Intermediate means of transport
Use of under-used railway lines for local transport in Cambodia
Much of rail infrastructure in the poorer countries, especially in Africa, is almost totally unused and deteriorating because of lack of maintenance. In any case most rail services are not viable. Using it for local transport could reduce dependence on roads, especially during the rainy season, and the costs of maintaining them. It could also provide employment opportunities in the informal sector, as in the case of labour-based works.
Assistance could be in the form of providing small engines, training and materials for minimal track maintenance and in providing communications methods and procedures to coordinate movements with the occasional train.
Use of Motorcycle and sidecar for medical emergencies
Often the provision of basic access is dictated by the need to transport medical emergencies. During the rainy season, conventional vehicles cannot use the low-volume rural roads linking villages to clinics and hospitals. Motorcycles with simple sidecars (possbly manufactured locally) could provide a solution when distances are relatively short. In any case, they are cheaper and easier to maintain than an ambulance.
Assistance would be required to provide and manage them. The sidecars could perhaps be manufactured locally.
Historic footage
Early vehicle using crawler tracks
This is an example of the tractor referred to on the construction mechanization page. It still uses wheels at the front for steering. The film probably dates from the early 1920's so the vehicle was probably quite old at that time.
In many developing countries people are turning against gravel roads because of the dust thrown up by vehicles. This has led to re-evaluation of the criteria governing the choice between a gravel and a bitumen road.
A steam-powered aircraft was successfully tested in 1933 but does not seem to have caught on
