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’s 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 ‘cultural’ 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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