CORRIDOR CONUNDRUMS


CORRIDOR CONUNDRUMS

A three-month road around German Square confuses drivers and pedestrians following a hasty construction. Traffic accidents have become common in the area after the roundabout was removed to widen the road and simplify movement through the area. Above half a billion birr is lost to damages arising from traffic accidents annually in Ethiopia. Over 400 casualties and 3,471 injuries due to traffic accidents were registered in the last fiscal year, with 80pc of the victims being pedestrians. Megenagna, China Camp and Haile Garment areas were found to be hotspots for accidents in areport by the Bloomberg Initiative. Amplified traffic penalties which earned the Transport Ministry over a billion birr this year have done little to curb the number of fatalities.  

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In-Picture

WHEELING HUSTLE

Multitasking at its finest unfolds on the streets of Adey Abeba, where a man navigates his way in a sleek, electric-wired wheelchair. But his ride is more than a mode of transport, it doubles as a mobile vending station. As he glides past pedestrians, his chair displays an array of goods, offering snacks, plastic bags, and small essentials to those on the move. Morning commuters stop briefly, intrigued by this unusual blend of mobility and enterprise, while others pass by with wide-eyed curiosit...


In-Picture

SECOND SPIN

Worn-out tyres roll back and forth through Mercato, steered by grease-stained hands of mechanics in faded overalls. Some will soon stand as makeshift signposts announcing a repair shop open for business; others will find new lives as flower pots, stools, or playthings in alleyways. In this market, the largest open market in Africa, nothing truly retires, everything gets a second spin...


In-Picture

SOLE REST

A well-earned day off for shoes that have walked more miles than most of us dare to dream. On the sidewalks of the Bethel neighborhood, sneakers line up to dry while the shoeshine trades polish for gossip, stitch up tired soles, and sneak in a chat with friends, because even shoes need a social life. The air hums with laughter and wax mingling, and the occasional clink of a shoeshine brush hitting a tin of polish. For a few hours, the streets are a quiet hub of camaraderie, creativity, and the u...