Boda boda: It’s a strange love story between motorcycles & bicycle riders in Thika town

On the surface, it looks like a one-sided competition pitting the rat against the elephant.

In an environment where both customers and operators have embraced motorbikes – it is easy to predict the outcome.

That’s because motorbikes are fast – and convenient –  unlike bicycles whose riders have had to rely on sweat, muscles and more sweat. 

Still – the traditional bicycle boda boda riders are doing just fine in Thika town.

Two things stand out in Thika town.

One – the town has maintained the long-forgotten bicycle boda bodas that have for years been associated with counties in Western parts of Kenya.

Two – both bicycle and motorbike operators have learned to co-exist.  It is an enviable blend amidst stiff competition for customers in this busy town.

“Unlike in other areas, we cooperate between nduthi and bicycle operators and we don’t fight for customers. We let them pick a ride of their choice,” Francis Kisili told Wananchi Reporting.

Thika town has over 200 bicycle operators and more than double the number of motorcyclists.

But when you walk around, you notice a decency in the way cyclists and motorcyclists park in close proximity without quarrels or dashing for customers.

Samuel Mwangi owns a nduthi. He says many of them started off with bicycles, and so they don’t undermine their competitors down there.

“Belittling them is like disrespecting the humble background you came from” Mwangi said.

Christopher Kinyika who has operated a bicycle for a couple of years fell in love with Thika because of terrain and how the bodaboda business is run.

“We charge differently. A distance motorcyclist asks for Sh50; we charge Sh20. So, the customer decides which means to pick. Sometimes our nduthi competitors direct them to us when they don’t agree on the fare” Kinyika said.

Adding: “Thika is flat apart from the two slopes between town and Blue Post hotel. This made it favourable for bicycles”.

“Bicycle operators started this trade way before motorcycles arrived.

“In Thika, our competitors who have advanced have maintained respect for us. This is not the case in many towns,” Charles Mucheru said.

They decided to emulate the queuing system and above that created a friendship that has bolstered respect for their trade.

“You don’t worry about being shoved around by the operators. You just pick the mode you want and negotiate price,” Martha Wairimu, a student, said.

This bond is also extending to tuktuk operators.

“We fight, we lose customers and authority comes for us. The respect and friendship are based on the fact that the customer is the king. Their preference must be respected” Joseph Makau said.

On average the cyclist takes home Sh400 while the motorcyclist Sh700 or more.