Sustainability of Informal Shuttle Transport in the City of Harare

Shakerod Munuhwa ,Tendai Silvaziso Mandere ,Ephraim M Govere ,King Christopher Muchenje

doi:10.7176/jesd/11-8-14

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the sustainability of informal shuttle transport in the city of Harare. Traditionally, the provision of public transport is considered to be government's responsibility. Due to lack of economic growth, rapid rise in urban population, and declining standards of living, government-provided public transport is often inadequate; it is the privately operated public transport modes that cater to the mobility needs of the population. Informal shuttle transport refers to small illegal vehicles that play part of taxes ferrying passengers within the city. These small vehicles do not follow most road traffic regulations but are always there when city people need transport and are a faster mode of urban transport. This informal shuttle passenger transport sector, however, is not sufficiently acknowledged due to a number of reasons including lack of proper passenger transport regulation, lack of road safety, highly polluting and a cause of traffic congestion. This paper unpacks challenges posed with informal public transport particularly those providing shuttle services within the central business district (CBD) of Harare. The paper then examines and recommends various strategies that can make such operators contribute to achieving sustainable urban transport system. Data was collected through unstructured interviews from key stakeholders in both private and public sector basically examining the relationship between the increase in informal shuttle transport and transport sustainability. Stakeholders agreed on the need to improve transport in Harare and proffered solutions which included mass transit, crafting of a policy framework to formalise informal shuttle transport operators, need for infrastructure improvements, institutional capacity and good governance among others. Key words : informal shuttle transport, congestion, sustainability, central business district, Harare, economic growth DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-8-14 Publication date: April 30 th 2020

Highlights

Informal public transport exists in almost every part of this world
The study represented a response rate of 80% which was sufficient for data analysis and conforms to previous research studies (Desbordes, 2016; Gaurav, 2017) who stipulated that a response rate of 80% and above is deemed excellent for a research study
There are some factors which gave rise to the emergence of informal public transportation in Harare such as the increase in city population which in turn gave rise to increased urban transport demand,( the few formal operators not able to meet the level of demand ) Harare City council has stopped providing transport since more than 10 years ago

Summary

Introduction

Informal public transport exists in almost every part of this world. Cities of the developed world have informal transport services reference being the Brooklyn borough of New York City, informal operators run a paratransit system along some busiest thorough fares, (Cervero, 2015). Operated mostly by recent immigrants from the Caribbean, and for recent immigrants from the Caribbean, these unlicensed operations compete directly with municipal bus services. The vehicle of choice, utility vans, ply the main corridors of Brooklyn, taking passengers from anywhere along the route for a flat fee. Some operators go into Manhattan for a premium fare. Drivers diverge from standard routes to avoid congestion, or to provide front-door delivery again for a fare premium (Kumar and Barrett 2013)

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