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Bus rapid transit as a neoliberal contradiction

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  • Paget-Seekins, Laurel

Abstract

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is being implemented as a neoliberal project, but it creates contradictions that challenge the premise of neoliberalism. BRT projects are affordable rapid transit infrastructure, but they are also an impetus to restructure the urban bus sector in developing cities with informal mass transport. The dominant model of BRT implementation creates a market for bus service from large private companies where the government takes on the risk and brands the service as part of the city's attempt to be a ‘world class’ city that can attract mobile capital. However, BRT and the formalization of the bus sector can increase the power of urban residents by firmly putting transport in the public sphere; workers by increasing the incentives for collective action; and bus riders by prioritizing space for buses over cars. But these are only openings that require action to take advantage of the contradictions.

Suggested Citation

  • Paget-Seekins, Laurel, 2015. "Bus rapid transit as a neoliberal contradiction," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 115-120.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:48:y:2015:i:c:p:115-120
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2015.08.015
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    Cited by:

    1. Malik, Bilal Zia & Rehman, Zia ur & Khan, Ammad Hassan & Akram, Waseem, 2021. "Investigating users' travel behaviours and perceptions of single-corridor BRT: Lessons from Lahore," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    2. Ferbrache, Fiona, 2018. "Developing bus rapid transit," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 203-205.
    3. Louis G. Alcorn & Alex Karner, 2021. "Integrating formal and informal transit into one hybrid passenger transport system in Lagos, Nigeria," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 1361-1377, June.
    4. Poku-Boansi, Michael & Marsden, Greg, 2018. "Bus rapid transit systems as a governance reform project," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 193-202.
    5. Lukas, Michael & López-Morales, Ernesto, 2018. "Real estate production, geographies of mobility and spatial contestation: A two-case study in Santiago de Chile," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 92-101.
    6. Jason Monios, 2017. "Policy transfer or policy churn? Institutional isomorphism and neoliberal convergence in the transport sector," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(2), pages 351-371, February.
    7. Culver, Gregg, 2017. "Mobility and the making of the neoliberal “creative city”: The streetcar as a creative city project?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 22-30.
    8. Behrsin, Ingrid & Benner, Chris, 2017. "Contested spaces and subjectivities of transit: Political ecology of a bus rapid transit development in Oakland, California," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 95-103.
    9. Diaz Olvera, Lourdes & Plat, Didier & Pochet, Pascal, 2020. "Looking for the obvious: Motorcycle taxi services in Sub-Saharan African cities," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    10. Rekhviashvili, Lela & Sgibnev, Wladimir, 2020. "Theorising informality and social embeddedness for the study of informal transport. Lessons from the marshrutka mobility phenomenon," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    11. Lourdes Diaz Olvera & Didier Plat & Pascal Pochet, 2020. "Looking for the obvious: motorcycle taxi services in Sub-Saharan African cities," Post-Print halshs-02182855, HAL.

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