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Earning a living, but at what price? Being a motorcycle taxi driver in a Sub-Saharan African city

Author

Listed:
  • Lourdes Diaz Olvera

    (LET - Laboratoire d'économie des transports - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - ENTPE - École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Assogba Guézéré

    (Département de Géographie ; Université de Kara - Département de Géographie ; Université de Kara)

  • Didier Plat

    (LET - Laboratoire d'économie des transports - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - ENTPE - École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Pascal Pochet

    (LET - Laboratoire d'économie des transports - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - ENTPE - École Nationale des Travaux Publics de l'État - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Motorcycle taxis have become an essential part of the transport sector in an increasing number of Sub-Saharan African cities. An analysis of the way this activity operates in Lomé (Togo), based on field surveys, provides a better understanding of the reasons for the development of this transport mode. The majority of drivers earn enough from the activity to meet their day to day needs and to invest to increase human and economic capital. The arduous working conditions, the impacts on health and the risk of accidents and aggression explain however why 2 the activity is perceived as temporary and undertaken for want of anything better. There is a need to identify measures to professionalise the occupation and improve its image, and also find the best way to implement them. The occasionally stated goal of doing away with motorcycle taxis in order to modernize urban transport systems would have negative effects on their livelihoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Assogba Guézéré & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2016. "Earning a living, but at what price? Being a motorcycle taxi driver in a Sub-Saharan African city," Post-Print halshs-01325442, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-01325442
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2015.11.010
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01325442v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Saddier, Simon, 2025. "Are motorcycle taxis competing with collective public transport? Analyzing the role of boda-bodas in Kampala's urban mobility system," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    2. Chalermpong, Saksith & Ratanawaraha, Apiwat & Anuchitchanchai, Ornicha, 2023. "Motorcycle taxis' varying degrees of complementarity and substitution with public transit in Bangkok," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    3. Armah, Abdul Karim & Li, Jinfa, 2023. "Generational cohorts’ social media acceptance as a delivery tool in sub-Sahara Africa motorcycle industry: The role of cohort technical know-how in technology acceptance," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    4. Alimo, Philip Kofi & Rahim, Abdul Basit Abdul & Lartey-Young, George & Ehebrecht, Daniel & Wang, Ling & Ma, Wanjing, 2022. "Investigating the increasing demand and formal regulation of motorcycle taxis in Ghana," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    5. Sgibnev, Wladimir & Rekhviashvili, Lela, 2020. "Marschrutkas: Digitalisation, sustainability and mobility justice in a low-tech mobility sector," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 342-352.
    6. Wadud, Zia, 2020. "The effects of e-ridehailing on motorcycle ownership in an emerging-country megacity," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 301-312.
    7. Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2020. "Looking for the obvious: Motorcycle taxi services in Sub-Saharan African cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    8. Rekhviashvili, Lela & Sgibnev, Wladimir, 2020. "Theorising informality and social embeddedness for the study of informal transport. Lessons from the marshrutka mobility phenomenon," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    9. Kemajou, Armel & Jaligot, Rémi & Bosch, Martí & Chenal, Jérôme, 2019. "Assessing motorcycle taxi activity in Cameroon using GPS devices," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-1.
    10. Ehebrecht, Daniel & Heinrichs, Dirk & Lenz, Barbara, 2018. "Motorcycle-taxis in sub-Saharan Africa: Current knowledge, implications for the debate on “informal” transport and research needs," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 242-256.

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