Public transport in developing cities : a possible role for the duo-bus?

M.Comm.Transport is vital to development. Without adequate access to employment opportunities, health services, education and other amenities of life, the quality of life of the community will suffer. In developing countries and cities, where higher levels of poverty and unemployment are found and where resources are limited, the role of "good" transport becomes even more important. The dissertation identifies and describes a • number of urban transport problems being experienced in developing cities today. It refers to the experience of other countries that have been facing similar scenarios, as well as the steps they have taken (or are taking) to deal with them. This thesis suggests that South Africa can benefit from a closer look at some of these steps, and also identifies areas which require deeper research. The dissertation acknowledges that no single solution exists to solve the wideranging nature of the transport "problem". A combination of approaches would seem to be desirable. These include organisational changes as well as technological and infrastructural changes. The dissertation acknowledges further that no single study of this kind can investigate all of these solutions in sufficient depth. It does however deal with some of the organisational changes which are initially necessary to allow later technological and infrastructural improvements to be implemented more successfully. The organisational changes, most of which have already been investigated and researched in depth, include new contractual arrangements, such as privatisation and concessioning. They also include co-ordination and integration of services. The dissertation suggests that the "corridor" proposals of the Moving South Africa study will play an important role in underpinning the concept of co-ordination. As far as infrastructural and technological changes are concerned the thesis describes the "corridor" developments in the South American cities of Sao Paulo and Quito, both of which are introducing bus-ways of varying degrees of sophistication. These infrastructural improvements are being combined with the use of electric buses (duo-buses) drawing power from overhead lines. In Quito, this combination of infrastructure and new technology is handling large numbers of passengers at a level which is equivalent to that of many of the busier public transport routes in South Africa. The dissertation suggests that South African cities will benefit from these developments and proposes that an investigation into such improvements should be carried out. These include an integrated, co-ordinated formal public transport network for the Johannesburg area, and the introduction of corridors on which passenger vehicles of improved design (including duo-buses) could be used to maximum advantage. The dissertation acknowledges that the legislative and planning framework necessary to support such improvements is still being introduced. It points out, however, that the introduction of the proposed transport authorities, and the emphasis on the "corridor" concept will facilitate the process. The dissertation expresses the hope that these improvements will be placed on the agenda as soon as possible and that in so doing, the rehabilitation of formal public transport in South Africa will be promoted