Moving Goods by Bicycle
This week I took a picture of one of EGG-energy’s first battery deliveries by bike. Hussein is bringing a battery to Mama Kanoga’s guest house, where we installed our 8th test system.
The battery is strapped in place by rubber straps cut from tire tubes. I’ve seen these straps used to make sandals whose soles were made from worn tires.
We aim to take advantage of supply chains that already exist in Tanzania, to use techniques that are tried and true by local delivery providers. Bikes are used extensively in rural Tanzania, and can handle an amazing range of cargo. Here’s someone transporting concrete blocks (note how flat the back tire is).
And here’s a picture of charcoal transport by bicycle. Often the bicycle is used as a cart to be pushed up hills, but I’ve seen people pedal with loads as impressive as this one.
Of particular interest to EGG-energy is the transport of fragile eggs. Along Nyerere Road in the morning, you can see bicycles carrying hundreds of eggs into the city center. I haven’t been able to get a good picture of this, but found one on this blog:
http://blogs.dfid.gov.uk/2008/10/cycling-proficiency/
Though we (by we I mean us folks from “western” countries doing “development work”) tend to think of ourselves as bringing technology and knowledge to Africa, I expect many of EGG-energy’s solutions will be home-grown.
–Jamie