Inclusion of the taxi industry in planning design and operation of the integrated public transport networks

Abstract

South Africa's taxi industry, a vital transportation provider, faces a critical threat to its survival if allegations of customer mistreatment and resistance to modernization efforts, including automated fare collection systems, are true. However, this presentation highlights the industry's commitment to upskilling in partnership with TETA. It also reveals how current infrastructure limitations hinder the taxi industry's integration into the broader Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN), necessitating a comprehensive re-evaluation. Introducing Fare Pay, a cutting-edge, multimodal automated fare collection system, this presentation demonstrates a solution for seamless travel in the present and future, ultimately realizing a unified IPTN. Through ideal centrality of avenues within both the Public and Private sector, this presentation shows that the dream of an integrated network combining efficient public transport with the flexibility of taxis, enabling passengers to seamlessly switch between modes is possible only if all modes are treated equally.