ICT for Hybrid Systems: The Role of Information in Realising More Equitable Access to Mobility in Emerging Cities

Abstract

Hybrid public transport systems, or systems that combine scheduled, formal and unscheduled, paratransit systems, in African cities present information challenges that might impede passengers’ knowledge of the network and thereby ability to benefit from the full range of mobility options available to them. Though in theory, hybrid systems could offer wider mobility coverage across the city than the formal or paratransit systems alone would allow, imbalances in passenger information across the modes may act as a barrier to passengers in accessing the full system’s benefits. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) offer an avenue for information provision across all the hybrid network’s modes that could make it easier for passengers to understand how to tap into the full network to meet their individual travel needs. Though these tools could empower more equitable access to the hybrid system through information, ICTs bring with them their own set of challenges in way of relevancy of content, access to the technology itself, and skills needed to use the technologies. This paper explores these potential limitations of ICTs through Amartya Sen’s capability approach development framework to better understand how ICTs might enable people to utilise the different options within the hybrid system to meet their travel needs.