Barbara Gruehl Kipke
How to make the wheels go round
NEXT STEPS
Homepage
Publications contents
Navigation
In this section:
Choice of suitable bicycle product managers
Modal split objectives
Prioritization of Various Aspects
Budget Allocation
Problems become Solutions
Tips for New Bicycle Product Managers
3.1 Choice of suitable bicycle product managers
What if the NMV infrastructure is put in place, but no one uses it? This is an embarassing scenario that would become reality if not enough attention is given to the NMV Supply Stream.We are already aware that cycling is very efficient (up to 12 times more efficient than walking!), environmentally sustainable etc. and should thus be promoted as far as possible. Market forces are "distorted" because not all issues in "the wheel" are under the control of the bicycle supply industry (eg. cycling infrastructure, bicycle parking facilities etc.). The bicycle supply industry therefore needs the support of an NMV product manager who can fill in the gap to liaise between the consumers, the bicycle supply industry and the various levels of government.
Figure: "The Wheel"
So far the KBM component has not been successful in getting the personnel capacity to deal with the special issues that pertain to cycling. It is not sufficient to have an IT member come for short visits - there needs to be a competent counterpart to build up a local carrying capacity. Definitely a bicycle product manager is required at the national level who can concentrate on NMV issues. A bicycle product manager is the prerequisite to NMV supply issues being addressed adequately. According to the budget of Phase II, Part 2 the way now seems to be clear to appoint bicycle product managers both in Kenya and Tanzania.
|
Box 1: JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION OF BICYCLE PRODUCT MANAGER / BICYCLE (CYCLING) COORDINATOR Introduction As part of the World Bank/UNECA SSATP Non-Motorized Urban Transport Component, the special relevance of promoting cycling has been determined. This is due to the fact that cycling is very efficient (up to 12 times more efficient than walking), environmentally sustainable, relatively affordable, offers door-to-door transport even under difficult road conditions, healthy etc. It has also been established that the needs of cyclists are quite different than for example the needs of pedestrians (14 out of 18 cycling issues in "the wheel" are irrelevant to pedestrian movement). This leads to the conclusion that a bicycle product manager is required to ensure that the needs of cyclists are adequately addressed. Position Description: The position of Bicycle/Cycling Coordinator is to be filled. The Bicycle Coordinator will be part of the national team. The Bicycle Coordinator will be a so-called "junior member" of the national team. As such, he or she will report to the national team leader. It is a full-time job. Job Description:
|
Bicycle product manager in Kenya - Discusssions:
My preference: one person to handle both Nairobi, El Doret and national cycling issues.
Marius:
suggested an NGO could be assigned the task Uvumbuzi members did not take to the idea because they felt an individual would consider it their "baby" and do more for cycling than an organization that also has other agendas.
Mairura:
feels that 2 bicycle product managers could be employed - one for Nairobi and another for El Doret (with this option even being less expensive than someone moving back and forth in his opinion)
It is important that the bicycle product manager has direct responsibility over the bicycle supply interventions budget. If it has to be O.K.d by the national team leader, too much time and energy is wasted. The bicycle product manager therefore has to be someone to be trusted.
In order to choose a suitable bicycle product manager, I recommend asking the candidate to write a four-page summary of what that person would do in that position of which one page should discuss how they would get women & girls to cycle.
3.2 Modal split objectives
The main objective regarding cycling is to increase the cycling modal share. This is because there is relatively little cycling compared to what can and should be achieved. Below we can see that most KBM team members felt that the cycling modal split could at least double and some team members even felt that cycling could reach levels found in China.Modal split development
| Present Cyclist Modal Split |
Year 2001 Cyclist Modal Split |
|
| Dar es Salaam | 3% | 6-30% |
| Morogoro | 17% | 20-40% |
| Nairobi | under 1% | 5% |
| El Doret | 5-20% | 10-30% |
In Morogoro, it would already be a success if cycling levels could be maintained because with the road rehabilitation measures come increased speeds that are prohibitive for cycling.
3.3 Prioritization of Various Aspects
The prioritization of various aspects is based on averages of all those experts who participated. It is interesting to note how different priorities can be. The more people added usually stabilizes the results if the gender balance is maintained. Otherwise gender issues go down in the priority list.| Priorities of the following city: | Refer to diagramm below | Male experts involved | Female experts involved |
| Dar es Salaam, Tanzania | "Bicycle 1" | 2 males | 2 females |
| Morogoro, Tanzania | "Bicycle 1" | 4 males | 2 females |
| Nairobi, Kenya | "Bicycle 2" | 2 males | 2 females |
| El Doret, Kenya | "Bicycle 2" | 5 males | 2 females |
The priorities in Bicycle 1 (Dar es Salaam & Morogoro) and Bicycle 2 (Nairobi & El Doret) should be checked with the User Platforms (perhaps they can make their own lists of priorities!). Furthermore, the bicycle product manager that is chosen needs to feel comfortable with the priorities.
