Evaluation Of Tricycle As Public Transport System In An Urban Area

1.0 Introduction

The inability of the conventional modes of transport such as Trains,buses, cars, Okada and ferry services to meet transportation demand owing to fleet depletion and high operational cost caused by down turn in economy,resulting in high record of accident from Okada motor cycles has led to unplanned emergence of para transit or non conventional mode of transportation popularly known as KEKE NAPEP (tricycle).

Tricycle refers to a commercial device where tricycle riders carry passengers for hire. The name TRICYCLE is as a result of the machine being a pedal driven vehicle with two wheel at the back and a wheel at front. KEKE NAPEP is known for it comfort ability and safety compare to Okada motorcycle. Kekenapep (Tricycle) became more useful and indispensable as soon as the federal government bound Okada motorcycle across several states in the country. In an ironic metaphor, the first group of tricycle transporters was then given the name “KEKE NAPEP.” Because of the comic irony of this name being used for tricycles and popularity of the manufacture which is India, the name Keke napep for commercial tricycle was never to be for gotten and eventually become as popular as it is okay.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

The primary objective of most transport system is to make profit. This is because profit yield growth, survival and continuity in business. The various transport corporations recognize this fact. Over the years and prior to this contemporary age, a lot of factors had challenged the profitability of this transport system. Travelers across the nation have found it difficult to convey considerable goods which cannot be carried by lorry as a result of it meager nature and lesser weight, on several occasion business men and travelers are usually stranded and effectually get frustrated until the invention of this so called TRICYCLE which have gone a long way to assist the travelers and transporters in conveying the goods from the manufacturers and sites to their destination comfortably and safely compare to Okada motorcycle. The study therefore examines the following problems;

• What are the motives for establishing Tricycle as public transport system in Nigeria and subsequently in Kwara State?
• To what extent are these motives being achieved?

1.2 Aim of the Study

The aim of this project is to evaluate Tricycle as public transport system in an urban area within Ipata-Sango

1.3 Objectives of the Study

• To assist the effectiveness of tricycle compare to other means of public transport system.
• To determine the significance of tricycle compare to other means of public transport

1.3 Justification of the Theory

Evaluation of tricycle as a public means of transport is considered worthy of study because of the inability of travelers to convey their goods and produce from the market and farm including sites to their destination. Also a lot of Okada motorcycles multiply on the various roads without helping in conveying of goods and even safety entirely especially within Ipata-Sango Ilorin. Therefore, to assist the public especially in the aspect of safety and transportation of goods, there is a need to study in to the evaluation of tricycle as a public means of transportation in an urban area.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study is limited to Ipata-Sango, Ilorin metropolis. The major factor considered here is

Avoidance of overloading

Adherence to the approved speed limit

Abstains from drunkenness

Avoidance of rough riding

Ensuring the tricycles are protected with the mini canopy(water proof) for safety

We also focus on the plate number and uniformity of the vehicles colour

The total number of passengers patronizing tricycle.

The Passengers Challenges

All passengers are likely to encounter one form of challenges or the other. In the course of my research, I observed that the passengers usually encounter diverse forms of challenges such as;

i. Exposure to Rainfall:

In most cases, the build up of the TRICYCLE (Keke Napep) makes the passengers vulnerable to external forces such as rainfall and for this reason most of the passenger found it uncomfortable to board because they usually get wet when travelling.

ii. Excessive Wind Pressure:

The two sides of the Tricycle is obviously opened with no doors unlike vehicles that are properly secured. This opening usually expose the passengers to high wind pressure which may subsequently result to illness especially when the vehicle is on high speed.

iii. Uncomfortability :

on several occasions, the passengers seat at both front and back are usually tight as a result of variation in size and shape of the passengers. The bigger the passengers, the more tight and uncomfortable they feel while travelling.

iv. Accident:

The kind of accident associated with this form of Transportation (KEKE NAPEP) is usually fatal, though they seems to be very rare on local road. This factor also discourage some passengers from travelling by Tricycles.

1.5 Description of Study Area (Case Study of Ipata-Sango) Ilorin.

From IOT, take a bike straight to Ipata. Ipata is usually a marketing area and a very busy place too. There are two lanes road at ipata with shop available along the roadside. Tricycles are also common in that area.

From Ipata, there is a straight road that links to MurtalaRoad and by the left is round about, immediately after the roundabout is straight route to Sango. Sango is also a commercial centre (marketing place) with more lively feature than Ipata. There is a ministry of Agriculture at Sango, a mobile police station and Tricycles are very common there. From Sango, there is straight route to kwara State Polytechnic permanentsite(ps)

IPATA TO SANGO AREA, ILORIN METROPOLIS

Figure 1.1: Description of Case Study

1.6 Proposed Methodology

In collecting data for this project work, various methods were employed. Data used was collected by using both primary and secondary data collection methods. The primary collection method includes.

The administration of structured questionnaires

Personal interviews (with selected of staff and passengers) observations.

The secondary method includes the use of related texts

Related texts

Journals

Magazines and write up on the use of Tricycle as a public transport system

Annual report and account of profit maximization. This help to give a clear exploration of the study.