While the transport problems of major cities in East Africa deepen, the rapid growth of secondary cities goes on unabated. This paper argues that important lessons can be learned from the urban transport problems of major cities, which can be applied in guiding the growth of secondary cities. The paper analyses these problems and their causes. On the basis of this, it proposes transport policy principles and strategies which could be applied in secondary cities. Within a `prevention is better than cure' approach it proposes to use the transport network as a land-use planning instrument, to plan for uncertainty, to implement active traffic safety policies, and to maintain reasonable levels of quality, in particular access for pedestrians and cyclists, throughout the city. Applying such policies may help the growing secondary cities in trying to avoid the seemingly unsurmountable transport problems of their larger peers. (A) The French title of the paper is: "Des stratégies préventives pour le transport dans des villes de moyenne importance".
Abstract