Co-producing urban transport systems: adapting a global model in Dar es Salaam

Abstract

By advancing a socio-technical perspective on transport and mobility, this article traces the realization of bus rapid transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Referring to the framework of co-production, it is argued that transport systems can only come into being through the flexible interaction of humans and technology. Global consultants claim that BRT is an ideal choice for cities that strive for affordable, fast, and sustainable solutions in times of climate change and urban growth because this model enables a rapid and sustainable transition of urban transport. In practice, BRT systems often do not come into existence as planned and do not fulfill the promises offered by consultants who are often involved in their conception and construction. Drawing on interviews and participatory observation, this article elaborates how the recently implemented BRT system in Dar es Salaam depends on the interaction of technology and society. It is only because humans took over when “smart” technologies were dysfunctional or absent that BRT operations could be secured and contribute to a transition of the city’s transport sector. Accordingly, a sustainable transition depends more on socio-technical practices, the fluidity of the system, and the adaptation of its users rather than on global standards or technological innovation.