kigero cya 1-9o Kigabanya ikigero cyo gushyuha cyane ku mujyi kugera kuri 3 oC.

 

  1. Inzira z’amagare: 15% by’ingo mu Rwanda zitunze igare. Inzira z’amagare zifasha imigendere myiza, atari ku bayagendaho gusa, ahubwo no ku bagendera mu magare y’abafite ubumuga n’abandi b’abanyantege nke. Kubaka inzira z’amagare ni bumwe mu buryo bwiza kandi buhendutse bwo kugabanya imyuka ihumanya ikirere mu gukora ngendo zo mu mijyi.

 

  1. Ibiti karemano: Bifasha mu gufata amazi y’imvura ashobora gutera imyuzure, kongera urusobe rw’ibinyabuzima, no gutanga umuyaga mwiza ufasha mu kugabanya ubushyuhe bwinshi bw’umujyi. Hagati ya 2001 na 2020, Huye yatakaje ha441 by’ibiti, bingana na 16% uhereye muri 2000, na Kt216 z’imyuka ihumanya. Gutera ibiti mu mijyi bigira umumaro mu kuzamura Umubare w’biti bikenewe mu Rwanda cyane cyane mu bihe by’iterambere ryihuse ry’imijyi.

 

  1. Ahataragenewe ibinyabiziga: Ibinyabiziga ni kimwe mu by’ibanze bihumanya ikirere mu Rwanda. Umwuka mubi ugabanuka ku kigero cya 20% mu minsi yo kudakoresha ibinyabiziga muri Kigali. Ahataragenewe ibinyabiziga n’ahantu h’ubusitani bitanga ubwisanzure ku banyantege nke bakoresha umuhanda, bifasha mu gutuma abantu basabana, no kugira ubuzima bwiza. Ahataragenewe imodoka kandi hafasha mu kuzamuka kw’ibikorwa by’ubucuruzi buhegereye.

 

  1. Irage ry’umuco: Imigongo ni ibimenyetso byihariye by’umuco nyarwanda, byazanywe n’abanyabugeni nyarwanda, amateka n’umuco. Ibirango by’imigongo bizagira uruhare mu kuzamura imibereho myiza y’abaturage, no guteza imbere umuco nyarwanda. Bizagira kandi uruhare mu guzamura ubukerarugendo mu Mujyi.

 

Credits : Jan Kamensky website: visualutopias.com
Watch Jan Kamensky animations on Vimeo: vimeo.com/jankamensky
Twitter: twitter.com/jan_kamensky
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jan-kamensky