[sustran] South Africa's Transport Policy (or lack thereof)

[Institute for Transportation and Development Policy]

RE Eric Bruun and WEndell Cox's comments on S.AFrica and the combi-taxis


While the combi-taxis have done a great job creating jobs among black
S.Africans even before the fall of aparteid, and provide a reasonably good
service, with no subsidies (other than they highways they use, of course)
the lack of route regulation has led to the equivalent of gangland violence
between taxi companies competing for turf.  

Furthermore, the political power of the black taxi industry also made it
virtually impossible for us to put in decent bicycle parking facilities at
the commuter rail stations in the townships.  We had the agreement of the
Soweto planning office for a nice bike-and-ride strategy, but we were told
in confidence that it was vetoed by the combi-taxi industry which saw it,
correctly, as a threat.  

Unfortunately, for markets to function properly in the transport sector,
some regulation appears to be required.  

There is some discussion at the Group for Environmental Monitoring to take
up transport this year as a major area of work (after our urging them since
at least 1995).  


Rgds, 
Walter Hook 

At 01:28 PM 3/2/98 -0600, Wendell Cox wrote:
>Some comments on The Mail and Guardian editorial....
>
>Re: No alternative has been presented to coax motorists, many travelling
>alone in their
>                               cars, away from the daily traffic jams. What
>about the damage to the
>                               environment? Must our cities be completely
>choked by pollution like Mexico City
>                               or Athens before Maharaj takes any action on
>car emissions? 
>
>Where have such alternatives worked?
>
>Perhaps SA should ensure that it follows the US lead in auto pollution
>technology for cars --- this is the only way that the pollution problem
>related to cars will be solved, and it is being solved.
>
>>Since the policy, or lack of policy, has consisted mostly of leaving
>>things to the market, and with a refusal to subsidize public
>>transportation, I would like to hear whether readers agree with
>>the editorial.  Eric Bruun
>>
>It's not such a bad thing to leave these things to the market, especially
>when you consider the robust kombi-taxi industry, both in terms of its
>potential to move passengers (if permitted) and the entrepreneurial path
>that it provides to people trying to move up the economic ladder.
>
>With all of the social needs in SA --- housing, education, jobs, etc., etc.,
>it is not surprising, nor is it necessarily inappropriate for subsidies to
>public transport to take a :"back seat."
>
>Best regards,
>Wendell Cox
>WENDELL COX CONSULTANCY
>International Public Policy, Economics, Labour, Transport & Strategic Planning
>The Public Purpose: Internet Public Policy Journal
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