RUL Report #3.3 The future of cycling in Kigali: Climate change and socio-economic factors

With climate change on the rise, ensuring sustainable cities has become increasingly important. The normalisation of cycling as an active form of mobility has been increasingly supported as a way to combat climate change. This research explores the role of cycling in Kigali, Rwanda, to extend the geographical scope of the academic literature to the Global South, which is currently lacking. The aim of this research was to explore the future development of cycling in the city, focusing primarily on weather and socio-economic factors. This was achieved through a survey of 82 cyclists in Kigali and interviews with 5 key actors. This dissertation finds that weather plays an important role in shaping cycling habits but is currently secondary to socio-economic status. In order to ensure the future development of cycling in the city and to avoid becoming a car-centric city, the City of Kigali needs to improve cycling infrastructure and change attitudes to ensure that cycling remains attractive and that Kigali achieves its Master Plan goals.