[sustran] fwd: A New Bike for Africa - a highlight from Mobilizing Africa # 4

[Paul Barter]

MOBILIZING AFRICA

	A Bi-Weekly Bulletin from ITDP and
	Africa Sustainable Transport (SusTran) Advocates

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 	Electronic Edition Number 4            August 24, 2001
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                         HEADLINES
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* A NEW BIKE FOR AFRICA   (Part 1 of 2)
* BICYCLES KEY TO SURVIVAL IN UGANDA (Part 1 of 2)
* KENYA'S 'QUICK AND DEADLY' MATATUS
* COUPLE TREKS NEW ZEALAND FOR TANZANIA BIKE PROJECT
* SUPER COMMUTER: U.S. CONGRESS REP. EARL BLUMENAUER
* WANTED: SHOP MANAGER FOR RECYCLE-A-BICYCLE NYC: $30,000/yr

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** To learn more about ITDP visit http://www.itdp.org

*** To submit your articles to Mobilizing Africa, or to (un)subzcribe:
steely at igc.org


*	*	*

A NEW BICYCLE FOR AFRICA

The Old Black Roadster

Africa is the most rapidly urbanizing continent in the world, and the
youngest.  Each day millions of ambitious young entrepreneurs and wage
earners walk to access jobs, inputs and customers in Africa's growing
cities.  If all of those walking trips were replaced with bicycling trips,
all of Africa would reap significant productivity gains.

The most widely available bicycle in Africa, the long-standing "Black
Roadster" has decades of proven use, and spare parts are widely available.
Yet sales of the Black Roadster have been decreasing in many countries,
particularly in urban areas.  Why is this bicycle being shunned by a new
generation of increasingly urban Africans, most all of whom have an acute
need for low-cost transportation?

First, the Black Roadster is synonymous with the elderly, rural, and poor.
Young urban entrepreneurs are moving up in the world, and to travel like an
'old farmer from the village' runs contrary to their aspirations.  Second,
the Roadster is almost exclusively considered a man's bicycle, presenting
aspiring female cyclists with yet another obstacle to riding.

The Black Roadster has other problems.  Its 1.5-inch wide tires are too thin
for many unpaved roads and tracks, and the bicycle itself is too big for
women and children.  Neither the handlebars nor the seat are easily
adjustable.  Roadsters rarely have adequate reflectors, and their design
does not optimize efficiency.  The gearing is generally too high, and thus
difficult to pedal, especially for new riders.

What do Africa's young, increasingly urban and status conscious consumers
want in a bicycle?  Like their American and European counterparts they want
colorful mountain bikes.  The problem is that mountain bikes and mountain
bike parts (especially derailleurs) are fragile and oftentimes unavailable,
and when parts are available they
tend to be prohibitively expensive.  There is a dearth of moderately priced
modern bicycles and related parts.  

A Gap in The Urban Market

The increasingly global bicycle industry is focused on developing bicycles
for competition and recreation, not for utilitarian purposes. This has
changed somewhat in recent years with many of the major brands selling
increasing numbers of 'comfort' bicycles.  Unfortunately, these bicycles
target relatively affluent consumers in European and American markets.  For
low-income consumers in India, Africa, and Asia, the industry has been
content to use an old design that has not changed in over 60 years: the
Black Roadster.

In September 1999, ITDP began consulting with several leading U.S. based
bicycle designers, asking the question: "What is an appropriate, low-cost
and modern bicycle for Africa?"  At the same time, single speed mountain
bicycles were gaining adherents because of their elegance, efficiency,
simplicity, and low maintenance requirements.
Leading high-end bicycle companies like Bianchi, VooDoo, and Kona were all
rolling out single-speed bicycles. 

Also around this time ITDP was learning valuable lessons in India, where
the most successfully commercialized innovations made to modernized cycle
rickshaws were simple, low-cost "off the shelf" improvements-- not
"new-fangled" ones.  (continued in next issue)

...