Riding for a Living: Youth Bicycle Enterprising in Shinyanga and Tabora Towns, Tanzania
Keywords:
Bicycle taxi, Youth, Livelihoods, Income, Tanzania.Abstract
This study profiles the bicycle taxi business and its role in enhancing the livelihoods of young people in Shinyanga and Tabora towns, Tanzania. 405 bicycle taxi operators were randomly selected, and data were primarily collected through questionnaires. Additionally, a checklist for conducting interviews was developed to gather qualitative data in conjunction with the quantitative data. Descriptive data were analyzed on demographics, bicycle possession, income, and livelihood strategies. The relationship between nominal variables was tested using chi-square. A binary logistic regression analysis revealed that age, current residence, and bicycle ownership status all affected the daily income. By far, the most important indicator of bicycle taxi earnings was age. Additionally, the study revealed a significant relationship between bicycle taxi operations and the purchasing of mobile phones, cattle, and crop farm inputs. It is probably crucial to strengthen this sector by creating an atmosphere conducive to development, especially in towns with limited public transportation options. The second is to avail support to youth on financial management and entrepreneurship. This may help young people diversify income sources and refocus on productive sectors with the potential for growth and reliable employment generation
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Calvo, C. M. (1994). February 14 intermediate means of transport: bicycles and rural women in Uganda. Environmentally Sustainable Development Division, Technical Department, Africa Region, World Bank.
Chilembwe, J. M. (2017). Bicycles transport sustainability opportunities for tourism development: a case study of Mzuzu City, Malawi. International Journal of Tourism & Hospitality Reviews, Vol.4 (1), 2017, pp 01-09.
Duminy, J., Andreasen, J. & Lerise, F. (2014). Planning and the case study method in Africa: The planner in dirty shoes. Springer.
Freeman, R. & Bloom, D. (1986). Population Growth, Labor Supply, and Employment in Developing Countries. Population Growth and Economic Development.
Garson, G. D. (2014). Multiple Regression Analysis. North Caroline: G. D. Garson and Statistical. George, P. T. (2017). Pedaling for Bread: Rickshaw Pullers of Delhi Struggle for a Living.
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E. & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate Data Analysis: Pearson Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, NJ, 1- 816.
Haji, M. (2015). Youth employment in Tanzania: Taking stock of the evidence and knowledge gaps.
International Labour Organization (2016) United Nations Joint Programme on Youth Employment, Tanzania: Developing an intergrated strategy towards addressing the youth employment challenges in Tanzania.
International Transport Workers’ Federation- ITF (2006). Organizing Informal Transport workers: A case study of Zambia. Retrieved from www.itfglobal. org/sites/default/files/resources-files/08e _zambia.pdf on Feb. 11, 2020.
Kaduluka, M. C. (2011). Formalizing Bicycle Taxi Operations as a Sustainable means of public Transport in Mzuzu City, Malawi: Views from operators, users, and local authority. MSc Thesis in Urban Management and Development, Rotterdam-Netherlands: IHS.
Kanamugire, J. (2017, September). Bicycle Taxis push for their rights, claim harassment. Retrieved from www.theeastafrican.co.ke/rwanda/Busin ess/Bicycle-taxis-push-for-their-rights-- claim-harassment-/1433224-4082536- 11lk3ph/index.html on Feb. 11, 2020.
Kokwaro, P. L., Ajowi, J. O. & Kokwaro, E. A. (2013). Competitive forces influencing business performance of bicycle taxis in Kisumu City, Kenya. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(2), 719-719.
Korenman, S. & Neumark, D. (1991). Does marriage really make men more productive? Journal of Human Resources, 282-307.
Kumar, A., Thomas, J., Wadhwa, S., Mishra, A. & Dasgupta, S. (2017). Income and Saving Habits among Rickshaw Pullers in Ranchi. Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management Studies, 15(1), 7197-7209.
Manda, M. (2014). Bicycle taxis in Mzuzu city, Malawi: A business venture misunderstood. In Planning and the Case Study Method in Africa (pp. 102-128). Palgrave Macmillan, London.
Mangulama J, A. and Shengkun, Z. (2016). A Small Rural Nonfarm Activity with Greater Livelihood Benefits to Poor Boys and Young Men: Bicycle Taxi Business in Rural Malawi //pdfs.semanticscholar .org/f199/6a9a41ea148f21fed4cfa3511b dff050e1c9.pdf. Accessed Feb. 11, 2020
Mehay, S. L. & Bowman, W. R. (2005). Marital status and productivity: evidence from personnel data. Southern Economic Journal, 63-77.
Menard, S. (2002). Applied logistic regression analysis (Vol. 106). Sage.
Mutalemwa, D., Utouh, H. & Msuya, N. (2020). Soft Skills as a Problem and a Purpose for Tanzanian Industry: Views of Graduates. Economic Insights-Trends & Challenges, (4).
Mutiso, W. & Behrens, R. (2011). 'Boda Boda'bicycle taxis and their role in urban transport systems: case studies of Kisumu and Nakura, Kenya. SATC 2011.
Nandhi, M. A. (2014). The urban poor and their money: A study of cycle rickshaw pullers in Delhi. Pinnacle Learning.
Nassrulla, T. (2015, August). Who said bicycles are just for riding? Retrieved from www.tanzania-experience.com/ blog/bicycles-just-for-riding/ National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Ministry of Finance Dar es Salaam and Office of Chief Government Statistician President's Office, Ministry of State, President Office, State House and Good Governance. (2014). Basic demographic and socio economic profile report Tanzania mainland.
Porter, G. (2013) Transport services and their impact on poverty and growth in rural Sub-Saharan Africa. Technical Report. Durham University, Durham.
Räber, N. (2014). Measuring the impact of bicycles in Tanzania. Retrieved from http://velafrica.ch/media/archive1/PDF_ Deutsch/Wirkungsstudie/Measuring_the _impact_of_bicycles.pdf on Feb. 11 2020.
Tabachnick, B. G., Fidell, L. S. & Ullman, J. B. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (Vol. 5). Boston, MA: Pearson.
Tiwari, G. & Jain, H. (2008). Bicycles in urban India. Bicycling in Asia, 9-25.
URT (2018) Tanzania human development report 2017: social policy in the context of economic transformation. Economic and social research foundation.
Dar es Salaam. Warren, J. (2008). Living on the Razor’s Edge: The Rickshawmen of Singapore between Two Wars, 1919-39. Pirates, Prostitutes and Pullers: Explorations in the Ethno-and Social History of Southeast Asia, 1.
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Published
2021-06-30
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Gikuri, A., & Chetto, R. (2021). Riding for a Living: Youth Bicycle Enterprising in Shinyanga and Tabora Towns, Tanzania. Journal of Social Sciences, Business and Technology (JSSBT), 2(1), 1-10. Retrieved from https://journals.cuk.ac.ke/index.php/JSSBT/article/view/49
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