APPRAISAL OF THE OPERATION OF TRICYCLE AS A MEANS OF COMMERCIAL TRANSPORTATION IN MINNA, NIGERIA

Abstract

Transport demand in different parts of the world is growing at a very rapid rate. However, it has been noted that the demand for efficient and effective means of transport has not been met with a commensurate supply of the service. Particularly, governments across the globe have not been able to provide its citizenry with adequate, convenient and affordable mass transport system. Transport services in Nigeria is inadequate both in qualitative and quantitative terms considering the rate of population growth. Therefore, as a result, people have devised alternative means of transporting themselves and their goods between their points of origin and destination. One of such alternative means is the paratransit, which is an umbrella term for commercial transport system whose maximum carrying capacity is between two to ten passengers. Tricycle is one major component of this peculiar alternative, that is, the paratransit. This paper aimed at appraising the operation of tricycle as a means of commercial transportation in Minna. The objectives were to evaluate the relationship between the age of the tricycle operators and the number of hours they operate daily and to evaluate the perception of the tricycle users in the study area. Tricycles aids economic empowerment of the operators in Minna. This study has also shown that tricycle riding serves as an employment for the operators where they earn considerable income (on the average) irrespective of age. Similarly, it has shown that the consumers of tricycle services are satisfied with the services rendered to them using tricycles; although they will resort to a better alternative if that is provided, implying that public transport will thrive well in the study area if adequately and efficiently provided. Therefore, it is recommended that the more efficient and effective means of mass transport should be provided for the city to ease the transportation stress of the inhabitants. Further studies into the spatial implication of the proliferation of tricycles on the roads of/and cityscape of Minna is recommended.