Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour; Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour, Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei

Published in American Journal of Civil Engineering (Volume 2, Issue 4)

Received: 31 August 2014 Accepted: 15 September 2014 Published: 20 September 2014

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Abstract

The Road Traffic Act (Act 683) passed in 2004 by the Parliament of Ghana precludes the use of motorcycles to carry fare-paying passengers, yet motorcycle taxi services are gradually gaining root within the public transportation sector in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Even though the services are not yet operated city-wide, they have begun raising public concern. This study looked at the operation and management of motorcycle taxi services in Accra and surveyed the opinions of operators, users and non-users on the services. It was established that motorcycle taxi services in the Accra Metropolis are patronized mostly by short-distance urban commuters, particularly during peak periods of traffic flow when there is heavy congestion. Patronage is gender- and age-biased as majority of patrons are male and young. Due to lack of regulation, the services tend to be concentrated along only a few routes perceived by the operators as profitable. Public opinion and acceptance of this form of public transportation are mixed. Of the 201 non-users interviewed, a slight majority (56%) thought that the ban implicit in the Road Traffic Act on such forms of public transportation must be enforced. Most (68%) of the patrons interviewed considered the services convenient for beating traffic congestion and safe due to the short trip lengths. Commuters who shy away from the services cited safety (46%) and illegality of services (34%) as their major concerns; only 4% cited the fear of falling into the hands of criminals as a concern. For the service providers, most of whom are no more than high school graduates, the taxis offer subsistence in a country where employment is hard to come by.

Published in	American Journal of Civil Engineering (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
Page(s)	117-122
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Accra Metropolis, Congregation Points, Motorcycle Taxis, Public Transportation Services, Road Traffic Act

References

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[4]	M. Sohail, D. A. C. Maunder, and S. Cavill. Effective regulation for sustainable public transport in developing countries. Transport Policy 13, 2006, pp. 177-190.
[5]	World Moto, http://www.worldmoto.com/about-industry.php. Accessed August 17, 2014.
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[7]	O. Olurinola. Informal Self-Employment and Poverty Alleviation: Empirical Evidence from Motorcycle Taxi Riders in Nigeria. International Journal of Economics and Finance, Vol. 3, No. 2, May, 2011
[8]	R. Cervero and A. Golub. Informal Transport: A global perspective. Transport Policy, 14(6), 2007, pp. 445-457.
[9]	E. O. Odelowo. “Pattern of trauma resulting from motorcycle accidents in Nigerians: a two-year prospective study,” African Journal of Medicine & Medical Sciences, 23.2, 1994, pp. 109-12.
[10]	T. R. Miller, R. S. Spicer, D. C. Lestina, and D. T. Levy. Is it safest to travel by bicycle, car, or big truck? Journal of Crash Prevention and Injury Control, 1(1), 1999, pp. 25-34.
[11]	K. S. Oluwadiya, L. M. Oginni, A. A. Olasinde, and S. O. Fadiora. “Motorcycle limb injuries in a developing country”, West African Journal of Medicine, 2004, Jan.-March 23 (1): 42-47.
[12]	B. A. Solagberu, C. K. P. Ofoegbu, A. A. Nasir, O. K. Ogundipe, A. O. Adekanye, and L. O. Abdur-Rahman. Motorcycle injuries in a developing country and the vulnerability of riders, passengers, and pedestrians. Injury Prevention, Vol. 12, Issue 4, 2006, pp. 266-268.
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Yaw Adubofour Tuffour, Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. (2014). Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. American Journal of Civil Engineering, 2(4), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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Yaw Adubofour Tuffour; Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. Am. J. Civ. Eng. 2014, 2(4), 117-122. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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AMA Style

