In the last 20 or so years motorcycle taxis (MCTs) – and more recently motor tricycle taxis - have fundamentally changed mobility and access in urban (and rural) Sub-Saharan African. In many African cities motorcycle taxis - often referred to as Okadas in West Africa or Boda Bodas in East Africa - are responsible for the majority of transport movements of both people and goods and providing hundreds of thousands of jobs to low-skilled or marginalised youth. However, rental, ownership and operational models can differ significantly from one region or country to the other. So does the role and impact of motorcycle taxi unions, with some being no more than ‘cartels’ exploiting their members while others genuinely advocating for the operators’ wellbeing and livelihoods. Equally, responses of city councils vary considerably, ranging from working together with operators and unions to regulate the sector and promote health and safety, to outright banning (albeit often unsuccessful) commercial motorcycle riding. There seems to be a clear need and opportunity here to learn (different) ‘good practices and pathways to those practices’ from the various stakeholders (MCT operators, unions, city council, traffic police, MCT users). Our project will do just that. 

As a collaboration between universities and research institutions in five different SSA countries (Liberia, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania) we will be able to capture a wide range of MCT related practices and modi operandi. Each of the institutions involved will conduct a standardised survey and qualitative interviews covering issues related to four of the five clusters (user needs; governance & politics; business models and; safety & health). This will allow to effectively share knowledge and experiences at a workshop to be held in Kenya. The ‘lessons learned’ shall then be taken back to the respective countries and shared with local and national stakeholders.