ANALYSIS OF RAINFALL ON INTRA-URBAN TRAVEL PATTERNS AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA 0 0
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.83374/jesber.vol1no2.87Keywords:
People Living with Disabilities, Rainfall, Intra-Urban, Travel Patterns, Area Councils in AbujaAbstract
Climate change increasingly disrupts urban mobility, yet its intersection with disability remains critically under-researched in African cities. This study examines the impact of rainfall on intra-urban travel patterns among people living with disabilities (PLWDs) in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, using a mixed-methods approach with 366 survey respondents across the six Area Councils and qualitative focus group discussions. Findings reveals that rainfall significantly dictates modal choice (X2 = 95.69, p< 0.001), forcing a shift from walking and assistive devices toward costly private transport options (taxi use rising from 28.7% to 46.5% on rainy days). Trip volume dropped by 55.2% during rainfall (from 585 to 323 trips), with regression analysis showing that journey purpose and weather jointly explain 48% of trip variation (F = 5.133, p = 0.027). While journey purpose and trip duration remained statistically unchanged (p = 0.776 and p 0.095 respectively), spatial inequalities emerged, as AMAC accounted for 51.3% of trips, while Abaji accounts below 4%, reflecting infrastructural centralization. Crucially, no significant association was found between disability type and modal choice (p = 0.31), indicating systemic barriers affecting all the people living with disabilities (PLWDs). The study exposes a profound implementation gap in the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018, as climate-resilient transport infrastructure remains absent. We recommend disability-centered climate adaptation strategies, equitable infrastructure investment across all Area Councils, and enforceable universal design standards to advance inclusive mobility and climate justice in Nigeria.Downloads
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