IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/retrec/v39y2013i1p121-132.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hybrid urban transport systems in developing countries: Portents and prospects

Author

Listed:
  • Salazar Ferro, Pablo
  • Behrens, Roger
  • Wilkinson, Peter

Abstract

Some South African cities have initiated public transport transformation projects which, in most cases, ultimately envisage the in toto replacement of paratransit operations with formalised BRT systems. There are two likely outcomes: (1) complex negotiations with existing operators and budget constraints will result in the in toto transformation occurring over an extended period of time; or (2) in toto transformation will simply not occur. In either case, cities will depend, for decades, on a ‘hybrid’ public transport system that combines both formal and paratransit operators. This paper presents a case for policy recognition of hybrid systems, and explores how such systems might best be managed. The following categories of hybrid public transport systems are explored through case studies: (1) transformative processes in which paratransit operators are to form or assimilate into companies to operate new services, but this incorporation has proved difficult to complete and the operational and regulatory frameworks remain unchanged; and (2) transformative processes that, from the outset, anticipated a hybrid system and designed the outcome accordingly. A third category of hybrid transport systems, defined as transformative processes that have been amended following a realisation that in toto transformation is unattainable, is also introduced and discussed. The paper concludes by tentatively drawing lessons for appropriate public transport regulation, particularly with respect to Cape Town's transformation project. It is argued that a review of the current national regulatory framework is required to enable possible project modifications that acknowledge system hybridity. It is suggested that regulatory frameworks that accommodate the likely hybrid nature of public transport system outcomes have greater prospects of success than frameworks that do not. Furthermore, it is argued that contextually appropriate and successful public transport transformation projects do not necessarily require the in toto substitution of incumbent paratransit operators, and that they can be integrated with, and complement, formal services.

