<html> <head> <META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"> <style>  </style> </head> <body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> We need to be careful here.  Not all transportation is ‘urban’, and in Africa lack of access to basic mobility constitutes a fundamental barrier to economic development, access to employment, health care, schools, etc.  A number of thoughtful articles by John Howe and other experts indicate that the introduction of motorcycles has had enormous economic benefits in those few African cities where they have been introduced, and of course a few unfortunate externalities like more pollution, accidents, etc.     The problem of the ‘missing middle’ in Africa, meaning the absence of vehicle options between land rovers and women headloading, is a key component of the basic economic underdevelopment of Africa.  When a woman spends 60 hours a week taking care of basic mobility needs, how in the hell is she supposed to do much else?  When your country is very poor, the economic effects are extremely critical.  We’re doing good work introducing better bicycles, which are of course not controversial, but all the industry related problems are the same, and the economic benefits of introducing cleaner, cheapter, higher quality motorcycles would be important also.  There is no such thing as ‘public transportation’ in Africa at this point, there are only paratransit services.  A lot of African cities are very low density, and motorcycles are a reasonable option.  Ambient air pollution becomes a problem only with a certain amount of concentration of the pollutants.  The safety issues are better addressed by designing roads for slower speeds.    What to do about motorcycles is certainly a critical issue.  Banning them in Africa is certainly not the solution.   Best Walter   -----Original Message----- From: sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org [mailto:sustran-discuss-bounces+whook=itdp.org@list.jca.apc.org] On Behalf Of Eric Bruun Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 3:42 PM To: eric.britton@ecoplan.org; Global 'South' Sustainable Transport; 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport' Cc: oscar_kim2000@yahoo.co.uk; 'joshua odeleye' Subject: [sustran] Re: Commercial motorcycles shut-down in Lagos   <div> Like I keep saying, massive numbers of motorcycles and mopeds is a symptom of neglect of public transport. If the rich can drive, are the masses really going to do without mobility if they can afford it? How could you persuade them otherwise? </div> <div>   </div> <div> Eric Bruun </div> <blockquote style='border:none;border-left:solid blue 1.5pt;padding:0in 0in 0in 4.0pt; margin-left:0in;margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt'> -----Original Message----- From: Eric Britton <ERIC.BRITTON@ECOPLAN.ORG>Sent: Sep 6, 2006 11:52 AM To: 'Global 'South' Sustainable Transport' <SUSTRAN-DISCUSS@LIST.JCA.APC.ORG>Cc: oscar_kim2000@yahoo.co.uk, 'joshua odeleye' <JOSHUAODELEYE@YAHOO.COM>Subject: [sustran] Commercial motorcycles shut-down in Lagos <ZZZHTML><ZZZHEAD><ZZZMETA CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii" HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type"><ZZZMETA name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 10 (filtered)"></ZZZHEAD><ZZZBODY lang=EN-US vlink="purple" link="blue"> As Walter put it so well, they are playing with fire in the streets of  Lagos today. For the reasons that he and Joshua mention, but also because – and this is something that transport planners often simply do not take into consideration since they try to ‘solve’ their problems within a very partial systems analysis in a broadly and relentlessly systemic world – they either have no memory or no knowledge of what happens when you mess with the ‘small details’ of people’s lives. In this case as Walter points out, actually millions of people.   History is strewn with the bodies of specialists who proposed ‘transportation solutions’ to inconvenient problems, only to see a fast and massive reaction on the streets that has toppled governments in very many cases. (It’s really quite a long list and at some point we might all sit down and draw it up as a sweet reminder.  Transportation is indeed dynamite!)   And oh yes, I have not forgotten in this that push from the law enforcement side for whatever reasons. My best guess is though that the transport guys were just looking for  good excuse to get these guys out of circulation.   This leaves us at the end of the day, however, with what is among the most ‘inconvenient truths’ of transport planning and policies in cities across the Global South today – those damn motorized two-wheelers. Certainly an enormous problem, but a far more subtle and astute response is called for.   Eric Britton </blockquote> </div> </ZZZBODY></ZZZHTML> </body> </html>