Once the fleet-footed antidote to Addis Abeba’s traffic paralysis, motorcycle couriers now find themselves sputtering toward obsolescence. A pandemic-era ban on passenger services throttled their earnings, and a looming mandate to ditch petrol engines threatens to finish the job. Riders who once pocketed up to 2,000 Br a day now count themselves fortunate to complete one or two deliveries for a fraction of that. For many, routine stops by traffic officers, fines for lapsed paperwork, or overnight detentions have become occupational hazards. City authorities have given the capital’s 12,000 registered motorbikes two years to go electric. For most, the cost does not add up. An e-bike costs over 350,000 Br, nearly 10 times the monthly income of many riders, and seldom covers more than 100Km on a single charge. Charging points remain rare, maintenance costs are steeper, and range anxiety is constant. The talk among riders increasingly turns to quitting altogether.

Leaders of the Motorbike Owners Association warn of a cost spiral. Even as revenue dries up, expenses such as GPS renewals, municipal taxes, and association dues persist. Missing a GPS renewal deadline alone invites a 500 Br fine, while delivering spare parts without receipts risks confiscation. The Addis Abeba Revenue Bureau is drafting regulations to tax online traders and impose fines of up to 100,000 Br on vehicles carrying undocumented goods. Compliance has become a maze. Each bike should carry a GPS tracker, speed limiter, and uniform insignia, while petrol models can only continue operating if their engines are scrapped or fully converted. Officials cast the transition as a public good to ensure safer roads, cleaner air, and a leap toward modernity. But, owners are pleading for softer landings in the form of concessional loans, phased conversion schedules, or hybrid allowances.