Intermediate Means of Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa: Its Potential for Improving Rural Travel and Transport

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Intermediate Means of Transport in Sub-Saharan Africa: Its Potential for Improving Rural Travel and Transport

J. D. N. Riverson / S. Carapetis

The report addresses the improvement of rural travel and transport in Sub-Saharan Africa. Three hypotheses are postulated: poor rural roads, with inadequate and high cost of road transport services, and the lack of affordable means of transport seriously constrains rural economic and social development; significant time savings and productivity gains can be achieved by using Intermediate Means of Transport (IMTs) ranging from wheel barrows to motor cycles with significant impact on women; that returns on investments in IMTs and low cost rural infrastructure will be so high that private people will respond with government role being largely promotional. Current rural travel and transport are dominated by head loading and walking (largely by women) to satisfy the daily travel and goods movement needs of rural populations in SSA. IMTs would save large amounts of time and energy and reduce drudgery, particularly for women. When IMTs have been introduced in the past and used in the transport system, private individuals have usually developed and reaped the benefits.