Practices and Challenges of Mobility in Greater Lomé: An Analysis of Urban Dynamics

Mobility is defined as "the ability to move, change place or position, thus opposing immobility." Essentially, it refers to movement. When applied to the "urban" factor, it encompasses "all movements of people and goods within a city through public or private transportation." Metropolitan expansion, as observed in African cities—particularly Greater Lomé—exacerbates various urban planning issues, including urban sprawl, increasing mobility demands, rising nuisances (pollution, congestion), and social injustice, especially through the gentrification of central and peripheral working-class neighborhoods. Solving these issues requires identifying their causes to find appropriate solutions. This study focuses on "Practices and Challenges of Mobility in Greater Lomé: An Analysis of Urban Dynamics." This study analyzes urban mobility dynamics in Greater Lomé through a participatory methodology, with a particular focus on home-to-work travel and modal choices influenced by socio-economic factors. It has thus involved one or more identified target groups, such as the general public, a specific demographic group, or stakeholders, to achieve the objective and collect data— which is the case here. Through a survey conducted among 450 households, findings reveal that walking remains the primary mode of transportation (over 50%), while personal motorcycles and motorcycle taxis account for 80% of motorized trips. Public transport, dominated by the Lomé Transport Company (SOTRAL), remains marginal (less than 3% of trips). Furthermore, statistical tests, such as the Chi-squared test to measure the association between transport modes and household socio-economic characteristics, as well as variance analyses (ANOVA) and logistic regressions, helped refine the interpretation of the results. All analyses were conducted using SPSS software version 26. The analysis reveals that urban mobility in Lomé faces major challenges, including the lack of adequate infrastructure, the predominance of informal transport, and the inefficiency of public transport. Compared to other African cities such as Accra, Dakar, Ouagadougou, and Cotonou, Lomé exhibits significant disparities that require structural reforms. Among the recommendations proposed are the improvement of pedestrian infrastructure, the regulation of informal transport, and the integration of sustainable transport solutions such as Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The study also highlights the role of digital innovations, such as mobile booking applications, in optimizing urban travel. By incorporating these solutions, Greater Lomé could significantly enhance the accessibility, safety, and efficiency of its transport system.