Sustainable intermediate transport in West Africa: Quality before quantity

This research provides a brief review of the scant previous studies of non-motorised modes of sustainable transportation in Sub-Saharan Africa urban and peri-urban areas. Particular attention is given to the need to encourage bicycle transit in West African secondary cities. Although the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) has made considerable progress in developing improved bicycle transportation, much work remains. In their outstanding effort at decentralised cooperation, ITDP has identified key countries for development of the market for quality bicycles, yet some important secondary cities have been thus far, overlooked. This study identifies the potential market for ITDP’s quality, yet affordable, “California Bike” in Togo’s second largest city, Sokodé. It is argued that ITDP’s strategy to focus on quality rather quantity of bicycles is well founded, but significant marketing obstacles have yet to be overcome.