What would it take for motorists to leave the comfort of their cars and venture on to daunting public transport?
With traffic congestion choking economic activity, the government has caught on to international concepts like Car-Free Day that aim to encourage people to do just that.
Last year the day was labelled a misnomer, with the majority of motorists ignoring it, although some said they would be willing to try public transport if the system were improved.
The government admits that public transport is not up to scratch, and aims to use campaigns like Car-Free Day on Friday to rekindle public confidence in the system.
“The government’s argument is that it needs everyone. You can’t wake up and find it [transport] in good shape overnight,” said Gauteng transport spokesperson Alfred Nhlapo.
Better public transport is needed for the flood of World Cup soccer fans expected in 2010, and Nhlapo is convinced great strides will have been made by then.
Gauteng alone has more than 2,6-million vehicles competing for road space. Building more roads will not change this trend, said Nhlapo.
Economists argue that changing commuters’ behaviour is not easy.
“To make a change, you would have to equate as much of the flexibility, reliability and safety of private transport in the public-transport arena. Obviously you can’t do that 100%, but you would have to close the gap very, very considerably to make public transport first choice,” said Tony Twine, an economist with Econometrix.
This would cost an “arm and a leg”. Twine argued that while South Africans often mention the fine public transport in other countries, they do not consider what they cost, both to the public purse and to commuters.
“For middle-income South Africa to aspire to those kinds of transport systems is probably unrealistic, for at least a generation,” he said.
It is unrealistic to expect commuters who drive great distances within sprawling cities or between these cities to comply with Car-Free Day.
“There are no public transport links to speak of,” Twine said. “The informal transport sector is just that — and most people who can afford a car, the first thing they do is abandon the informal transport system.”
Cities still suffer from the legacy of apartheid design. “With the collapse of the centre city, the hub of city design has collapsed and what transport facilities there were collapsed … and that’s the root of what makes ‘no car’ days a marginal experience.”
The flipside of the congestion coin is a growing and vibrant economy in a relatively affluent society, said Professor Mohammed Jahed, of the Wits school of public and development management.
“It’s actually an outcome of affluence; it’s also about the nature of job creation that is available. People who buy cars are middle class, work in semi-professional sectors and are relatively well educated.”
Jahed is positive that if the government put its mind to it, the necessary infrastructural development could be achieved by 2010. — Sapa
Car-Free Day is on Friday October 20
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Car-Free Day