TANZANIA: ACROSS the globe the number of youths engaging in motorcycle transport business is ever increasing.
The motorcycle business in many parts of East Africa is commonly known as bodaboda, the popular term which originally referred exclusively to bicycle transporters but in recent years it has been expanded to cover motorcycle taxis.
However, researchers say, historically, the term bodaboda emerged as a bicycle taxi across international borders of Uganda and Kenya in Busia and Malaba Towns.
Understandably, the motorcycle transport has been a more effective means of transport that provides door-to-door capability, unmatched navigability in congested road conditions, ease of parking, capacity for passengers and luggage at low cost.
Ease of entry, low capital requirement, employment potential, and ability to navigate congested and poor quality roads with relative ease, are some of the factors contributing to the growth of motorcycles transport business.
With the unemployment and under-employment situation in the developing countries, the bodaboda transport business has become a livelihood opportunity and an alternative employment opportunity for youths.
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The expansion of bodaboda transport also relates with the increasing demand of employment opportunities.
In Tanzania, the bodaboda transport business is assuming a vital role in transportation of goods and services, contributing to the economy of the nation and livelihood of people.
That being the case, transport regulatory authorities, including traffic police have found themselves dealing with a new group of transporters that takes onboard individuals who never adhere to traffic laws, rules and regulations.
Most of the drivers engaging in this business have no safety awareness and some of them ride without driving licence, contributing to occurrence of accidents. Some sources reveal that 16,000 people lose their lives in accidents annually, mostly because of bodabodas.
Today, bodaboda riders are branded as notorious and rough people who don’t choose where to pass, provided their motorbikes can get through.
This now has placed the lives of other road users, especially pedestrians at risk.
Bodaboda riders have now turned service roads and other walkways into their legal driving lanes, endangering the lives of pedestrians.
It is now becoming normal for pedestrians to be knocked by bodabodas on service roads or walkways. In short, roads in urban areas have now been turned into venues of chaos with no signs of respite.
We fully understand that traffic police are doing their best to train bodaboda riders on road safety matters but it appears the efforts are not bearing fruits.
If deliberate action is not taken to bring sanity in this business we should expect more chaos on our roads. This should never be allowed.
