Negotiating Informal Trading and Street Walking: Implications of Their Coexistence for Urban Space—The Case of Bukoba City, Tanzania

Fortunatus Bahendwa

doi:10.69606/geography.v4i3.530

Authors

Fortunatus Bahendwa Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Construction Economics and Management, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8819-2742

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.69606/geography.v4i3.530

Keywords:

walkability, informal trading, street walking, urban space, livelihood

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in developing nations has intensified pressure on urban streets, forcing them to accommodate both pedestrian mobility and informal economic activity. This study examines how the interaction between informal trading and pedestrian flow shapes the character of urban space in Bukoba, Tanzania. Data were gathered through observation, structured interviews, mapping, photographic documentation, and document reviews, and analyzed using qualitative descriptive and simple quantitative methods. Walking remains the primary mode of daily transport despite inadequate infrastructure, mixed traffic, and encroachment by street vendors. Concurrently, informal traders cluster in high-foot-traffic areas to sustain their low-income livelihoods. Although these trading activities often disrupt pedestrian continuity and convenience, they also foster urban vitality and facilitate access to daily services. The study concludes that the relationship between street walking and informal trading is both complementary and conflicting, highlighting the need for context-responsive urban planning and design that enhances walkability while preserving the vital socio-economic role of the informal sector.

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