Wheels of Change: Establishing best practices in the urban motorcycle taxi sector in Sub-Saharan Africa

March 4, 2026
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MAC, Mobility and Access in African Cities

Abstract

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.

Program

Project number

EP-2019-MAC-07
Project leader
Patrick Hayombe

Affiliation

Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya

Status

  • Completed

Contact

Timeline

2019

Partners

Ted Johnson, LIDA Liberia, Lofa Integrated Development Association Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia
Dr Rosemarie T. Santos, Institutional Research and Institute for Innovation, African Methodist Episcopal University, Monrovia Liberia
Dr Marion M. Mugisha, Dept. of Sociology and Social Administration, Kyambogo University, Uganda
Reginald Chetto, Dept. of Economics and Social Studies, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Simon Ntramah, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Building and Road Institute (CSIR/BRRI), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) – Kumasi, Ghana
Paul Opiyo, Researcher on urban food security at Kisumu Local Interaction Platform (KLIP), Kenya
Dr Fredrick Owino, School of Spatial planning and Natural resources Management, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Kenya
Dr Krijn Peters, International development and transport services, Dept. of Political and Cultural Studies, Swansea University, UK
Dr Jack Jenkins, Swansea University, Dept. of Political and Cultural Studies, Swansea University, UK

Project Outcomes & Results

The ”Wheels of Change” project has generated significant new knowledge on the role of motorcycle and motor tricycle taxis (MCTs and MTTs) in Sub-Saharan African cities. At the core of the project’s impact is a series of scientific publications that provide a rigorous academic foundation for understanding this sector. These peer-reviewed findings are complemented by policy-oriented synthesis reports and detailed country insights, providing a comprehensive evidence base for urban mobility. The collective outcomes and results are presented and linked below.

Regional Synthesis: The Aggregated Brief

For a high-level overview, the Aggregated Brief synthesizes data from 442 operator surveys and 75 stakeholder interviews across all five study countries. This document is ideal for those looking for:

  • Comparative Data: Visual charts comparing usage, accident rates, and business models across Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
  • Regional Trends: Analysis of shared challenges, such as the universal need to “beat traffic” and the widespread integration of mobile technology in the sector.
  • Policy Benchmarking: A comparative ranking of government support measures prioritized by operators in different national contexts.

Local Deep Dives: The Country Reports

While the Aggregated Brief identifies regional patterns, the individual Country Reports provide the necessary depth to understand the specific socio-political and economic landscape of each nation. These reports offer:

  • In-depth Stakeholder Perspectives: Detailed qualitative interviews with local traffic police, city planners, market associations, and union leaders.
  • National Legal Frameworks: Analysis of country-specific legislation, the history of local transport sectors, and the effectiveness of city-specific bans or formalization efforts
  • Contextual Solutions: Localized recommendations for urban planners and policymakers tailored to the unique infrastructure and cultural conditions of each country.

Explore the findings by downloading the full Aggregated Brief or selecting a specific Country Report below.

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Final reports

Scientific Publications

  1. CHETTO, R., PETERS, K., JENKINS, J., NTRAMAH, S., MUGISHA, M., OPIYO, P., OWINO, F., JOHNSON, T., SANTOS, R., & VERHEIJ, R. (forthcoming). Emerging Business Models and Service Options for Motorcycle Taxis: Insights from 10 Cities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Transportation Research Procedia. Vol 89, pp.327-337.

  2. OWINO, F., PETERS, K., JENKINS, J., OPIYO, P., CHETTO, R., NTRAMAH, S., JOHNSON, T., SANTOS, R., MUGISHA, M., CHETTO, R. & HAYOMBE, P. (2024). The urban motorcycle taxi sector in Sub-Saharan Africa: needs, practices and equity issues. Urban, Planning and Transport Research, 12(1).

  3. NTRAMAH, S., PETERS, K. JENKINS, J., HAYOMBE, P., OWINO, F., OPIYO, P. JOHNSON, T., SANTOS, R., MUGISHA, M. & CHETTO, R. 2023. Safety, health and environmental impacts of commercial motorcycles in Sub-Saharan African cities. Urban, Planning and Transport Research. Vol. 11, Issue 1.

Policy briefs & Briefing Notes

  1. Aggregated-brief-211019.pdf

Media & Presentations

How to cite this project

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