Team Europe: Mobilité Verte (MoVe) Yaoundé

A rapidly urbanizing city is meeting its transportation challenges and gaps for a better tomorrow 

Facing rapid population growth, urban sprawl and the prospect of rising transportation needs in an already very congested road network led the city to start its transformation towards sustainable urban mobility. Manifested in a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan, Yaoundé scripted a new vision for the city to ensure access and economic growth through improving its urban transport infrastructure. The city envisions that by 2035, Yaoundé will have a high-performing mobility system that is efficient, safe and affordable for users, while reducing air pollution and energy consumption. Over the next four years the Mobilite Verte (MoVe) Yaoundé project will work on different aspects of the city’s transport system developing it towards a sustainable and integrated mobility offer for all citizens.  

A Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) to deliver fast, comfortable and affordable journeys for Yaoundé’s citizens   

A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor connecting Olembé stadium to Ahala will provide the backbone of an integrated public transport network in Yaoundé. Named “Trans-Yaoundé” the corridor will have high-capacity buses, that will travel free from congestion on dedicated lanes benefitting from priority at crossroads and be served by well-equipped stations. Trans-Yaoundé is inspired by other African cities such as Dakar, who recently commissioned the BRT Dakar. Under MoVe Yaoundé a detailed design study for Yaoundé’s first BRT corridor will be developed.  

Reshaping downtown Yaoundé, green corridors and the modernization of the shared yellow taxi services  

Downtown Yaoundé is a host to a variety of commercial offers, offices and cultural landmarks. Yet, the city’s core area suffers under its blocked streets and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure failing mobility needs of its residents, workers and shoppers.  MoVe Yaoundé aims to improve traffic circulation and traffic calming measures will be implemented to reduce congestion and lower speeds. Road space will be reallocated to develop segregated, safe and continuous sidewalks. Safe pedestrian crossings with refuges will be implemented, and organized taxi pick-up/drop-off zones will be piloted.  

The ubiquitous yellow taxis are an important part of daily mobility in Yaoundé. Taxis are often the only service available and offer relatively short walking distances from origin to destination. Despite the necessity of these services, collective taxis have little to no regulations, contributing to expensive fares, lax safety and environmental standards, and overly centralised and congested routes.  MoVe Yaoundé will support the modernization of the paratransit fleet to improve safety, reliability, and comfort for passengers as well as seek to improve the labour conditions for paratransit professionals.

Take a closer look at gender-sensitive data collected for Yaoundé’s Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP), that has been developed on behalf of MobiliseYourCity and funded by Agence Française de Développement.