When we think of mobility as a public good, we need to ensure that people can access different parts of the city in a flexible manner. There are several means that can be used for this from bicycles and cars to walking and public transportation.

The phenomenon of motorcycle taxis has become popular around the world recently. However, many urban planners, authorities and public transit managers view them as a nuisance. In Nairobi, the county government banned them from working within the Central Business District after complaints that they were adding to the already congested streets.

Two-wheeled taxis in East Africa started with bicycle taxis that would transport travelers between points along the Kenyan-Ugandan border (thus their name bodaboda) and this developed to be more common within the nearby towns. The recent inflow of imported Chinese motorbikes has slowly led to the growth of the industry within most urban areas of the region. Shortage of urban transportation and lax regulations are among the factors that have aided their growth.

Safety is one of the biggest concerns in this industry. Most passengers do not wear safety helmets and until recently, drivers would not even wear reflective jackets. Some hospitals have special wards for motorcycle accident victims, while in Kampala, Uganda, it is believed that more people die of motorcycle accidents than diseases like malaria. Overloading is also a problem, with bikes often carrying three or more passengers. In the Philippines there are cases of bikes carrying up to ten passengers. There have also been cases where criminals pretend to be riders, only to rob passengers midway through their journey.

On the positive side, one can also see several benefits of the system, such as the creation of employment in developing countries. The system adds to the available means of public transportation, provides a personalized door-to-door service, and a quick one at that, as they do not get stuck in traffic jams. In Kigali, Rwanda there are 10,486 motorcyclists on record and it is believed that up to 47,187 people depend on motorcyclists for their livelihoods, which could be about 4.5% of the city's population. The industry has also recently seen several innovations like illuminated jackets for safety and even wearable passenger airbag jackets.

European countries have also adopted their own version of motorcycle taxis with the emergence of Virgin motor bikes and passenger bikes that can transport passengers on designated routes in and around London. There are many more safety measures taken there, but at a much more expensive rate than the services offered in developing countries like Kenya. In France, one can take a moto taxi from various parts of the city, including as an efficient means of airport transfers.

What is the future of motorcycle taxis? How should urban planners integrate motorcycle taxis into transportation systems or plans?

Credits: Images by Constant Cap. Data linked to sources.