Access to Transport
Overview
The world trade is growing – regarding its worth and volume: in 2012 more than 150 million containers were sent, in 2011 the worth of goods was about 18 billion US$. However, in many countries the development is hindered by trade: in basic routs in sub-sahara Africa the prices for freighttransport are as double as high as in the EU or USA – because of cartels, bureaucratic obstacles and lacking infrastructure.
Moreover, Lacking access to markets due to poor roads in rural areas and postharvest losses slow the agricultural productivity with consequences on food security.
At the same time more than 900 million people lack access to all-weather roads what means no access to markets, medicals or schools, especially during rainy seasons.
This article gives an overview about the challenges regarding access to transport in rural areas, its significance and consequences for rural development and the approaches for strengthening the access to transport and rural development.
Challenge: The Lack of Access to Transport
Mobility and Rural Development
Economic and social development in rural areas depend on various factors –a very significant one is surely the access to transport infrastructure and transportation services. Without the access to transport an insufficient amount of goods and services is accessible to people as well as agricultural products can't be transported to markets, nor pupils to schools or ill people to hospitals. Moreover, exchange relationsships between rural and urban areas as well as social and political participation depend on an effective transportation system. In this context rural infrastructure and accessibility of local markets as well as interregional linkages of import and export might be considered.
The significance of transport will be explained more thouroughly within the following three main fields:
- Access to basic services and accessiblity of people
- Economic / agricultural perspective
- Hubs and logistics: role of trade
Within the planning process an intensive cooperation between the sectors of transportation and rural development is required. The question of financiation not only regarding the construction, but the maintaining of transport infrastructure might be considered, as well. Furhtermore, the consequences of climate change are of significance.
Environment and Security: Negative Sides of Transport Infrastructure
Approaches for Strengthening Rural Development
Further Information
