Caroline Lite Island Transport
Developing transport solutions for small islands — Pohnpei
I do not have an independent means of transportation. My workplace, the College of Micronesia’s National campus, is 10.6km from my home. The school bus is strictly reserved for students while taxi services are variable and result in me wasting time waiting. A licensed car driver, it seems absurd that at 34 years old I need my first car when I come to the smallest place I’ve ever lived in — 334km2 Pohnpei island, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM).
I’m feeling the negative impacts on my physical and mental wellbeing from lack of exercise. Commuting in Tokyo, I averaged 10km a day when cycling or about 7000 steps between train stations. Here on Pohnpei, I’m lucky if I reach 2000 steps in a day. What’s more, I love swimming yet the swimming spots on island are beyond walking range — being in water only at weekends is not enough. Walking, swimming, and cycling all serve to free my mind from my over-thinking tendencies and let my imagination roam unencumbered.
The island is littered with dead cars and a junk yard forest. Approximately 9000 vehicles are registered in FSM each year, the majority of which are imported from the US or Japan. How many cars are removed? Cars have a relatively short lifespan due to the combined effects of pot-holed or unpaved roads, the difficulty in securing parts for repair, and maintenance.
Who wants to come and play the Game of Caroline Lite Island Transport to develop an affordable healthy transport solution appropriate for this environment?
Requirements:
Safety:
Protection from… the elements
a) Rain — with an average of 4800mm rain per year, Pohnpei, FSM is one of the wettest places on earth (compared to about 550mm in my hometown Ipswich, UK, and 1530mm in Tokyo, Japan). Sudden torrential downpours are frequent as are waterlogged roads.
b) Harsh Pacific sunshine — I’m a white English girl living less than 800km north of the equator. I try to avoid being a pink-roasted English girl.
Protection from…diverse road users
c) People commonly drive across the road to avoid potholes. Drunk driving is pretty common especially after dusk.
d) Dogs are protective of their road territory, some of whom have bitey tendencies.
Capacity:
e) Average use = 20km per day, <50km is plenty, <80km should cover highest demands
Environmental:
f) Predominantly non-fossil fuel powered
g) Consideration for total life-cycle or end-of-life plan
What’s more, it needs to…
· be easy to maintain with basic know-how and tools by someone who can repair a bicycle tyre puncture, or by a competent mechanic who can train without your physical presence
· cope with pot-holed and unpaved roads
· be highly perceptible to other road users
· have a total cost of ownership of less than $100 per month at a (minimum) 5-year lifespan
· be lockable
· be able to transport 1 or 2 people and a 18.6 litre (6 gallon water bottle or small checked luggage-sized suitcase up to 23kg
Other things about this island:
- Electricity costs $0.4276 per kWh (purchased by most through a pre-paid topup card system from Pohnpei Utility Company). Power outages are common.
- Solar power is unlikely to generate much power
- Local crude coconut oil supply available at $xxx* per litre
- Pig poop pretty prevalent
*Awaiting information from Pohnpei Petroleum Corp
Next steps:
1) Create this draft and ask at least 10 people who have lived on this island for over 3 years for their critical review and inputs
2) Collect at least 10 people’s views on places where I could send this design spec — aim for 100 places?
