Bicycle (Practical Action Technical Brief): Difference between revisions

Introduction and Context

Isolation is one of the key elements of poverty, isolated communities have little or no access to goods and services, and few opportunities to travel beyond their immediate surroundings. This restricts agricultural productivity, reduces health and educational and limits opportunities for employment and political opportunity. Limited financial resources prevents investment in means of transport maintaining the position of poverty and isolation.

Consequently, there is a need to develop alternative, more affordable means of transport. Developing such systems requires consideration of four key elements:

• the improvement of village level infrastructure such as paths, tracks, and footbridges
• the provision of adequate and affordable rural transport services
• the siting of services closer to the communities , thereby removing or reducing the need for lengthy travel
• the promotion and use of intermediate means of transport including; pack animals, sledges, animal carts, cycle based transport and some low cost motorised devices.

One of the more common types of intermediate transport is the bicycle.

Bicycles

Bicycles are a low cost means of transport that can improve access to water, health facilities and, for example, address stove marketing problems faced by woman producer groups in Kenya The bicycle is still expensive for poorer families in Africa and can cost between 20 to over 100 per cent of a rural households annual income. Therefore, transport needs to be supported by an affordable system of manufacture, supply, and repair. Affordability is related to the availability of spare parts and repair services, which are sometime lacking in rural areas. Several projects have attempted to boost local economics by encouraging artisanal production of suitable transport and improve the local capabilities of metal workers to maintain and repair bicycles and other types of transport. Figure 1: Cyclist carrying mattresses, Puttalam District. An example of ordinary bicycle used to transport difficult loads

Panniers

The carrying capacity of the bicycle can be greatly increased by attaching panniers either side of the wheel. However, the loads in the panniers must be reasonably well balanced. Panniers are particularly suited to carrying containers such as used for carrying water. Panniers may simply be sacks or woven baskets hung from lengths of wood or bamboo fixed across the carrier or may be frames manufactured from wood or steel. They need to be as light as possible. The design shown is a steel frame, which may be either welded or pinned together so that it can be folded up when it is not in use. The base and sides may be filled in with wire mesh (weldmesh), wooden slats or canvas type material. The ends can be filled in on fixed panniers but not on fold-up designs. Figure 2: Construction of panniers Move stays 560 140 Carriers need to be strengthened to support panniers. Make the inner members from 20x20x3 or 25x25x3 angle 500 Bolt to bicycle 640 320 Bicycles

Bicycle extensions

These low cost adaptations of standard bicycles enable larger and more bulky loads to be carried on an extended rear carrier. The load that can be carried is limited by the strength of the rear wheel and tyre. A strengthened wheel can be used so that the limiting factor is the load capacity of the tyre. This particular bicycle adaptation requires; the chain to be lengthened, the brackets for the rear break to be moved, and the brake rods to be lengthened. The frame does not have to be cut or modified in any way. Figure 4: Construction of extension for a standard bicycle Extended cycle user (ITDG design). W Aloysius Fernando, cultivator of mainly plantains & peanuts, sells peanuts in nearby towns. With the extended cycle, he can now transport enough to meet demand (1200 packets as oppose to 400 packets on original bicycle). With increased business earnings he began to cultivate a larger area of land and could hire a peanut shelling machine. Wheel moved by 250 mm Carrier Bolt to Frame Wheel support frame Bolt to bicycle 800 250 Support stays Figure 3: Extended bicycle Bicycles

Construction of extension with small (20) rear wheel

The advantages of a small rear wheel are; there is more space for the load, the load is lower and easier to balance, the wheel is stronger, and the bicycle is easier to pedal. The main disadvantage is that the smaller wheel does not ride as easily over pumps and potholes. Figure 5: Construction of extension with small (20) rear wheel Bicycle taxis The Bicycle taxi or Boda boda has become popular in Uganda and kenya, they operate for hire fromstands in towns, bus stops and market centres. The name boda bodas is said to come from hthe time when the East African Community existed and there was free movement across the boarder between Uganda and Kenya. Travellers were offered transport to the boarder by bicycle-riders shouting Border Border to attract passengers. Converting a bicycle to a taxi requires reinforced forks, stronger brakes, a passenger seat and footrests, and cushions. New seat designs enable woman to ride side-addle should help to improve access. Although the work is hard, the operators can earn a living despite a lack of formal education. The community transport organisation in Ndhiwa and The Kibos Cycle Taxi Association of Kisumu, Western Kenya has worked in conjunction with ITDGs Rural Transport programme in Western Kenya to: Enhance the safety of bicycle taxis. Provide a cycle lane along the Kibos road Set up a mini-medical insurance scheme for passengers and operators Provide a credit scheme and repair fund for the members Carrier & container Bolt to bicycle frame at these points Support bar Carrier & container Support stays

References and further reading

• Low-cost Load-carrying Devices: The Design & Manufacture of Some Basic Means of Transport Ron Dennis and Alan Smith ITDG Publishing 1995
• Puncture Prevention Techniques for Low Cost Vehicles Michael Ayre & Alan Smith
• Forum News. The International Forum for Rural Transport and Development A quarterly newsletter looking at the issues of transport with animal power, bridges, bicycles, gender and transport, financing, engineering, sustainable rural livelihoods, community planning.

IFRTDs address is shown below.

Useful contacts and addresses

• IT Transport Ltd The Old Power Station Ardington, Nr Wantage Oxon OX12 8QJ United Kingdom Tel: +44 1235 833753 /821366 Fax: +44 1235 833753/821366 E-mail: itt@ittransport.co.uk Consultants in transport for rural development International Forum for Rural Transport and Development
• IFRTD 2 Spitfire Studios 67-73 Collier Street London N1 9BE United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0)20 7713 6699 Fax: +44 (0)20 7713 8290 Email: ifrtd@gn.apc.org Web site: http://www.gn.apc.org/ifrtd The International Forum for Rural Transport and Development is a global network of individuals and representatives from government, academia, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, consultancies and technical institutions, national and international NGOs and groups of community organisations in 83 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and North and South America. There are over 1800 members in the network. The Forums long-term vision is of a world in which rural communities, particularly those who are poor and disadvantaged, have improved accessibility and mobility. Forum News is produced by the Secretariat, four times a year in English, French and Spanish. Members receive the newsletter free of charge. Each issue of the newsletter is based on a specific theme. Themes addressed in past newsletters have included sustainable rural livelihoods, gender and transport, engineering for transport, networking, maintenance, and community participation.

Useful website addresses

• International Bicycle Fund: A non-governmental, non-profit, advocacy organisation, promoting sustainable transport and international understanding. Major areas of activity are non-motorised urban planning, economic development, bike safety education, responsible travel and cycle tourism, and cross-cultural, educational programmes.
• Pan Africa Bicycle Information Network (PABIN): Working to improve opportunities for bicycle transport and low-cost mobility to improve productivity, the quality of life and the environment in Africa.
• Re-cycle: Re-cycle is a charity whose mission is to collect and ship second hand bicycles and parts to Less Developed Countries. Re-cycle help to teach local people the skills of how to repair and maintain bicycles, to improve their lives in a sustainable manner.
• Afribike: Afribike is an independent, not-for-gain, company with registered offices in Southern Africa and The Netherlands. Activities include; training workshops, low-cost bicycle procurement programs, bicycle enterprise projects and IMT (intermediate means of transport) advocacy work. Email: mailbox@afribike.org, nederland@afribike.org