Bike, Ethiopia


Bike is a town in central Ethiopia of the Somali Region in the Shinile Zone. It is located 72 km west of Shinile. The town is located on the main railway between Djibouti City and Addis Ababa.

Demographics

The town's inhabitants belong to various mainly Afro-Asiatic-speaking ethnic groups, with the Issa Somali predominant. Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Bike has an estimated total population of 9,197, of whom 4,789 are men and 4,408 are women. The 1997 census reported this town had a total population of 6,168 of whom 3,163 were men and 3,005 women. The three largest ethnic groups reported in this town were the Somali, the Oromo, and the Amhara ; all other ethnic groups made up the remaining 0.74% of the residents. It is one of three towns in Afdem woreda.

Climate

The climate of Bike is a hot semi-arid climate, with the influence of mountain climate; the seasonal difference is minor. This is attributed to the fact that Jijiga is located on a plain surrounded by mountains and to its distance to the sea and its effects.