Mobility solutions to Southern Africa challenges : integrated public transport network via mobility-as-a-service

Abstract

Mobility as a catalyst for; economic development and social inclusion is put under pressure in transport systems throughout Southern Africa, which experience recurring challenges of high urbanization rates, historic inequalities, fragmented infrastructure, and weakly functioning transport governance systems. Public transport is still the predominant mode of mobility, but frequently suffers underinvestment, disintegration, and an incapacity to cope with rapid urban population increase. These challenges are creating an opportunity for integrated and MaaS supported public transport networks as a potential path to economically viable, environmentally sustainable, and socially accepted mobility systems. This strategy combines formal and informal options, improves service chains, limits car reliance, and promotes SDGs. But development is hampered by significant obstacles like weak policy frameworks, a lack of funding, a lack of data, and cultural reluctance. Strategic policy reform, focused research funding, public-private collaborations, and public awareness and trust-building campaigns are all necessary to overcome these challenges. Southern African towns have a crucial chance to match mobility practices with the Sustainable Development Goals as they move toward integrated, MaaS-supported transport networks.