Bicycle 1: The Bicycle Supply Situation in Tanzania
Bicycle 2: The Bicycle Supply Situation in Kenya
It is also interesting that some priorities that are on the top of the list, don`t require the most resources in terms of budgets. This is natural due to the diverse nature of the priorities.
The more men involved in decision-making the lower the gender issue drops on the priority list (see Morogoro - 4 men/2 women lowered the importance of gender issues). Nevertheless both in Morogoro and in Dar es Salaam gender issues feature on the short list. This means that gender issues should be addressed (and thus integrated) within each individual budget item and in addition special funds should be made available to address gender issues in particular. Women are at a cycling (mobility) disadvantage now and that needs to be overcome by investing more resources in that area.
Until the cycling infrastructure is in place in Nairobi , I got the impression that discussing the other priorities with regard to Nairobi was theoretical. None of us have experience with cycling in Nairobi. The issues will develop as cycling becomes physically possible.
The authorīs priorities:
Make cycling a viable option in the urban transport mix. At present, there are cities where cycling is suicidal. Cycling infrastructure needs to be put in place (including bicycle parking). There is a need to create awareness about cycling issues - in particular the special benefits of cycling. Safety awareness campaigns need to be launched. Perceptions of cycling from being outmoded to being the modern way to move need to be changed.
Increase the share of women cycling. There is no reason why women should be excluded from cycling. On the contrary, women need to become more mobile in order for them to fulfill their tasks more effectively. Improvement in the urban transport mix should mean an improvement for all societal groups ie. also for women & children (who make up approx. 75% of the population).
3.4 Budget Allocation
Remembering that this report only deals with NMV Supply issues, it is nevertheless important to remember the complemenarity of infrastructure, awareness and bicycle supply interventions and that other budgets will promote cycling in a substantial manner.The authorīs proposed Budget of the NMV Supply Stream knowing that the majority of funds required to promote cycling are already covered by the infrastructure budget:
| a) Bicycle Promotion Activities eg. Competition rides, T-shirts, bicycle stickers, involving prominent citizens etc. This second-largest budget item is covered by the awareness campaign budget according to Marius! | 40% |
| b) Teach Cycling ie. purchasing ladies bicycles for schools including children's bicycles for the primary school level | 20% |
| c) Gender-Sensitive Activities eg. Women's bicycle race competitions, Buying ladies bikes for womens groups to teach women to cycle Regular womens forum on the potential benefits of cycling etc. No such special provision was made in the Sept. 8, 96 FAX. | 15% |
| d) Liaison with Bicycle Supply Industry eg. Bicycle Supplier's Luncheons | 5% |
| e) Liaison with Large Employers to introduce bicycle credit schemes in their companies No such special provision was made in the Sept. 8, 96 FAX due to the sensitivity of the bicycle credit issue | 5% |
| f) Support of Special target groups eg. Bicycle hirers in Morogoro, Bicycle Transporters in El Doret, Tricycle Manufacture in Dar es Salaam etc. | 5% |
| g) Other Activities eg. Lobbying activities with all levels of government, Report dissemination etc. | 10% |
3.5 Problems become Solutions
PROBLEM: CHILDREN DON`T KNOW HOW TO CYCLEProblem:
Many children do not know how to cycle. Since they donīt know how to cycle, they canīt experience the benefits of cycling. Cycling is easiest learnt at a young age. It is much harder to teach adults the sense of balance required for cycling. Optimal cycling lessons include lessons on how to use the road safely as a cyclist. Especially girls are afraid of falling down since they often learn on gents bicycles.
Immediate Objectives
- to raise interest in the KBM project at the school level
- to get children to receive bicycle lessons at school
- to have both girl and boy children in equal numbers learn how to cycle
- to gain experience with the maintenance costs of these bicycles
Long-term Objectives
- to have cycling classes offered by all schools at both the primary and secondary school levels as part of their curriculum.
- to make it acceptable for girls and women to cycle as well as boys and men.
- improve the image of cycling as being a modern way to move
- influence childrenīs mobility habits
Input
Provide 4 bicycles per school per city x 3 schools per year at 165 Dfl (according to FAX from Marius to Mr. Hallgrimsson & Mr. Bultynck dated Sept. 8, 96) Preferably these bicycles should be girls/ladies bicycles because these bicycles are easier to learn on. The bicycles should be equipped with the following accessories: lights, kick stand, bell, a lock, reflectors, a rear-view mirror as well as bicycle repair kits. First aid kits should be available for the teachers in case of an emergency.
