Urban spatial structure, accessibility and mobility: assessing the role of decentralised urban hubs in ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Rapid urban growth in many African cities has reinforced monocentric urban structures characterised by the concentration of employment, educational institutions, commercial activities and public services within central urban districts. This spatial organisation generates extensive commuting flows, increases travel distances and contributes to growing road safety challenges. Ouagadougou, the capital city of Burkina Faso, illustrates these dynamics through rapid urban expansion, increasing mobility demand and a high incidence of road traffic accidents. This study investigates the extent to which the development of decentralised urban hubs can contribute to safer and more sustainable mobility patterns in Ouagadougou. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining documentary analysis, field observations, mobility surveys, traffic counts and semi-structured interviews. Data were collected from 230 participants, including urban residents, transport users and institutional stakeholders involved in urban planning, mobility management and road safety. The findings reveal that daily mobility is strongly influenced by the concentration of activities within the metropolitan core. Employment-related trips account for 39% of total journeys, while educational trips represent 27% of travel demand. Traffic congestion is particularly severe along the city's major radial corridors, with Travel Time Index values reaching 4.0 on some routes, thereby increasing users' exposure to road traffic risks. The results further show that 87% of respondents consider decentralised urban hubs an effective strategy for reducing travel distances, improving accessibility and mitigating road safety risks. However, the effectiveness of these hubs depends on their capacity to accommodate major trip-generating functions, particularly employment opportunities, educational facilities and commercial services. The study concludes that road safety should be considered not only as a transport issue but also as an urban planning challenge. By promoting a more balanced distribution of urban functions, decentralised urban hubs can reduce travel exposure, enhance accessibility and support safer mobility outcomes. The findings provide practical evidence for integrating land-use planning and transport policies in rapidly urbanising African cities.