Overcoming resistance to sustainable urban transportation adoption in Sub-Saharan African cities: Qualitative insights from Lagos and Johannesburg

¹ Department of Quality and Operations Management, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Colorado State University, USA

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Rapid urbanization across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has intensified transport challenges, including congestion, environmental degradation, and road safety concerns. Sustainable Urban Transport (SUT) has been widely promoted as a strategy to address these issues; however, its adoption remains limited in many African cities. This study explores the factors contributing to resistance toward SUT adoption and identifies strategies that may facilitate its implementation. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine experts involved in transport planning, policy development, and sustainable mobility initiatives in Lagos (Nigeria) and Johannesburg (South Africa). The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal five major themes shaping resistance to SUT adoption: structural and institutional constraints, transport system limitations and infrastructure gaps, socio-cultural perceptions and behavioural resistance, urban inequality and mobility justice concerns, and pathways for overcoming resistance. The results highlight the complex interplay between governance structures, infrastructure deficits, behavioural attitudes, and socio-economic inequalities in shaping mobility transitions. The study contributes to sustainable transport literature by integrating behavioural and socio-technical perspectives to propose a framework for overcoming resistance to SUT adoption in SSA cities.