R. KGWEDI S. KRYGSMAN Stellenbosch University MINIBUS-TAXIS AS PROVIDERS OF SCHEDULED, PARK & RIDE SERVICES: A CONCEPT FOR STELLENBOSCH R. KGWEDI S. KRYGSMAN Stellenbosch University The 36th annual SOUTHERN AFRICAN TRANSPORT CONFERENCE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOLUTIONS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT CHALLENGES 11th July 2017

CONTENT Research Questions Research Objectives Study Area Public Transport in Stellenbosch Learning from Go George Proposed Solutions Conclusion

…. commuters shunning the system (BRT) in favour of taxis and conventional buses.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS How might minibus-taxis be formalised to function as a scheduled public transport operator, and in particular, for a park & ride service? How might this work in Stellenbosch?

Park and Ride ‘Park and Ride’ services – learning from the 2010 World Cup, World EcoMobility summit in Sandton 2015, where the minibus taxi industry provided the service (Engelbrecht, et al, 2016).

2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES To highlight the importance of transforming current minibus-taxi operations into a scheduled quality public transport system that serves clear local needs; To look at establishing a local regulation authority and a single operating entity for the industry; The possibility of minibus-taxis offering ‘park and ride’ services as part of a shift toward increased public transport use.

3. STUDY AREA: Stellenbosch Population: 173,419 Statistics SA Community Survey 2016 Stellenbosch Municipality 2015

3. Study Area ………… Dominant mode of public transport between the towns, serving both commuters and long- distance passengers in Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch Municipality, 2016; Gaibe and Vanderschuren, 2010) Three taxi associations operate within the Stellenbosch Municipal area Golden Arrow Bus Services (GABS) - Stellenbosch to Somerset and a regional rail service - Metrorail.

a. Synopsis of the Stellenbosch MBT industry 43 routes 157 operating licences Issued 104 vehicle trips per peak hour b. Current traffic condition – Employment There are 30 000 people formally employed in the town (Stellenbosch Municipality, 2016). 12000 (40%) travel from external origins Almost 90% of external workers travel to town by car Remaining 10% external workers commute by taxi and train 18000 (60%) stay in Stellenbosch (20% PV and 80% NMT & PT)

Stellenbosch Traffic Conditions Figure 1. Stellenbosch Transport Distribution Figure 2. Outskirts Commuters Figure 3. Inner City Commuters Traffic is generated mostly by those travelling from outside Stellenbosch, as shown in Figure 2.

Travel/ Traffic Distributions around Stellenbosch Travel patterns and modes of transport are known; minibus-taxis could efficiently operate a ‘park and ride’ service (Figure 5), including a scheduled service to and from these facilities and work places.

4. PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM -STELLENBOSCH MUNICIPALITY Public transport - University of Stellenbosch Stellenbosch University occupies a large portion of the town and plays an important role in influencing decision-making of the area A scheduled public transport service for staff and students operating on a fixed route in the Stellenbosch Municipal area proposed Free to the users (staff and students) - funded by the University as an alternative to private cars – However, this means that other public transport users are excluded There is also proposal for long-distance service - Stellenbosch – Belville; Stellenbosch – Eersterivier

Stellenbosch University – Park ‘n ride Schedule, costs, identification/payment mechanism, routes, pick-up points Stellenbosch University – Park ‘n ride A B C Day shuttle (Park ‘n ride) 07:00 – 17:30 (on campus) Evening shuttle 18:00 – 02:00 (in town) Shuttle between the long-term parking area and residences (Park ‘n ride) 07:30 – 02:00 (on campus) Focus Service between general parking areas on the edge of campus and central campus during the day Service for students studying late at night from pick-up point at Neelsie to private housing in broader town Service from central points between residences and long-term parking area - only if users have registered for this Schedule Monday to Friday 1. Monday to Sunday 2. Every hour, from 18:00 (last trip departs at 02:00) 1. Monday to Friday 2. Between 07.30 and 16.00 3. At night the first trip leaves at 18.45 after which it will leave every hour till 01.45. Identification / payment mechanism Student or staff card Source: (Stellenbosch University, 2017)

Stellenbosch University Shuttle Services

Stellenbosch University Shuttle Services Timetable

Stellenbosch University Routes for day shuttle service

Stellenbosch University Proposed circle route The Information on the schedule and routes is not easily accessible

5. LEARNING FROM “GO GEORGE” South Africa’s first non-metro integrated public transport system Transformed - scheduled quality public transport system Full participation of operators (Robertson, 2016) The network with well designed routes across George A scheduled and safe, 18 hours a day, seven days a week service; Fare policy & structure - fare setting is not linked to an operations cost recovery model; Compliance (Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works, 2014; Robertson, 2016; http://www.gogeorge.org.za/)

6. PROPOSED SOLUTIONS a. Regulation as part of the solution The MBT should not be seen as a problem but part of the urban transport solution Regulation to address consumer interests and to maintain balance between the taxi supply and demand Roadworthiness of taxi safety, behaviour of taxi drivers, and taxi fares are of high importance to passengers (NHTS, 2013; Department of Roads and Transport, 2014). Taxis can be regulated in terms of: Quantity regulations - address the number of vehicles; Quality regulations - operator’s qualifications to operate, vehicle standards and insurance; Economic regulations - relate to fares (Aarhaug, 2016) Empowering the regulator – have a local regulatory authority with necessary tools to withdraw licenses and the right to audit the industry Entry regulation – limit the number of permits or licences issued Domestication of the taxi regulation – the taxi regulation should be tailored to local problems, objectives and market conditions because taxi markets are local in nature (Aarhaug, 2016; Mazrui, 2015)

b. Labour Issues From a practice of exploitative labour relations between owners and drivers to one that is law-abiding The current system maximise profit at all costs The top-down process, and does not consider the nature of work in the industry (Fobosi, 2013) The need for a solid working relationship on labour related matters, subsidies, and facilitation of workshops to provide an engagement platform (Karol, 2006) Practical training programs

c. Dedicated team and Law enforcement Establish dedicated structures for this purpose with the municipality, the industry and the university A dedicated team of Inspectors and Law Enforcement Officers to deal with public transport law enforcement – e.g. Illegal parking It is vital to establish a communication forum as suggested by the CITP with existing operators to meet regularly on matters concerning the public transport industry, public transport facilities and law enforcement (Stellenbosch Municipality, 2016) Such as the NMT Forum within the municipality

7. CONCLUSION The MBT remains a critical pillar of SA public transport A local regulatory authority with necessary tools and the right to audit the industry Domestication of the taxi regulation – tailored to local problems Single operating entity A formalised industry means compliance with prescribed labour regulations such as drivers' hours of work, overtime pay, minimum wages, meal intervals and annual leave (Mahlangu, 2002).

Monitoring and overseeing - municipalities must agree of the quality of service to be delivered to the public and need to take ownership. (Robertson, 2016, NLTA, 2009) Subsidy mechanisms - there should be appropriate levels of support and a measure of compensation Institutional and operational skills within the sector are in urgent need of improvement (Robertson, 2016) ‘Park and ride’ programs have a greater chance of success if all stakeholders come together The study acknowledges that while minibus-taxi industry in Stellenbosch is not substantial, there is significant opportunity and potential for growth, and subsequently to address the mobility challenges faced by the town

Thank you Domestication – “simply the use of foreign institutions and technologies to suit the needs of local societies - Africanising modernity” Q & A