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

[Wendell Cox]

Aware of the gang problem with kombi-taxis. No doubt regulation is needed.
But my overall point is that we are dealing with a good deal more than a
transport problem here. SA does not have the luxury we have in the more
affluent nations of looking at transport policy in more or less of a vacuum.

Best regards,
Wendell Cox

>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
>>http://www.publicpurpose.com
>>Voice +1 618 632 8507; Fax  +1 618 632 8538
>>P.O. Box 841- Belleville, Illinois 62222 USA
>>
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>>that is no higher than necessary."
>>
>>
>
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>
WENDELL COX CONSULTANCY
International Public Policy, Economics, Labour, Transport & Strategic Planning
The Public Purpose: Internet Public Policy Journal
http://www.publicpurpose.com
Voice +1 618 632 8507; Fax  +1 618 632 8538
P.O. Box 841- Belleville, Illinois 62222 USA

"To facilitate the ideal of government as the servant  of the people by
identifying and implementing strategies to achieve public purposes at a cost
that is no higher than necessary."