Unlocking Mobility & Opportunity — Why Zambia Should Embrace 2-and-3-Wheelers for City Transport

Hey friend — let’s dive into why smaller vehicles have big potential in Zambia’s urban mobility story, and how we can make it happen.

1. Why the change is needed

Urban centres like Lusaka are expanding fast — more commuters, longer journeys, more traffic. Formal bus routes can’t always keep up. A recent study found that in Lusaka, motorcycles formed only about 1% of work/school trips, and taxis 2%. That shows the formal system isn’t fully meeting demand.
Meanwhile, smaller vehicles are already being used informally — in peri-urban and rural areas — precisely because they can reach where larger ones struggle.

2. The 5 major benefits

Here’s the breakdown (pulling in some Zambia-specific data):

Broader accessibility: These vehicles can serve narrow lanes, informal settlements, and outer suburbs often underserved by buses.
Faster movement: With ability to navigate tighter spaces, they promise shorter travel times.
Lower cost for riders and users: For example, registration of motorcycles rose ~130% from 2022 (4,226) to 2023 (9,681) in Zambia — indicating uptake partly driven by cost.
Job creation & inclusion: Many young Zambians can become riders, fleet operators, service/maintenance providers. That means economic inclusion.
Sustainability edge: Smaller vehicles = less fuel consumption (or easier shift to electric). Fits with city mobility that’s greener and more efficient.

3. Reality check: What we must watch

It’s not a magic bullet — the implementation matters. Some key issues:

Safety & regulation: Heavy increase in motorcycles has also meant more accidents because many riders lack formal training and registration.
Formalization: The legislative framework in Zambia historically excluded motorcycles and 3-wheelers from public transport roles. But that’s changing.
Integration & planning: These modes must be integrated into the broader transport system — designated areas, routes, fair fares, support infrastructure.
Infrastructure & services: Spare parts, maintenance, financing for operators, safe waiting/parking areas, rider training and oversight.
Equity concerns: Ensuring women, persons with disabilities, lower-income groups are not excluded by a shift to “new” modes.

4. What a vision looks like for Zambia

Picture this:

In a growing suburb of Lusaka or Kitwe, someone walks five minutes to a designated pick-up zone for a 3-wheeler, then gets dropped at a main bus hub or a job location.
A network of small-scale fleet operators runs 2-wheel and 3-wheel vehicles, licensed, trained, insured, integrated into a city app or route map.
Drivers have access to financing, training, cooperative organization; spare-parts supply is accessible; safety standards in place (helmets, reflectors, regular checks).
Traffic congestion eases on major corridors because a share of short trips are handled by these agile smaller vehicles; bus systems can focus on high-volume corridors.
The system unlocks livelihoods, mobility for underserved zones, and aligns with future of greener transport (ready for electrification).

5. Action steps & recommendations

Here are practical steps for stakeholders (government, city authorities, private sector, riders’ groups):

Policy & regulation reform: Update laws to allow licensed 2- and 3-wheelers in public transport, set safety/licensing/training standards.
Infrastructure support: Designate pick-up/drop-off zones; ensure spare-parts/maintenance hubs; consider pilot routes.
Training & sensitisation: Riders get training in safe driving, customer service, maintenance; awareness campaigns for commuters.
Financing & support: Micro-financing for vehicles, cooperatives for operators, insurance/taxation frameworks.
Monitoring & evaluation: Track uptake, safety outcomes (accidents, registrations), commuter satisfaction; use data to refine policy.
Equity & inclusion: Ensure fare structures, route planning and services include informal settlements, women riders and passengers, persons with disabilities.

6. Final word

Zambia is at a mobility crossroads. If we lean only on big buses, cars and traditional taxis, many will continue to struggle with cost, time and access. By embracing the smaller, agile options of 2- and 3-wheelers with the right regulation and support, we unlock a transport ecosystem that is more inclusive, efficient and dynamic. The benefits are not just about moving people — they’re about unlocking jobs, boosting local economies, and giving more Zambians access to opportunity.

So yes — it’s time. Let’s get rolling.