The commercial use of non-motorised transport: evidence from Accra, Ghana

Accra's traders continue to make use of the hand pushed or hand pulled cart for moving their stock across the city

Abstract

Accra’s traders continue to make use of the hand pushed or hand pulled cart for moving their stock across the city. These non-motorized forms of transport play a key role in a low income economy: developing economies with their large informal sectors contain a preponderance of enterprises with a restricted capital base which require and make use of low cost transport forms. The bicycle though well suited to the small load requirements of much petty trading is not regarded as a suitable mode of transport for women who make up the majority of Ghana’s traders. A World Bank project designed to support and promote non-motorized modes of transport is currently being implemented. The paper discusses the practices and prospects of the commercial use of non-motorized transport in Ghana. describes the World Bank project which supports and promotes these transport forms and discusses the appropriateness of non-motorized transport modes for developing economies with their large informal sectors and plentiful supply of petty trading enterprises.

Citation

AMPONSAH, F, J TURNER, M GRIECO AND P GUITINK (1 996). The commercial use of non-motorised transport: evidence from Accra, Ghana. Paper no .96, Transportation Research Board, 75th Annual Meeting, January 7 - 11, 1996, Washington, D. C. TRL - Crowthorne

The commercial use of non-motorised transport: evidence from Accra, Ghana

Published 1 January 1996