Patterns of adoption not straightforward

Population density, incomes, cultures, topography, climate, farming systems, transport needs and project activities all affect the success of promotional programmes. Complex combinations of environmental and socio-economic factors, together with fickle human reactions, influence transport adoption.

Within any country, adoption of transport solutions is not homogenous. Some differences can be attributed to variations in population density, incomes, cultures, topography, climate, farming systems, transport needs and project influences. Motorcycles are found mainly in rich, high-density areas, donkeys in dry zones and hills, while handcarts and wheelbarrows are most common in urban and peri-urban areas. In other respects, the distribution of intermediate means of transport appears random. This may be due to differences in human inventiveness, entrepreneurial skills, personal preferences, fashions and simple 'chance'. Community reaction to innovations is influenced by many social, cultural and economic factors, with many 'random' or 'chaotic' chance elements.

Hand carts used by fishermen in Nicaragua

Photograph by Paul Starkey ©
Cycle taxi in Cuba

Tricycles of different types are used in most regions of the world. They are often used by small-scale transport operators in urban and peri-urban areas where roads are good and transport demand is high. Cycle-rickshaws (load behind operator) are common in parts of South Asia, while 'cyclos' (load in front of operator) are found in Southeast Asia. These technologies vary between countries and not uniformly distributed within countries. There is an increasing use of tricycle taxis in Cuba (where there are several different designs), Peru and elsewhere in Latin America. Tricycles have not been widely adopted in Africa, but bicycle taxis fulfill a similar transport niche in East Africa.

In Madagascar ox carts with wooden spoked wheels are common, but cartwheels are now seldom encountered on the African mainland. Animal-drawn sledges are common in Madagascar, and also in eastern and southern Africa. Such sledges are seldom seen in West Africa.

Ox cart in Madagascar

Motor cycles with sidecars are common in the Philippines, but not in other countries. Men and women riding mopeds in Burkina Faso, Benin and Togo but this is uncommon in Guinea, Ethiopia and Tanzania. Power tillers pull trailers in south Asia, but this is not yet common in Africa.

Motorcycle with sidecar in the Philippines

India has 14 million ox carts. Ethiopia has 14 million work oxen and five million donkeys, but very few carts. In Madagascar and Cuba oxen pull carts. Cows, rather than oxen, pull carts in Portugal and Romania.