Mazingira Institute

Urban Bicycle Project

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Mazingira Institute
Man/environment development and control doa???
P.O. Box 14550 Nairobi Kenya
Telephone 47066

Center for appropriate Technology
Stevinweg 1 (Kab. 4.91)
P.O. Box 5048
2600 GA Delft
The Netherlands

Excerpt from: Bicycle Reference Manual for Developing Countries. Edited by Barbara Gruehl Kipke, April 1991.

The need to establish comprehensive and systematic transportation energy management programs has been generally rergonized by industrialized as well as developing countrees after the 1971-74 energy crises. The transportation sector relies almost entirely on petroleum, a fuel whose price is steadily on the rise and whose availibility is becoming increasingly uncertain. It is doughtful that Kenya can continue to devote about one-third of its annual foreign exchange expenditures on importing petroleum. One aspect of a comprehensive transportation energy management program is the encouragement of fuel efficient modes. Bicycles combine low costs, high flexibility and relatively high speeds in urban conditins to provide an extraonrdinarily fuel-efficient transport mode for passanger-, and freight movement. This research focuses on exploring the potentials for bicycles as a means for expanding the capacity of Nairobi's transportation system as well as providing a method for saving substantial quantities of petroleum.

The startinq-point of the proposed research is that individual modal choice takes into consideration characteristics of the trip, economic cultural, historical and social factors. Proceedinq from this proposition, the approach of the research is multidisciplinary and will examine the variety, complexity and inter-relationship among the multitude of factors influencing travel behavior. Scenarios of future bicycle ridership patterns will be developed, analysed and evaluated. A preferred alternative will be selected and a program for implementation recommended.

1. Background

   A stifling proportion, about one-third of Kenya's annual foreiqn exchange expenditures are devoted in importing petroleum. Recently, Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi reiterated that the country can no lonqer afford the petroleum Bill; steps must be taken immediately to identify local energy sources and to undertake programs to reduce energy use. Transportation, especially in Nairobi, was singled out as an area for serious consideration.

   The transport sector relies almost entirely on petroleum, a fuel with steadily rising pricrs and increasinqly uncertain availability. Programs to reduce transport energy (in particular, petroleum) can be classified into those effectinq supply of transport services, and those effecting the demand for transport. For example, gasoline price increases may reduce the demand ror drivinq private automobiles, while enhancing the availability of more enerqy efficient transport modes effects the supply of transport services. This research focuses on exploring the potential use of bicycles as a means for expanding the capacity of Nairobi's existing transport system as well as providing a method for saving substantial quantities of petroleum.

   Kenyan cities, and particularly Nairobi, are experiencing rapid population growth. This growth is putting pressure on already stretched transportation systems, and has resulted in servere traffic congestion at peak hours. Expansion of system capacities are or will be required in the near future. In Nairobi, for example, the World Bank ls currently undertaking an Urban II Project, however there are no plans to include bicycle infrastructure.

   There are locications that Kenya may institute petroleum rationing in the near future. If private car owners are expected to reduce their driving, then alternative modes of transport must be available. Public transport systems are already at capacity during peak hours. The matatus (taxi's following generally recognized routes, or Kenya's paratransit vehicles) are also at capacity, have unorthodox operating practices and are notoriously unsafe.

   Bicycles combine very high fuel-efficiency with low costs, high flexibility and relatively high travel speeds in urban conditions to provide an alternative means for passenger and freight movement. Bicycles are a mid-range mode of urban transport. They avoid many of the problems of private automobiles, mass transit and inadequacies of walking. Yet they are vitually as flexible as pedestrian movement with the advantage of greater ranqe and higher speed.

   Bicycles provide a lonq-term and low cost means for increasing urban transport system capacity. The World Bank has stated, "Bicycle tracks are...relatively inexpensive to build...(and) offer qreat potential for the developing countries in reducing public outlays for transport infrastructure, particularly if means can be found for encouraging bicycle use by better supply and financing facilities". (World Band, Urban Transport Sector Policy Paper, May 1975, p.76)

   The purpose of the proposed research is to determine the role bicycles can serve in a balanced urban transport system. In an efficicnt urban transport system each mode satisfies the travel demand for which it is best suited. Buses, for example, are efficient in linking dispersed nodes of moderate density that are separated by relatively long distances. Bicycles have been found to serve efficiently trips that are less than about eight to ten kilometers, require a high degree of flexibility in movements are made over relatively flat terrain and take place in reasonable weather conditions. Initial explorations indicate that a significant number of the existing trips in the Nairobi area have these characteristics. Currently, bicycles satisfy only a very small proportion of these trips, and, therefore, the potential for their expanded use appears to exist.

   Bicycles have been an established and well tested technology for urban transportation in some European North American and Asian cities although they have not received wide acceptance in Kenyan urban areas. The researchers previous work indicates that many factors appear to be responsible for their lack of wide spread use: the roads are not safe to drive on, the required infrastructure is not available, tho cost of bicycles is high and the low status given bicycle riders. Technical-fix type remedies could be found for many of these difficulties: however the premise of the research is that the cultural, historical and social factors which influence individual behavior must also be considered in any solution.

2. Objectives

   The general goal of the proposed research is to contribute to the on-going transport and energy policy and planning for Nairobi. The following are the more detailed objectives:

   1. to establish a procedure for and to develop scenarios that describe potential bicycle use patterns in Nairobi for passenger and urban goods movement.
   2. to undertake a detailed analysis and evaluation of these scenarios; and to select the most appropriate one for future bicycle use in Nairobi.
   3. to develop a program for implementing the scenario selected above.
   4. to develop skill and experience in formulating and implementing interdisciplinary urban transportation research projects.