Subverting sustainability? - infrastructural and cultural barriers to cycle use in Accra
Explores attitudes to cycling amongst Africa's urban poor and implications for cycling as a low-cost solution to transport problems
Abstract
This paper is a product of 4 simultaneous pilot studies of urban transport in Accra, Ghana. Here, using Accra as a case study, we explore attitudes to cycling amongst Africa鈥檚 urban poor and the implications of such findings for the promotion of cycle use as a low-cost third world solution to transport problems.
Key findings are: the high cycle cost due to difficulties in obtaining the finance to purchase bikes inhibits low income ridership; the mixed road use patterns of urban Ghana inhibit the use of cycles; and substantial variations in levels of ridership exist as between different low income communities. These latter 鈥榗ultural鈥� differences are explained by strong migration links between the areas with higher ridership levels and Northern areas of Ghana where cycling is a more common practice.
The paper then considers the policy consequences of these understandings in the context of current discussions of sustainable transport policy in the developing world.
Citation
TURNER,J, M GRIECO AND E A KWAKYE.(1995). Subverting sustainability? - infrastructural and cultural barriers to cycle use in Accra. Presented at the Seventh World Conference on Transport Research, Sydney, 16-21 July 1995. TRL- Crowthorne
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