INDUSTRY OBSERVATION

Easing Congestion
via Consumer Strangulation

To quote the Star newspaper, 18 October 2007: "According to the South African Advertising Research Foundation (SAARF), 29 million adults will make use of transport other than public transport using either their own cars or minibus taxis." 

In Gauteng, "minibus taxi use is still about 49% of public transport. Bus usage is down to about 6.8% and train usage has dropped to 5.7%. Private vehicle usage is very high. In 1995, private motor vehicle usage was about 20.5% and this soared to approximately 42.7% last year. Minibus taxis and private transport account for transporting 93% of all South Africans." 

Smoke and mirrors?
Using these statistics, I reviewed the Initial Phase (National Road portion) of the proposed Gauteng Toll Network, planned for the greater Johannesburg (Gauteng) hub. What piqued my interest is that all the "planned future motorways" are exactly that – merely plans. I can certainly remember this legend some fifteen years back so I am not sure what the DoT’s idea of future is? Is that 22nd century or still 21st century? I certainly don’t see any roadworks on these proposed new motorways, so what is the objective? Is this a decoy to deflect criticism from the toll gates being erected? 

My analysis of the problemis thus:
The taxi industry isn’t going to evaporate overnight. It is highly functional and flexible. Road safety and driver behaviour are the major problem. The industry carries almost 50% of public transport users and is a very large employer. The problems can be solved. I am very positive on this.

Time to talk it out properly 
Why are we not embracing the taxi industry to tackle the challenges on a step by step consultation basis? We don’t need another "master global vision" which is another "over promise, under deliver" scenario. Are they ever really going to build new highways? Is taxing an existing road network ethical? It has been paid for over many generations! Does the revenue from Tolls get re-invested into road maintenance and infrastructure? My understanding is that it does not. 

The fiscus will receive more revenue on existing infrastructure, a further tax burden on road users. Does this alleviate traffic pressure? I doubt it. 

The Bus and Train industries will not increase their market share of transport users until they improve functionality, flexibility, cost, as well as improve reliability and safety. Taxi and car use could change considerably from current patterns causing more traffic gridlock in the Gauteng hub. 

In who’s best interests?
In this sense, I think the Department of Transport is failing the community, failing the transport sector by using the consumer to fund road improvements. 

Better progress would be made through negotiations to resolve the taxi industry’s problems. There should be a zero tolerance approach to taxi safety standards. Short term tax evasion should be met with a planned tax dispensation. Government should grant ‘largest employer’ status to the taxi industry along with training programmes to rectify the sub-standard behaviour patterns. Bus and train services should be improved and pressure applied on motorists to use them. 

I have to say this Initial Phase of the Gauteng Toll Network is scary in its arrogance! Are there any transport analysts out there who disagree? And for truckers out there, I’m sure you’re as sceptical as I am on this issue.