transportation 3B (TEST 1)

What is the primary aim of transport?

to overcome geographic distance by efficiently and safely moving people, animals and goods from one location to another.

Key pillars of an effective transport system

• economic growth (connects producers and consumers)

• accessibility and equity

• safety and security

• sustainability (reducing environmental impact)

What is the ain of public transport?

ensures individuals without access to personal cars enjoy access to activities in different locations while increasing overall mobility and accessibility.

Formal public transport

characterised by fixed routes and stops and a driver’s roster. It utilises a tickert system as proof of payment subsidies in one form or another and is officially managed through contracts and concessions.

Informal public transport

refers to public transport that does not follow fixed routes or stops. there are no restrictions on the number of hours worked and it is not directly subsidised by the government. Managed through granted operating licenses.

Characteristics of formal public transport

• service delivery: operates on fixed schedules, designated stops and scheduled convenience.

• ownership: public or private. managed through government contracts or public authorities.

• labour: semi-skilled or skilled drivers operating under strict driver rosters with limits on working hours.

• organisation: structured through formal state frameworks, service contracts and registered operators.

• fare structure: fixed fare system using tickets as proof of payment, typically subsidised by public authorities.

Characteristics of informal public transport

• service delivery: operates on flexible or non-fixed routes and schedules. Adapts dynamically to passenger demand.

• ownership: private and individual. Owned and operated as private business ventures.

• labour: semi-skilled to non-skilled drivers with no limits on working hours

• organisation: managed through route associations and the granting of operating licenses or permits.

• fare structure: variable fare structure (distance/demand-based) with cash payments, no direct government subsidies.

general characteristics and operations of buses

1. operate on most routes (adv: flexible, rapid introduction and minimal infrastructural needs disadv: vulnerable to road traffic congestion)

2. low investment costs (requires low capital expenditure for route infrastructure)

3. moderate capacity (varies between midibuses and articulated buses, easily adapting to different routes)

Operational challenges and market decline

between 1998 and 2002 market share fell from 12% to 9% due to:

• higher general operating costs

• longer journey times

• high traffic congestion

• poor security

Classification of buses

1. By population system

• diesel buses (easy to maintain and to operate)

• trolley/duo buses (electrically powered via tolley poles)

2. By body type

• standard single deck bus

• articulated bus (bendy)

• double decker bus

• midibus

Why minibuses have a stronger role in the devloping world

1. survival on inadequate road system

minibus-taxis are physically smaller and more agile allowing them to easily navigate and survive on poorly mainatined roads

2. reliable informal transport services

They fill the gap left by formal public transport by offering frequent, flexible and responsive travel options that cater to passenger demand.

3. rapid population growth in urban areas

as cities in the developing world expand rapidly, informal infrastructure cannot keep pace minibuses quickly step in to accommodate the surging urban population.

4. higher levels of access and mobility

minibus-taxis provide higher levels of spatial access and mobility in underserved or informal areas compared ro rigid bus networks.

disadvantages of minibus-taxis

• higher user fees (no government subsidy)

• long driver hours

• vehicle overloading

• minimal maintenance

• cherry-picking high density corridors while ignoring low volume areas

Traffic Recapitalisation programme (TRP)

initiated (1999) where the government allocated money allowing operators to trade old vehicles for new, safer 12-35 seater minibuses.

2005 key amendments:

• municipalities empowered to manage taxi ranks and routes

• targeted removal of unroadworthy vehicles

• voluntary exit strategy with a R50 000 scrapping allowance per vehicle.

the aim of the TRP

• Align taxi economicx

• form a sustainable/profitable industry

• transition the fleet toward larger, regulated road vehicles

What are Monorails

high speed suspended/grade seperated transport system evaluated for dense urban regions e.g) Guateng townships.

advantages of monorails

• safe

• highly reliable

• 0 localised emissions

• low land footprint

disadvantages of monorails (why its not widely applied)

• beams cannot cross each other easily

• Manoeuvring yards require massive space

• large structural profile prevents efficient tunnelling

• capital investment costs are for higher than light rail transit

What are light rail transits?

• steel wheel vehicles operating on steel rails powered by overhead electric lines.

• flexible mode bridging the functional gap between conventional buses and heavy metro systems.

benefits across stakeholders

local authorities

• boosts urban design

• controls urban sprawl

• fuels local economic growth

property developers

• delivers higher returns on investment

• construction efficiencies

transport operators

• increases system ridership

• improves public image

• enables partial capital cost recovery

reasons for slow implementation in South Africa

1. deregulations allowed minibus-taxis to dominate without restriction, eroding the passenger base that justifies rail infrastructure.

2. lack of planner confidence to fund systems that directly compete with established taxi networks.

3. high upfront capital costs and long recoupment periods drive authorities towards short-term, low-cost solutions.

4. Historical lack of full functional transport authorities to coordinate and implement schemes in metropolitan areas.

Modal comparisons

LRT vs. Heavy rail

• LRT operates inside streets/neighbourhoods, requires lower infrastructure capital and offers higher off-peal frequencies.

LRT vs. buses

• LRT delivers superior ride comfort, higher overall capacity. longer-term infrastructure permanence 0 localised emissions and greater schedule punctuality.