Incorporating contracted minibus-taxis into transitional integrated public transport networks:the case of Rustenburg

Abstract

Paratransit plays a vital role in passenger transport in African cities. Several cities are searching for ways of incorporating minibus-taxis (MBTs) into integrated public transport networks (IPTNs), rather than attempting to replace them through fleet buy-out and formalisation – a process that has frequently led to lengthy periods of negotiations with MBT operators, followed by an impasse or continued on-the-road competition with new IPTNs. Of the many questions that need to be answered, key is whether workable models of hybrid operations (i.e. combining both services with informal characteristics, and formal bus operations) can be found. The Rustenburg Local Municipality (RLM) has recently adopted a flexible IPTN system design approach with reduced PT infrastructure, that incorporates existing MBTs as a part of the transition towards a fully-fledged IPTN, in both formal and informal types of operation. This offers a learning opportunity to help understand the potential benefits and pitfalls of such hybridisation. The paper briefly describes the design approach and MBT contracting model for incorporating existing MBT operators in RLM. It then focuses on the evidence regarding selected key operational measures that affect the quality of the hybrid system: operational schedule reliability, in-service speeds, and route adherence, which could be assessed from GPS tracking of participating MBTs. The paper concludes with some implications for other medium-sized cities transitioning towards upgraded IPTNs.