Bicycles leave Kenyan taxis in the dust.

Bicycle taxis are rapidly supplanting gasoline-powered minibus taxis in parts of western Kenya, according to an April 26 report by Inter Press Service. Residents of Kisumu, a small city 500 kilometers from Nairobi, have long relied on aging minibuses, called "matatus," to get around. But as improvements in the bicycle industry lead to lower production costs, sales of the pedal-powered alternatives are booming.

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Kisumu's bike-taxi commuters can now cross town for half the price of a matatu ride, and usually arrive at their destinations faster because the bicycles, known as "boda bodas," maneuver through traffic more easily. The bikes also bring environmental benefits, including cleaner air and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. And bicycle taxis offer a means of income for a larger share of the population, compared with the capital- and fuel-intensive matatus. "I never, ever thought I could have my own company," proclaimed one new bicycle taxi entrepreneur. "I am happy. My children are eating."

But as bicycles bring greater prosperity to their owners, local matatu businesses are struggling. Some drivers have attempted to survive by courting a niche market of people traveling to Nairobi; others have decided to sell their vehicles and buy their own bicycles. And the bikes do have drawbacks: many cyclists are hit and killed by reckless motorists. Bike taxis also favor the strong and able, as cyclists rely on their own power to transport several times their body weight.

Interest in bicycle transport is growing across Africa as companies seek to design higher-quality yet affordable bikes, and as government policies promote their use. In Ghana, bike sales now stand at about 30 per 1,000 people, roughly 50 percent higher than in China, a much wealthier country. But China remains the world's largest bicycle manufacturer, accounting for 58 percent of the more than 100 million bicycles produced annually.