THE ROLE OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR CYCLES ON THE RURAL ECONOMY: A CASE OF DILL ZURIA WOREDA, GEDEO ZONE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract This study was carried out to examine the role of commercial motor cycle in rural economy in Dilla Zuria woreda, Gedeo Zone, southern nation‘s nationalities and peoples region. The study was guided by the following objectives: To examine the role played by commercial motorcycles in employment opportunity, To examine the role of commercial motorcycles in alleviating poverty and to determine the spatial distribution patterns of commercial motorcycle in the study area. This study employed the use of both primary and secondary data. Random sampling technique was employed to select 381 Commercial motor cycle riders in the study area and data was collected on their socio-economic characteristics. Three hundred eighty one copies of questionnaires were distributed to the Commercial motor cycle riders seventeen parking points in the study area. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive analysis. The result of this study showed that Commercial Motorcycle ridership generate gainful employment and hence played a vital role in alleviating poverty in Dilla Zuria Woreda. The study recommended that that interventions in the transport sector should include provision of rural roads as well as measures that will help improve vehicle supply in rural areas. As theories are essential in defining research problem, theoretical framework was adopted to look at the issues to get insights how riders transported passengers, goods and services and riders daily earnings