Barbara Gruehl Kipke

Bicycle Usage in Two Cities of Africa

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PROCEDURE OF RESEARCH - Pre-Test Results

The first four interviews were used to test the questionnaire in terms of the understandability of the ability questions and its practicability during field work. These first experiences are the basis for a revisal of the questionnaire.

Only 15 individuals in Tamale were questioned during these interviewe. These first results are only for test purposes and by no means statistically relevant. The information, that could be obtained thus far, is presented below:

• Most of the head of households are either part-time or full-time farmers, whose trip patterns are therefore very seasonal in nature. During the rainy season the destinations of the farmers lie outside the city limits where they till their fields. These fields are four to fourteen miles from their homes and are usually reached by means of a bicycle. As a result, the bicycle is used more frequently during the rainy season. During the dry season, most head of household travel to destinations in the city center.
• Many additional trips are caused by the breakdown of the water supply, as is often the case. Trips between one to five miles then have to be undertaken to fetch water. Especially girls have to travel several times daily on foot to fetch water.
• The market, which is a central facility, is visited on a daily basis by the women. The new and old market lie one to two miles from the homes of those interviewed. Women do not use the bicycle in Tamale, because they do not know how to ride a bicycle and because according to their own accounts, they can not afford it, but would use bicycles if they could.
• Schools are one to two miles away from pupil's homes and are reached on foot.
• In the households questioned thus far, only one functional bicycle was available per household. The head of household uses the bicycle for his occupation, where the transportation of loads is also often necessary. The bicycle is even used on the worst "roads" in the bush. The indicated reasons for bicycle usage were an increase in mobility, the possibility of transporting loads and that the bicycle is affordable. Disadvantages of the bicycle were the repairs required and that spare parts are either hard to come by or very expensive.
• Public transport serves only for long-distance transport. At the collection points that are up to a mile away, hour long waits are usual. The taxi is only used in exceptional cases eg. to get to the hospital.

Generally one can say, that the questions were answered honestly so that reliable data can be expected from the main survey

Initial results are not available for Ouagadougou because the necessary research permit was only issued on the day prior to departure for Europe. It is to be expected, that the results will be distinctly different from the impressions gained thus far in Tamale, because the percentage of farmers in Ouagadougou is lower.