| Incorporating non-transport solutions |
 Woman carrying water in Namibia, due to the absence of a village well. |
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Water transport is a major problem in many
communities. Water may be carried by people or by using wheelbarrows, carts,
cycles or pack animals. If water is piped to houses, the transport of water
ceases to be a domestic problem. Similarly, the provision of additional wells
or communal taps may be more important to a community than the supply of
water-carts. |
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In Makete, Tanzania, the introduction of piped
water reduced household transport requirements by 1400 person kilometres and
350 transport hours per year. Village grinding mills saved another 100
transport hours per household per year, with women the main beneficiaries. |
The problem of transport of goods from village
to market can be solved with intermediate means of transport, such as carts or
bicycles. An alternative solution might be to establish a new market or depot
in the village. Similarly, increasing the number of schools and clinics can
help solve the transport problems of schoolchildren and the sick. Although intermediate means of transport are
useful in many different situations, they are not a universal panacea.
Sometimes transport problems can be addressed through the combination of
human walking/carrying and large-scale transportation systems.