The influence of urban transport policy on the growth of motorcycle and tricycles in Kenya

Abstract

The major towns of Kenya are faced with challenges of accommodating the motorcycle (bodaboda) and tricycle(Tukutuku) modes of transport in the already set system as stipulated in the urban transport policy. This article seeks to report research findings of a study that was carried out in Kitui town to investigate the influence of urban transport policy on the growth of motorcycles and tricycles as the preferred mode of public transport in Kenya. The paper calls for quick response from policy makers to address and embrace the changing face and pace of business and service provision in Transport Sector in Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: establish the influence of rules and regulations, availability of parking space and policy on motorcycle trade. The research problem was to find out why motorcycles and tricycle taxis had increased, in commercial transport despite their involvement in traffic accidents. The study adopted a combination of descriptive and naturalistic research designs. Questionnaires, interviews and observations guide were used in data collection. Qualitative data were analyzed by categorization into themes and narrations of respondents’ quotations and verbatim, while quantitative data were analyzed using tally system to get frequency counts from the filled in questionnaires. The analyzed data was presented using frequency distribution tables and pictures The study findings revealed that urban transport policy deals with issues to do with transport rules and regulations, availability of parking space and policy on motorcycle trade, has greatly influenced the growth of bodaboda and tukutuku public transport in town. The study recommended that the policy makers should formulate an all-inclusive urban transport policy that will take care of the safety precautions of motorcycle transport because although it was problematic in town it was found to provide affordable urban mobility especially to the poor who were the majority in most of the towns in Kenya