Addressing knowledge and methodological gaps in transport planning for vulnerable rural transport users: A case study of selected villages in Limpopo province

Abstract

Paper presented at the 32nd Annual Southern African Transport Conference 8-11 July 2013 "Transport and Sustainable Infrastructure", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.

The paper reports on an empirical travel survey, undertaken in a deep rural area of South Africa, to illustrate how improved understanding of rural travel behaviour can enhance transport planning. A custom made instrument incorporating both quantitative and qualitative research methods adopted in the survey, generated spatial-temporal travel data covering weekdays and weekends, for vulnerable travel groups that included the elderly, disabled and young children. The investigation confirms the knowledge and methodological gaps that exist and need to be addressed for rural transport planning in South Africa.