The importance of scholar and child travel in South African cities, and a review of improvement measures

Abstract

Paper presented at the 22nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 14 - 16 July 2003 "National issues affecting the movement of people and goods - strategic approaches", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa. ABSTRACT: In recent years a number of travel surveys have suggested, perhaps unexpectedly, that as many education trips are made in South Africa’s metropolitan cities as work trips. However, much past analysis of travel behaviour and many travel demand models exclude education trip-making. This paper argues that this practice is problematic, and investigates secondary and primary data sources to establish the nature, extent and importance of scholar and child travel. The primary data source takes the form of an activity-based household travel survey administered in 2000 and 2001 in Cape Town. The paper discusses the significance of the available data for understanding the urban passenger transport problem in South Africa in general, and for understanding morning peak congestion and pedestrian safety problems in particular. Considerable attention is being given at present to improving conditions of scholar or child travel in other parts of the world. The paper reviews international measures implemented to alleviate many of the problems associated with child and scholar trip-making, and identifies opportunities for improved practices in South African cities.