[sustran] Motorcycle discussion
Niklas Sieber
ifrtd at gn.apc.org
Thu Apr 16 19:42:47 JST 1998
Dear Sustran Discussants
I found the debate about environmental impacts of motorcycles very
interesting. The actual question was raised by Barbara, quoting GTZ
that the bicycles are often replaced by motorcycles if income
increases. A research from Ouagadougou corroborates this thesis.
Bicycles are regarded as transport for the poor, while French
mobylettes are preferred by the middle class. This is not only an
image problem but also a physical one, especially when the
temperature rises above 40 Celsius in the summer time.
My questions are now:
1. What can be done to increase the image of bicycles?
2. Which technical improvements reduce environmental
damages of motorcycles? Regarding the low purchasing
power it is essential that these improvements have low costs.
3. In case that there is no low cost solution, would it be desirable
that Development Cooperation subsidises the technical improvements?
_____________
Niklas Sieber
International Forum for Rural Transport and Development
150 Southampton Row
London WC1 B5AL, UK
Tel.: +44 171/ 278 3682, Fax: +44 171/ 278 6880
e-mail: ifrtd at gn.apc.org
Webpage: http://www.gn.apc.org/ifrtd
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