Transport in developing countries and the role the bicycle can play.

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

Transport is essential in any possible activity as we can see in daily life. If we go to our work, school, shops, if heavy load have to be transported, there is always a need for moving goods or persons. Thanks to a dense, highly efficient and drivers transportsystem in the Western World, every transport need is to be fulfilled. The energy needed for that system is enormous. It is a critical system however. Every failure in that system or in the provision of energy has disastrous effects on almost any activity in the society.

The situation in Developing Countries is totally different. Most important problems are a lack of any system or organisation and the lack of capital to finance improvements of the infrastructure like roads, harbours, transportcentres etc. Foreign financial aid is often used for large-scale projects based on western technology and organisation. A result of such activities is a rapid expansion of urban areas in which those activities are concentrated. Transport 1n urban areas is there for drivers, from human porterage co big trucks and buses but inefficient and mostly concentrated in the informal sector.

Transport in the rural areas is mostly done by women. They carry goods on their head, back or shoulders. Pack animals, animal traction and bicycles are alternative ways of goods transport. Motor vehicles; are expensive, badly maintained and often damaged by the very bad state of the roads. The motor vehicle is therefore no good alternative. So transport is slow very inefficient and has a short range over which goods are transported.

Many Developing Countries try to stimulate agricultural activities. More produce means more movements of fertilizer, produce, water etc. The present system is not capable of making more movements, since human porterage and animals have limits in carrying goods. The motorised alternative is not realistic, due to the high investments of vehicles and improvements of roads. A realistic alternative has to be cheap, must be capable of carrying more goods than a human being over longer distances.

Such an alternative is already in use in Developing Countries the bicycle. The present model is not perfect however. It can take loads up to 50kg without any damage over a period of 1 year. The cargo rack is small, the wheels are too small and very sensitive to any sharp obstacle and the quality of most models is very had. In many studies on transport in Developing Countries the bicycle was considered as the best alternative for transport of goods. Also recommendations were made for improvement of the design and production on local level . In spite of all the recommendations no bicycle has been developed according to those conclusions.

Two models developed by ing. R.J.G. van Bergen in co-operation with Delft University of Technology are exhibited on IFMA. Those models are based on experiences in Developing Countries and made to last over a long period in rough circumstances. One model is based on an old transport model in use in Holland over 50 years, with a large cargo rack at the front. Since its first appearance in 1984 over 100 models are in use in several African countries. The second model, the Bush-Bike is a result of a study in Tanzania carried out by Mr. van Bergen. in 1985. The cargo-racks are situated at the back of the bicycle. The model on exhibit is the first prototype. A series of ten slightly different prototypes is under construction for tests in laboratories and in an African country. Technical details are given on the following sheets

TRANSPORT BICYCLE
HEAVY DUTY TYPE.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.

Length	178 cm
Wheelbase	112 cm
Height, saddle	99 cm
Frame:	Tubes 28 Ø 2.75 mm thick,
Frontfork:	double type tubes 28 Ø 2.75 mm thick, angular contact bearing,
Wheels:	front and rear 26" x2", spokes 40, size 11, hubs. high flange steel. bearings ballbearing, sealed for life,
Driving gear:	gear ratio, 1: 1.5, moped chain, thick cranks, polypropylene pedals, sealed for life ballbearing in bottom bracket. fixed rear chainwheel.
Brake:	hand brake on frontwheel.
Weight:	48 kg.
Cargo capacity:	100 kg at the front. 75 kg at the rear.

Missing Picture: Heavy duty transport bicycle
If you are interessted in this picture, please write me an email.

TRANSPORT BICYCLE
BISH-BIKE.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS.

Length	193 cm
Wheelbase	126 cm
Height saddle	96 cm
Frame:	Tubes 30 Ø 1.5 mm thick.
Frontfork:	double type tubes 28 Ø 1.5 mm thick, thompson type head bearing,
Wheels:	26" x 2" spokes 36, size 12 hubs. low flange transport hubs,
Driving gear:	gear ratio, 1: 2.2, standard chain, standard cranks and chainwheel, solid rubber pedals, thompson type bottom bracket, freewheel.
Brake:	handbrakes, improved calliper type on front and rear wheel.
Weight:	32 kg.
Cargo capacity:	150 kg at the rear. optional 50 kg at the front.

Missing Picture: Bush-bike transport bicycle
If you are interessted in this picture, please write me an email.