(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1993-11) Botes, Francois Jacobus; Pienaar, W. J.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Dept. of Transport economics.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The increasing use of private transport during the peak periods is contributing to
the congestion problem, which results in a decline in mobility in urban areas.
Existing bus, minibus-taxi and rail commuter services appear to be unsuccessful in
attracting car users to public transport. Simultaneously the diminishing overall
accessibility of people without private transport is decreasing due to the
decentralised land use and a decline in the quality of public transport services.
This study investigates the technical, economic and financial feasibility of providing
a paratransit service to the high income groups with the aim of improving the study
group's mobility and overall accessibility. The Cape Town Metropolitan Transport
Area was chosen as the study area for this investigation. Information is provided
on (1) the operation of paratransit services elsewhere in the world, (2) the demand
for and supply of commuter transport in the study area and (3) the operating cost
of supplying a paratransit service to the high income group.
The main findings of the study are that (1) a combination of mini and midibuses
would be the most suitable vehicles for the provision of such a service, (2) the
potential service would be economically viable and (3) the service would have to
be subsidised in order to maintain an acceptable level of service.