[sustran] Strengthening Bicycle and Rickshaw Industries

eric.britton eric.britton at ecoplan.org
Thu Feb 7 16:08:16 JST 2008


An interesting initiative of our new CfM member "Institute for
Transportation and Development Policy" (ITDP) (http://www.itdp-europe.org/):

http://www.itdp.org/index.php/program_areas/detail/strengthening_bicycle_and
_rickshaw_industries/


Strengthening Bicycle and Rickshaw Industries

In developing countries, good-quality, modern bicycles and bicycle rickshaws
are often not available. Despite a demand for better vehicles, technological
innovation is stalled because investors do not see potential for sufficient
profit. ITDP fills this gap by working closely with private industry
partners in the US, Asia and Africa to improve vehicle designs and make them
accessible to the public.

ITDP implements projects in partnership with established and emerging
bicycle and rickshaw industries to:

*	engineer, manufacture and market more appropriate, efficient
vehicles 
*	establish vibrant, indigenous businesses in underserved areas 
*	overcome barriers to individual ownership through credit and
training 
*	advocate for bike- and rickshaw-friendly trade and development
policies 

ITDP?s rickshaw modernization project in India developed design innovations
that led to the creation of a bicycle rickshaw that is lighter, more
comfortable, and easier to handle. These improvements increased demand for
travel in the modernized rickshaw, reducing air pollution in many of India?s
most populated cities. Today, over 300,000 modernized bicycle rickshaws are
operating in nine major cities.

Through a unique partnership with US bicycle companies, ITDP?s California
Bike Project works to increase access to good-quality bicycles in major
African cities. Over 5,000 high-quality California Bikes, designed
specifically to address the basic mobility needs of lower-income
communities, have been distributed by our coalition of independent African
bicycle dealers.



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