Rural Transport in Developing Countries

Abstract

This book suggests that conventional rural transport planning in developing countries has been almost exclusively concerned with motorised transport, and with roads designed for its use. Whilst this has no doubt resulted in more effective identification of rural road needs, it has ignored local-level transport systems which provide the means of mobility and access for the mass of the rural population. The core of the book is a series of nine case studies from Malaysia, India, Nigeria, Kenya, Samoa, Korea, the Philippines, Tanzania and Bangladesh which provide a very different picture of rural transport needs. The studies encompass countries at different stages of development, from those at the most impoverished levels (Bangladesh and Tanzania) to those which have sizeable industrial and market economy sectors, and relatively high per capita incomes (Republic of Korea and Malaysia). They also cover a variety of different agricultural, social and geographic conditions and include a wide range of different human, animal and motor-powered means of transport used to meet local movement needs. The case studies have been grouped into three parts. The first comprises studies of the travel patterns of rural communities. The second looks at particular means of local transport. The studies that form the third part are more concerned with evaluations of transport policy and how it affects rural communities. The writers have attempted to draw together the main elements of these case studies to suggest that there is a need to broaden the scope of rural transport planning to encompass the totality of transport demand. In this way, a more rational investment of resources could result in more productive uses of time and energy in the rural areas. (TRRL)

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