Suggested Citation

  • Salazar Ferro, Pablo & Behrens, Roger & Wilkinson, Peter, 2013. "Hybrid urban transport systems in developing countries: Portents and prospects," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 39(1), pages 121-132.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:39:y:2013:i:1:p:121-132
    DOI: 10.1016/j.retrec.2012.06.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0739885912000765
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.retrec.2012.06.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Finn, Brendan, 2008. "Market role and regulation of extensive urban minibus services as large bus service capacity is restored - Case studies from Ghana, Georgia and Kazakhstan," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 22(1), pages 118-125, January.
    2. Sohail, M. & Maunder, D.A.C. & Cavill, S., 2006. "Effective regulation for sustainable public transport in developing countries," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 13(3), pages 177-190, May.
    3. Schalekamp, Herrie & Behrens, Roger, 2010. "Engaging paratransit on public transport reform initiatives in South Africa: A critique of policy and an investigation of appropriate engagement approaches," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 371-378.
    4. Peter Clark & Wilfred Crous, 2002. "Public transport in metropolitan Cape Town: Past, present and future," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(1), pages 77-101, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Venter, Christoffel, 2016. "Assessing the potential of bus rapid transit-led network restructuring for enhancing affordable access to employment – The case of Johannesburg's Corridors of Freedom," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 441-449.
    2. Astrid Wood, 2015. "Multiple Temporalities of Policy Circulation: Gradual, Repetitive and Delayed Processes of BRT Adoption in South African Cities," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 39(3), pages 568-580, May.
    3. Falchetta, G. & Noussan, M. & Hammad, A.T., 2021. "Comparing paratransit in seven major African cities: An accessibility and network analysis," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    4. Plano, Christopher & Behrens, Roger & Zuidgeest, Mark, 2020. "Towards evening paratransit services to complement scheduled public transport in Cape Town: A driver attitudinal survey of alternative policy interventions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 273-289.
    5. Ofentse Mokwena, 2016. "Paratransit Mesoeconomy: Control Measures From The Supply Side?," Proceedings of Economics and Finance Conferences 3205591, International Institute of Social and Economic Sciences.
    6. Ehebrecht, Daniel & Heinrichs, Dirk & Lenz, Barbara, 2018. "Motorcycle-taxis in sub-Saharan Africa: Current knowledge, implications for the debate on “informal” transport and research needs," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 242-256.
    7. Celik, Erkan & Bilisik, Ozge Nalan & Erdogan, Melike & Gumus, Alev Taskin & Baracli, Hayri, 2013. "An integrated novel interval type-2 fuzzy MCDM method to improve customer satisfaction in public transportation for Istanbul," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 28-51.
    8. Kerzhner, Tamara, 2022. "Formalization of East Jerusalem public transport: Mobility, politics and planning," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    9. Márquez, Luis & Pico, Ricardo & Cantillo, Víctor, 2018. "Understanding captive user behavior in the competition between BRT and motorcycle taxis," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1-9.
    10. Pandit, Debapratim & Sharma, Deepa, 2022. "Expected service dimensions and service levels for paratransit considering future mobility needs in emerging countries," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 1-13.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Plano, Christopher & Behrens, Roger & Zuidgeest, Mark, 2020. "Towards evening paratransit services to complement scheduled public transport in Cape Town: A driver attitudinal survey of alternative policy interventions," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 273-289.
    2. Mateo-Babiano, Iderlina & Recio, Redento B. & Ashmore, David P. & Guillen, Marie Danielle & Gaspay, Sandy Mae, 2020. "Formalising the jeepney industry in the Philippines – A confirmatory thematic analysis of key transitionary issues," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Ryzhkov, Alexander, 2018. "Local public transport in Russia: Regulation, ownership and competition," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 207-217.
    4. Chaoren Lu, 2014. "The role of sustainability policy in influencing service innovation. a case study of Changzhou BRT system," ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2014(3), pages 167-168.
    5. Beria, Paolo & Grimaldi, Raffaele, 2010. "Unconventional factors of efficiency in public transport. A case study and theory," MPRA Paper 29234, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Venter, Christoffel J. & Molomo, Malesela & Mashiri, Mac, 2014. "Supply and pricing strategies of informal rural transport providers," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 239-248.
    7. Schalekamp, Herrie & Behrens, Roger, 2010. "Engaging paratransit on public transport reform initiatives in South Africa: A critique of policy and an investigation of appropriate engagement approaches," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 29(1), pages 371-378.
    8. Sun, Yanshuo & Gong, Hengye & Guo, Qianwen & Schonfeld, Paul & Li, Zhongfei, 2020. "Regulating a public transit monopoly under asymmetric cost information," Transportation Research Part B: Methodological, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 496-522.
    9. Ryzhkov, Alexander & Sarzhan, Yuliya, 2020. "Market initiative and central planning: A study of the Moscow bus network," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    10. Rivasplata, Charles Richard, 2006. "An Analysis of the Impacts of British Transport Reforms on Transit Integration in the Metropolitan Areas," University of California Transportation Center, Working Papers qt4r88443j, University of California Transportation Center.
    11. du Preez, Dirk & Zuidgeest, Mark & Behrens, Roger, 2019. "A quantitative clustering analysis of paratransit route typology and operating attributes in Cape Town," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    12. Alvaro Rodriguez-Valencia & Daniel Rosas-Satizábal & Darío Hidalgo, 2023. "Big effort, little gain for users: lessons from the public transport system reform in Bogotá," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 411-433, June.
    13. Andreasen, Manja Hoppe & Møller-Jensen, Lasse, 2017. "Access to the city: Mobility patterns, transport and accessibility in peripheral settlements of Dar es Salaam," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 20-29.
    14. Babalık-Sutcliffe, Ela, 2016. "Urban rail operators in Turkey: Organisational reform in transit service provision and the impact on planning, operation and system performance," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 464-475.
    15. Gabriel Stumpf Duarte de Carvalho & Rui Cunha Marques, 2021. "What Can Urban Buses Learn about Sunshine Regulation Adopted in Other Sectors?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-13, June.
    16. Muhammad Zudhy Irawan & Prawira Fajarindra Belgiawan & Tri Basuki Joewono & Nurvita I. M. Simanjuntak, 2020. "Do motorcycle-based ride-hailing apps threaten bus ridership? A hybrid choice modeling approach with latent variables," Public Transport, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 207-231, March.
    17. José I. Castillo-Manzano & Antonio Sánchez-Braza, 2011. "An Evaluation of the Establishment of a Taxi Flat Rate from City to Airport: The Case of Seville," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 48(9), pages 1909-1924, July.
    18. Andrea Pollio, 2019. "Forefronts of the Sharing Economy: Uber in Cape Town," International Journal of Urban and Regional Research, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(4), pages 760-775, July.
    19. Pedro, Marisa J.G. & Macário, Rosário, 2016. "A review of general practice in contracting public transport services and transfer to BRT systems," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 94-106.
    20. Xu, Meng & Grant-Muller, Susan & Gao, Ziyou, 2015. "Evolution and assessment of economic regulatory policies for expressway infrastructure in China," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 42-49.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:retrec:v:39:y:2013:i:1:p:121-132. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/620614/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.