Handbooks on how to teach cycling in an effective manner
SOLUTION: TEACH CYCLING
Activities
- The bicycle should be put to use every school day ie. 9 months of the year times 20 working days = 180 days/year. If x children can cycle on the ladies bike per day that would mean every child could cycle approx. y times in the course of a year if the total school population was z.
- The teachers should ensure that the bicycle is in the best working condition possible, reporting defects to head office to get it fixed or conducting bicycle repair workshops together with the students. Teachers can act as good examples by being cyclists themselves.
- Suggested Morogoro Girls/Women Cycling Competition
- 5 secondary schools/ 4 participants/school (1 lady teacher/ 3 girls)
- at a field (school?) WHERE? a rally of 500m - 1000m each person
- 30 T-shirts with slogan: I can cycle: Ninaweza Kupanda Baisikeli
1rst prize: Girls/ladies bicycle to be given to school that wins in order to teach cycling to all children (both girls and boys)
2nd/3rd prizes: Bicycle Accessories, 1 for each participant
- Advertisement:
1) talk to teachers
2) Send UP letter in Swahili
3) talk to education officer
4) talk to traffic police
5) First aid in case of injuries
etc. (Please include as many details as possible!!!)
Outputs
x number of children have been taught how to cycle (safely) of which y were girls (for each school separately)
Indicators for Intervention Effects
Number of children who learnt how to cycle in classes
Are there now children cycling? Are they cycling to school for eg.?
Are children teaching others how to cycle outside of the schools?
Survey on childrenīs Perceptions of cycling before & after
Implementing Organisations
KBM Project, School Teachers, Traffic Police
3.6 Tips for New Bicycle Product Managers
A bicycle product manager should feel that all aspects of the cycling situation can be changed over time. The status quo is only a starting point from here to there ie. taxation is no more a long-term given than the existing gender usage of bicycles. Some objectives require more endurance than others, however.There are many aspects to consider to get cycling to take off. Unless most of the 19 spokes of the wheel are addressed, cycling is likely not to succeed.
Your main task will be liaising between different parties who all have different objectives. You will require patience to reach your objectives.
It is important to tap other budgets since the NMV supply budget has turned out to be rather small. Other budgets that could be tapped are:
- Awareness campaign (already discussed with Marius)
- Infrastructure budget (cyclists are already benefiting from themeasures proposed in the infrastructure budget)
- Microenterprises projects of the World Bank (suggested by Marius to aid the bicycle hirers of Morogoro/ the bicycle transporters of El Doret etc.)
- National Income Generating Project (NGIP) (recommended by Mr. Hallgrimsson of the World Bank for bicycle credit schemes)
- Other development aid organizations? (difficult because it is not "their" project) etc.
Tap large employers if you want bicycle credit schemes to get off the ground. You will have difficulties getting financing from the World Bank because they are not used to dealing with micro-loans.
Tap the personnel resources of the User Platforms (UPs). They need topics in order to maintain interest in the project and you should help provide them with some topics (eg. discussions with employers in Industrial Area etc.)
Donīt forget the females. If you can tap the "other half of the population" you are likely to achieve impressive increases in cycling. They are the largest untapped market segment and they can use bicycles for income-generating purposes thus making it viable for them to own a bicycle. It would be more difficult to increase the number of children cycling because those are "luxury bicycles" (unless parents are having to pay a lot for motorized school transport).
Live and let live: I don`t think the bicycle industry is making huge profits. If they are squeezed further, they may go into other lines of business (eg. Family Care in Morogoro who are getting out of the bicycle business because bicycles require more personnel and the margins are lower than their other product lines).
A small investment can go a long way:
- refer to bicycle repair day in Temeke
- distribution of bicycle accessories to the EBTs of El Doret
Make sure you remain focused on cycling and don`t get diverted for other miscellaneous tasks that are part of the KBM (Kutembeya, baisekeli, mkokoteni) project. There are plenty of KBM issues but you need to focus your efforts. If you try to be everything, you`ll end up not serving anyone. You need to understand cyclists needs foremost. Pedestrian and cart issues are quite different and should be dealt with by someone else. Lobby instead for additional pedestrian and cart product managers if you are pushed to cater to everyones needs.
There are bicycle product managers in other countries (refer to Vélo Mondiale Conference 13-17. Sept. 1992: The Bicycle: Global Perspectives). Get in contact with them to exchange ideas.
Keep asking the question: How many bicycles would that buy:
- motorized staff transport (fuel costs, maintenance costs...)
- country-wide fuel imports for motorized modes
- infrastructure rehabilitation measures
Finally, GOOD LUCK!!
Mail to: Barbara Gruehl Kipke (barbara@mobility-consultant.com)
or to the Webmaster (webmaster@mobility-consultant.com).
Back to the top