Quantitative Experiments

Effect of Bicycle on Poverty Alleviation

Quantitative Field Study-1: Uganda

Organization: Institute for Transportation & Development Policy, Europe

• Cost-benefit analysis of bicycle ownership
• 300 poor households from different regions of Uganda were given subsidized bicycles and a one-time guidance of how to utilize the time saved in doing any allied productive work

Results:

• All households either enlarged the area of land used for agricultural purposes or intensified the level of cultivation
• Roughly half of all households began or intensified non-agricultural activities during the survey period, and in that way diversified the composition of their household income.
• Saving of almost 2 hours per day of transport time per household
• Substantially more frequent visits to market and medical facilities
• 35% higher income

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Quantitative Field Study-2: Tanzania

Organization: International Labour Office

• The understanding that "Roads Are Not Enough" was the reason why Integrated Rural Transport Project in Makete District, Tanzania was conducted.
• About 100 households surveyed for impact of bicycle ownership

Results:

• Bicycle has very strong impact on the market production: It enables the farmers to cultivate bigger fields and use more fertilizer.
• Bicycle households marketed two fifth more than comparable non-NMT-households.
• Total monetary benefits of a bicycle 55% of the household’s income
• The main restriction for the purchase of a bicycle is the relative high procurement cost.
• 80-90 % of the households desiring an NMT stated that they could not afford the price
  

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Quantitative Field Study-3: Srilanka

Organization: World Bicycle Relief, USA.

• After Tsunami, 24,000 free bicycles distributed
• Surveyed 221 bicycle owners for impact made

Results:

• More than two years after the tsunami, 88% of respondents still rely on the bicycle as part of their livelihood
• Bicycles save between 10 and 20 percent of a household’s annual income over other transportation alternatives, and in the poorest households as much as 30 percent – income that contributes directly to livelihood security
• Bicycle distribution has effectively mobilized and empowered women, with 82 percent of women recipients reporting that they use the bicycle for income-generating activities
• Bicycle saved, in alternative transportation costs, 18% of a recipient’s $71 average monthly income.
• If saved time was spent on productive endeavors, then $0.52/day additional income could be produced – a more than 17% increase.
• While this survey did not specifically calculate the cost savings of a bike recipient’s ability to reach regional markets, parallel surveys show further significant cost savings.
  

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