Examination of the Effects of Inadequate Parking Infrastructure on Traffic Flow in Ikeja Central Business District, Lagos Metropolis

Abstract

Parking problems are very common in the Central Business District of Nigerian cities as a result of the rapid urbanization and large volume of economic activities that takes place within them. A good example of this within Lagos State is the state capital, Ikeja LGA, with its Central business District having multiple parking challenges both in terms of space provision, distribution and volume of vehicles requiring parking services. In view of the above issue, this research had undertaken an assessment of the impact of inadequate parking infrastructure on traffic flow in Ikeja Central Business District, Lagos Metropolis. This is for the purpose of solving the traffic congestion problem and parking challenges within the Ikeja CBD. Furthermore, the objectives of the research are to: determine the factors responsible for parking problems; identify the determining factors for the distribution and capacity of parking facilities; investigate the effectiveness of the existing parking infrastructure in meeting the demand of the growing parking needs; evaluate how efficient the agencies responsible for parking control and enforcement are in preventing parking related problems; examine the effect of parking related problems on traffic flow and congestion in Ikeja CBD. Clustered and stratified sampling techniques were used to select respondents for questionnaire administration and field measurement. The study found that the most critical parking requirement is for the commercial bus services and followed by shopping services around Ikeja Local Government Secretariat, computer village, Opebi, Kudirat Abiola road, Alausa and Allen Avenue and others. It was also discovered that absence of planned parking infrastructure around Ikeja CBD is the cause of on-street parking and traffic obstruction along the major and minor roads within the CBD. Nonetheless, the study recommended among others, the adoption of parking management, provision of additional standard parking facilities and information system, proper land use allocation and control, traffic control and enforcement.

Keywords: Parking, Traffic, Transport, Congestion, Vehicular, Metropolitan, Central Business District (CBD)

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-14-10

Publication date:July 31^st 2021