Abstract
One of the major narratives in transport policy internationally concerns the promotion of private versus public modes. The Global North has many examples where public transport, walking and cycling networks are well developed, yet examples from the Global South are less evident. There is a historical failure of replicating policies and practices from the Global North, particularly in perpetuating the highway building model, often unsuitable to the cultural contexts in the Global South. This paper examines individual attitudes and discourses concerning travel to De La Salle University campus, in Metro Manila, the Philippines. 42 participants are surveyed using Q methodology. Four discourses are developed, reflecting attitudes to growing automobility in Manila, public transport service provision, the difficulties of travelling in the city and the aspiration for increased comfort whilst travelling. Manila provides an example of the complexities in moving towards greater sustainable travel in the southeast Asian context where levels of private car usage are already high. It is hoped that a greater awareness of the problems of the current travel experiences might lead to us to seek different narratives, where transport systems can be developed which better serve social equity and environmental goals.
Highlights
Using public transport in many cities in the Global South is a challenge at best, and sometimes an ordeal, and to walk or cycle, or play in the streets is often impossible
The analysis identifies four significant discourses: The Individualistic Car Driver, the Public Transport Advocate, the Frustrated Traveller and the Comfort-Seeking Traveller
The discourses, as a whole, suggest a radically revised approach to transport planning is required in Manila, moving away from the current heavy dependence on automobility
Summary
Using public transport in many cities in the Global South is a challenge at best, and sometimes an ordeal, and to walk or cycle, or play in the streets is often impossible. Travel by public transport is usually for the lower income groups and the quality of service provision is very poor. This is despite years of so-called development funding, of offering the Global South the ‘insights’ of transport planning experience and procedures from the Global. The analysis is placed within the context of development, including the application of the North American transport and urban planning model over the last century. This can be viewed as a ‘regime of governance’ [3] and has contributed to many social and environmental problems in the metropolitan area. The paper is structured as follows: first, the method of analysis is discussed, using Q methodology; second discourses on travel are developed and interpreted; comments and conclusions are given
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