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour, Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. Am J Civ Eng. 2014;2(4):117-122. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12,
  author = {Yaw Adubofour Tuffour and Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei},
  title = {Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis},
  journal = {American Journal of Civil Engineering},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {117-122},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajce.20140204.12},
  abstract = {The Road Traffic Act (Act 683) passed in 2004 by the Parliament of Ghana precludes the use of motorcycles to carry fare-paying passengers, yet motorcycle taxi services are gradually gaining root within the public transportation sector in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Even though the services are not yet operated city-wide, they have begun raising public concern. This study looked at the operation and management of motorcycle taxi services in Accra and surveyed the opinions of operators, users and non-users on the services. It was established that motorcycle taxi services in the Accra Metropolis are patronized mostly by short-distance urban commuters, particularly during peak periods of traffic flow when there is heavy congestion.  Patronage is gender- and age-biased as majority of patrons are male and young. Due to lack of regulation, the services tend to be concentrated along only a few routes perceived by the operators as profitable. Public opinion and acceptance of this form of public transportation are mixed. Of the 201 non-users interviewed, a slight majority (56%) thought that the ban implicit in the Road Traffic Act on such forms of public transportation must be enforced. Most (68%) of the patrons interviewed considered the services convenient for beating traffic congestion and safe due to the short trip lengths. Commuters who shy away from the services cited safety (46%) and illegality of services (34%) as their major concerns; only 4% cited the fear of falling into the hands of criminals as a concern. For the service providers, most of whom are no more than high school graduates, the taxis offer subsistence in a country where employment is hard to come by.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis
AU  - Yaw Adubofour Tuffour
AU  - Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei
Y1  - 2014/09/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
T2  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
SP  - 117
EP  - 122
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
AB  - The Road Traffic Act (Act 683) passed in 2004 by the Parliament of Ghana precludes the use of motorcycles to carry fare-paying passengers, yet motorcycle taxi services are gradually gaining root within the public transportation sector in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Even though the services are not yet operated city-wide, they have begun raising public concern. This study looked at the operation and management of motorcycle taxi services in Accra and surveyed the opinions of operators, users and non-users on the services. It was established that motorcycle taxi services in the Accra Metropolis are patronized mostly by short-distance urban commuters, particularly during peak periods of traffic flow when there is heavy congestion.  Patronage is gender- and age-biased as majority of patrons are male and young. Due to lack of regulation, the services tend to be concentrated along only a few routes perceived by the operators as profitable. Public opinion and acceptance of this form of public transportation are mixed. Of the 201 non-users interviewed, a slight majority (56%) thought that the ban implicit in the Road Traffic Act on such forms of public transportation must be enforced. Most (68%) of the patrons interviewed considered the services convenient for beating traffic congestion and safe due to the short trip lengths. Commuters who shy away from the services cited safety (46%) and illegality of services (34%) as their major concerns; only 4% cited the fear of falling into the hands of criminals as a concern. For the service providers, most of whom are no more than high school graduates, the taxis offer subsistence in a country where employment is hard to come by.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour

Department of Civil Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei

Department of Urban Roads, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Accra, Ghana

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APA Style

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour, Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. (2014). Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. American Journal of Civil Engineering, 2(4), 117-122. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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ACS Style

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour; Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. Am. J. Civ. Eng. 2014, 2(4), 117-122. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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AMA Style

Yaw Adubofour Tuffour, Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei. Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis. Am J Civ Eng. 2014;2(4):117-122. doi: 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12,
  author = {Yaw Adubofour Tuffour and Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei},
  title = {Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis},
  journal = {American Journal of Civil Engineering},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {117-122},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajce.20140204.12},
  abstract = {The Road Traffic Act (Act 683) passed in 2004 by the Parliament of Ghana precludes the use of motorcycles to carry fare-paying passengers, yet motorcycle taxi services are gradually gaining root within the public transportation sector in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Even though the services are not yet operated city-wide, they have begun raising public concern. This study looked at the operation and management of motorcycle taxi services in Accra and surveyed the opinions of operators, users and non-users on the services. It was established that motorcycle taxi services in the Accra Metropolis are patronized mostly by short-distance urban commuters, particularly during peak periods of traffic flow when there is heavy congestion.  Patronage is gender- and age-biased as majority of patrons are male and young. Due to lack of regulation, the services tend to be concentrated along only a few routes perceived by the operators as profitable. Public opinion and acceptance of this form of public transportation are mixed. Of the 201 non-users interviewed, a slight majority (56%) thought that the ban implicit in the Road Traffic Act on such forms of public transportation must be enforced. Most (68%) of the patrons interviewed considered the services convenient for beating traffic congestion and safe due to the short trip lengths. Commuters who shy away from the services cited safety (46%) and illegality of services (34%) as their major concerns; only 4% cited the fear of falling into the hands of criminals as a concern. For the service providers, most of whom are no more than high school graduates, the taxis offer subsistence in a country where employment is hard to come by.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Motorcycle Taxis in Public Transportation Services within the Accra Metropolis
AU  - Yaw Adubofour Tuffour
AU  - Daniel Kofi Nti Appiagyei
Y1  - 2014/09/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
T2  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Civil Engineering
SP  - 117
EP  - 122
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8737
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajce.20140204.12
AB  - The Road Traffic Act (Act 683) passed in 2004 by the Parliament of Ghana precludes the use of motorcycles to carry fare-paying passengers, yet motorcycle taxi services are gradually gaining root within the public transportation sector in the Accra Metropolis, Ghana. Even though the services are not yet operated city-wide, they have begun raising public concern. This study looked at the operation and management of motorcycle taxi services in Accra and surveyed the opinions of operators, users and non-users on the services. It was established that motorcycle taxi services in the Accra Metropolis are patronized mostly by short-distance urban commuters, particularly during peak periods of traffic flow when there is heavy congestion.  Patronage is gender- and age-biased as majority of patrons are male and young. Due to lack of regulation, the services tend to be concentrated along only a few routes perceived by the operators as profitable. Public opinion and acceptance of this form of public transportation are mixed. Of the 201 non-users interviewed, a slight majority (56%) thought that the ban implicit in the Road Traffic Act on such forms of public transportation must be enforced. Most (68%) of the patrons interviewed considered the services convenient for beating traffic congestion and safe due to the short trip lengths. Commuters who shy away from the services cited safety (46%) and illegality of services (34%) as their major concerns; only 4% cited the fear of falling into the hands of criminals as a concern. For the service providers, most of whom are no more than high school graduates, the taxis offer subsistence in a country where employment is hard to come by.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

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