Rural Transport Diagnostic Study in Sierra Leone - Final Report

Abstract

This study sought to understand the existing public transport systems for communities along and within the catchment areas of selected rural roads in Sierra Leone. The results presented are based on a study of 3 rural roads. These roads are located in the country’s coastal plains zone, interior zone and the interior plateau zone. The rapid rural appraisal methodology was used to gain a deep understanding of the existing rural transport systems based on in-depth qualitative interviews with transport users, operators, regulators and those concerned with socio-economic development. The study showed that in all three locations the main modes of transport providing daily rural transport services are motorcycle taxis, and that in two of the three locations there is an additional early morning and late afternoon service offered by car taxis and /or minibuses. No large buses serve the rural communities. On market days, both the number of transport services and the variety of transport modes operating on the road increases. Despite dissatisfaction with high fares as compared to the other modes of transport, motorcycle taxis are generally praised by rural transport users. They leave instantly, pick up and drop off exactly where the passengers desire, are integrated with mobile phone technology, provide courier services, offer quick transport, and provide emergency services. This project is funded by DFID under the Applied Research on Rural Roads and Transport Services through Community Access Programmes in Africa and Asia (AFCAP2 and AsCAP)