Activity participation and perceptions on informal public transport and bus rapid transit in Dar es Salaam city

Abstract

This paper seeks to understand out-of-home activity participation of inhabitants in Dar es Salaam (DES), as well as their perceptions towards Informal Public Transport (IPT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in supporting these activities. IPT is burdened by poor roads, traffic congestion and high transport demand. IPT without fixed schedules (e.g., mini-buses, motorcycles and tricycles) is increasingly used as a means of transport for different trips. Many developing cities in the world are seeking to replace informal public transport services with formal bus rapid transit lines. However, little is known regarding the ability of the IPT and the BRT in supporting out-of-home activity participation of the inhabitants. In this paper, we report on a study in Dar es Salaam exploring the relative contribution of each type of service. The study encompasses Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Participatory Geographical Information Systems (PGIS) and questionnaires, carried out both in a study zone close to a planned BRT corridor, as well as in a peri-urban location. The findings show that IPT plays an important role as a means of participation in daily activities like work, education, shopping and social matters; and is perceived to be important and flexible in providing access to both high and low density unplanned settlements. The planned BRT system is perceived to benefit specific groups of people, especially individuals with permanent offices in and around the city centre, particularly professional workers. This paper sheds light on how the two systems are perceived by the local people, and can inform policy makers about possible improvements in PT systems to support activity participation of their inhabitants.