W ORLD B ANK T ECHNICAL P APER N O . Improving Rural Mobility: Options for Developing Motorized and Nonmotorized Transport in Rural Areas Paul Starkey Simon Ellis John Hine Anna Ternelliii CONTENTS Foreword iv Abstract v Acknowledgments vi Overview 1 Rural Transport Is Crucial to Poverty Reduction 1 Efforts to Improve Rural Transport Services Must Consider Many Issues 1 What Should Be Done to Promote Rural Transport? 5 1. The Nature and Importance of Rural Transport 8 Rural Transport and Poverty Reduction 8 Patterns of Rural Transport 10 2. Issues Affecting Rural Mobility 12 Wide Range of Stakeholders 12 Critical Mass of Users, Operators, and Suppliers 19 Population Densities and Income Levels 20 Patterns of Adoption and Use of Transport Services 22 Complementary and Competitive Services 23 Issues Related to Cost 25 3. Promoting Rural Mobility 28 Importance of Inclusive, Participatory Methods 28 Financial Considerations 31 Regulatory Considerations 35 Complementary Options 40 Annex 1. Terms of Reference for a Country Study of Rural Transport Services 44 Annex 2. Three Contrasting Rural Transport Situations 49 Annex 3. Rural Transport Problems, Remedies, and Implementation Options 52 Annex 4. Options for Rural Transport Services 55 References 60iv FOREWORD Rural poverty is pervasive and difficult to address. Improving mobility can reduce rural poverty by facilitating women, men, and children to more readily access services (education, health, finance, markets), obtain goods and income, and participate in social, political and community activities. Mobility requires a combination of appropriate transport infrastructure, improved transport services, and affordable means of transport, both motorized and nonmotorized. This publication concentrates on the many and varied types of transport that provide that mobility such as bus services, freight trucks, bush taxis, transport animals, bicycles, or handcarts. The authors stress the interdependence and complementarity of different means of transport, motorized and nonmotorized, large and small, urban and rural, land and water. They stress the need for an integrated approach to developing (and maintaining) infrastructure and transport services, with greater connectivity among transport systems (road, water, air, rail), types of service (long-haul, local) and operators (public, commercial, individual). Inevitably, this potentially involves a wide range of stakeholders on both the demand and supply side of transport services. As a result, this publication will assist transport planners, governments, transport service providers, community organizations, donor agencies, and development practitioners in other sectors. It discusses options for creating an enabling environment to allow efficient and profitable rural transport and increased mobility for disadvantaged groups. It suggests a holistic approach to planning that involves all stakeholders, governments, transport operators, and users and encourages networking across geographical boundaries and sectors to maximize progress. Improving Rural Mobility: Options for Developing Motorized and Nonmotorized Transport is one of four papers on rural transport developed by the World Bank’s Rural Transport Thematic Group. The other three publications are: • Options for Managing and Financing Rural Transport Infrastructure. • Design and Appraisal of Rural Transport Infrastructure: Ensuring Basic Access for Rural Communities. • Developing Rural Transport Policies and Strategies (in preparation). John Flora Director Transport and Urban Developmentv ABSTRACT Many inhabitants of rural areas in developing countries lack adequate and affordable access to transport infrastructure and services. Poor access to transport constrains economic and social development and contributes to poverty. Better transport services can stimulate economic activity and social improvement, leading to easier access and a virtuous circle that reduces poverty and improves the lives of poor rural residents. Improving rural people’s access to essential services requires better mobility through transport infrastructure and services as well as the location, price, and quality of facilities. This report focuses on improving rural mobility by facilitating the provision of affordable means of transport and transport services. There are many obstacles to cheaper, more efficient rural transport, and many factors influence efforts to promote rural transport services. Despite massive spending, many government and donor efforts to improve rural transport have not met the needs of rural residents. Moreover, the market has not provided transport services to areas with low demand and to the poorest and least mobile segments of the community. To deliver significant economic and social benefits, investment in transport must take an integrated approach. Rather than focus solely on expanding road networks, it should also pay attention to smaller roads, paths, and tracks; the use of private and commercial means of transport (motorized and nonmotorized); and the importance of transport hubs and markets. Transport planners need to take a holistic approach that involves all stakeholders in a participatory process of assessing needs within a clear policy framework based on the interdependence and complementarity of different means of transport. In addition, favorable policies and operating environments can enable the private sector and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to play important roles in new initiatives. Pilot activities can be used to promote lower technology, intermediate means of transport, which can enhance local productivity in low-density, low-income areas. Planning efforts should consider the needs of women and disadvantaged groups. Monitoring and evaluation involving stakeholders are also important, as is local, national, and international networking. Based on these efforts, governments and project planners can take steps in three areas, financial, regulatory, and complementary, to promote increased ownership of intermediate means of transport and the private provision of rural transport services.vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Rural Transport Thematic Group of the World Bank commissioned this publication, following an initiative of Jerry Lebo and Dieter Schelling. Danida (Danish International Development Assistance) provided trust funds for the work, and the Carl Bro Group