Contextualising Urban Transport Systems and Livelihoods in Developing Countries

Abstract

Urban transport systems in countries of the Global South are essentially dominated by private groups and individuals which have been largely classified as informal and requiring formalisation by governments and city managers. Promoting efficient and sustainable public transport systems in cities has led to the formation of two schools of thought: eradication of the sector and having an integrated system. In response to having an integrated system, governments of the Global South with support from the World Bank and other partners have invested in Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems as an alternative to existing public transport systems to ensure efficiency, lower transport-related greenhouse gas emissions and make cities more competitive. This chapter examines the effect of the implementation of BRT systems on livelihoods and establishes that despite the good intentions of governments, the implementation of BRT in many cases has been confronted with resistance from existing regime actors due to, a large extent, mistrust and fear of losing their livelihoods. The chapter concludes by recommending an integrated framework which secures livelihoods of service operators and facilitates efficient service delivery done in a participatory and inclusive manner to promote sustainable public transport systems.