Abstract
This study examines the quality of the paratransit service and its operations in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria, with a view to identifying its challenges and contributions to informal transport and equitable service distribution to the residents of Aba. Structured questionnaires and past literature were used as sources of data. The primary data included road networks, number of trips per day by operators, operating speed, and purpose of travel, passengers' security, tricycle speed, and waiting time. The study was conducted by using two questionnaires: one for the operators and the other for tricycle users. The total number of completed questionnaires for the survey was 100 for operators and 229 for users. The sampling technique used was random sampling from several zones of the study area. Data were analysed using percentage and Chi-square statistical techniques for testing the hypotheses with the Minitab 11.0 version package. The study found that 92% of operators reported a high level of road network deterioration, and 61% reported making 9-12 trips per day. The hypothesis test was used to study people's feelings about the attributes of the service provided for paratransit users, such as affordability, regularity, comfort and safety. It was found that there is no significant difference at the 5% level between the various categories of these respondents.
Highlights
Informal transport services are notable for their role as ‘gap fillers’
It was observed that 92% of tricycle users reported a high level of poor road network, while 8% responded that the road network is good
A total of 75% reported that their operating cost per day is from N1000 and up, while 25% reported that they spend between N500 and N1000 for operating costs per day
Summary
Informal transport services are notable for their role as ‘gap fillers’. They exist largely to fill service voids left by formal public transport operators. Low-capacity vehicles operate in many cities as an alternative to public transport in developing countries, for instance in Aba City, Abia State, Nigeria. Importance of paratransit Paratransit provides numerous significant benefits to urban transportation development in many cities of developing countries They are as follows: Mobility: The major role of paratransit is to provide much-needed and much-valued mobility, especially for the poor and travellers who do not own or have access to private automobiles. These people depend entirely on public transport for reaching jobs, markets, schools and other destinations. Hypotheses 1) H0: There is no significant difference between the various categories of respondents in their views about the regularity of the service. 2) H0: There is no significant difference between the various categories of respondents in their views about the affordability of the service. 3) H0: There is no significant difference between the various categories of respondents in their views about the comfort of the service. 4) H0: There is no significant difference between the various categories of respondents in their views about the safety of the service
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