Maybe I am feeling overly optimistic on this Monday morning, but I see the glimmer of a turning point in minibus taxi operator perceptions of how the South African bus rapid transit system (recently rebranded as integrated rapid transit, or IRT) can benefit their industry.
Despite years of negotiations over their integration with the enhanced bus system, taxi associations have been fighting tooth and nail against what they see as a potential erosion of their market share by the buses. It seems to be a particularly South African phenomenon that each mode of public transport is seen as distinct, planned and operated in virtual isolation, with owners and regulators failing to grasp the potential for operators to cross over to different vehicle types and sizes. While minibus taxis began with jitney-style services, today the characteristics of taxi, bus and rail services in this country are not dissimilar. It is still true that buses and trains operate on schedules, while taxis do not, but the reality is that generally the three modes are operating in competition rather than as complementary services. The only significant differences between them are in vehicle type and who operates each mode - and who receives a government subsidy.
Planners do recognise the importance of integration, and there are facilities around the country where several modes come together, but institutional and operational arrangements mitigate against a seamless experience for passengers. Integrated rapid transit is a manifestation of current attempts to improve operational integration, and one can hope that its success will gradually erode resistance to a unified system that would see greater passenger volumes across the public transport system. The intention is to issue contracts to taxi operators, bringing them even closer to bus-style operations.
A key to IRT success is an effective feeder and distributor system that increases the reach of mainline services into residential communities, using vehicles appropriate to the service required for each route. I was therefore intrigued by an article by Roy Cokayne in Business Report this morning. According to the article, South African group Khaki Motor Holdings is planning to assemble and distribute a range of three-wheeler tuk-tuk type vehicles imported from China, with configurations suitable for passenger or goods carriage.
Tuk-tuk in Taiwan by Teelek
This is a vehicle type that is not generally used in South Africa, and some commentators may laud this vehicle for its improved fuel efficiency over conventional cars, since the biggest challenge with cars is that most of their energy goes into moving the heavy vehicle, rather than the people inside it. Smaller (and lighter) vehicles change the ratio of vehicle weight to the weight of the "live load" and thus are more efficient, potentially reducing emissions by person-km traveled.
However, the real potential for this mode of transport lies in its role within the broader transport system. Khaki marketing director Albert Dikgale says the company is in talks with taxi industry associations, which he says have reacted "very positively". "The pilot project will involve our vehicles serving as a sweeper and taking people to taxi ranks or stations. They (the taxi industry) will run it."
If this pilot succeeds, it will, for the first time in South Africa, result in one group of operators spanning more than one vehicle type. Not only would it introduce greater flexibility in the public transport sector, but it would change perceptions in the industry about the possibilities for synergy among transport modes. And that would be truly revolutionary.
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