The Bitabe pedestrian bridge, located on Boulevard Lumumba in Kinshasa, was inaugurated in January 2016 as the fourth pedestrian bridge in the city. The bridge was designed to facilitate the crossing of pedestrians between the communes of Masina and N'djili. However, ten years after its inauguration, the bridge has fallen into a state of advanced disrepair.
The bridge has been progressively occupied by vendors who have set up a pirate market on the structure. The presence of vendors is evident from the early stages of the bridge, where a parasol catches the eye of passersby. The noise from megaphones used by vendors to announce their items and prices is a testament to the gradual appropriation of this space by traders.
The vendors have taken over the right side of the bridge, displaying their goods on the ground. The items on sale include babouches, toothpaste, shoe polish, toothbrushes, perfumes, and other articles, all offered at low prices. This commercial activity has significantly reduced the space available for pedestrians, who are forced to navigate through a growing promiscuity between those going up and those coming down.
The bridge's condition raises concerns about the safety of users. Further along the bridge, some areas demarcated by balustrades are practically deserted and littered with trash and fecal matter, making the passage unwelcoming. This situation is particularly striking given the proximity to several government offices and the Masina communal house.
The pedestrian bridges in Kinshasa, which were once popular spots for photographers, are increasingly being abandoned by residents. Some users prefer to cross Boulevard Lumumba directly, risking their lives, rather than using the bridges, which they find too high and difficult to climb. Others cite the presence of street children who occupy certain areas of the bridge and are responsible for acts of begging, theft, and extortion.
The decline of the Bitabe pedestrian bridge is a reflection of a broader issue with the maintenance and management of public infrastructure in Kinshasa. The city's residents are in dire need of safe and functional public spaces, but the current state of the bridge and others like it suggests that more needs to be done to address these needs.
The situation at the Bitabe pedestrian bridge highlights the need for urgent intervention to restore the bridge to its original purpose and to provide a safe and secure environment for pedestrians.
Key points
- The Bitabe pedestrian bridge in Kinshasa has fallen into disrepair and is now occupied by vendors, reducing space for pedestrians.
- The bridge's condition raises concerns about the safety of users, with some areas littered with trash and fecal matter.
- The decline of the bridge reflects a broader issue with the maintenance and management of public infrastructure in Kinshasa.
