Caroline Imlau
Jean Jules Petoh carries people and goods to remote villages in western Cameroon. The journeys are dangerous, but so-called “monster bikes” provide a vital lifeline.
In rural Cameroon, so-called “monster bikes” provide a vital transport link for remote communities around Bafoussam. The modified motorcycles carry passengers, crops and heavy loads along poor roads and tracks that are often barely passable. For riders like Jean Jules Petoh, every journey means balancing the risks of dangerous roads with the need to earn a living.
Potholes, steep climbs and hazardous stretches make journeys difficult, while the rainy season can leave many routes almost impassable. Yet the monster bikes remain essential for rural communities, carrying farmers and their produce to market and helping families earn a living. Despite heavy loads, mechanical breakdowns and the constant risk of accidents, the motorcycles keep moving, connecting isolated communities across this part of Cameroon.