[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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