So government is trying to sort out our public transport issues. We have the BRT, the Gautrain, new taxis and of course, tolling Joburg’s highways to ‘encourage’ us to move from single-occupant cars to mass transit. But we all know it will take a mindshift to get us to abandon the comfort and accessibility of our cars for public transport.
What if we accelerate this process? What if we make it easy and sexy to ditch our cars?
Encourage private companies to offer safe, affordable, accessible, regular and ubiquitious mass transit options to all and sundry. No route protection. Just good ol’ capitalism at play. A ‘Kulula’ bus that’s cost effective and competitive.
And I’m very happy to pay a little more on my busfare so that others pay a discounted fee for the same first-class service. After all why should being poor condemn you to inferior and unsafe travel? Or subject you to strikes and go-slows which sabotage your ability to earn a living wage.
Yes, the taxis will get peeved. But what’s preventing them from offering the same service? It will force their industry to sort out their problems in order to be competitive. It’s a simple supply/demand solution. Actually the motor and fuel industry might not be too thrilled either but it offers them an opportunity to re-think their business model in a constantly changing environment. Adapt or die.
Buy a bus-pass from any Pick ’n Pay, Checkers or petrol forecourt. In fact you should be able to buy one as easily as you buy airtime. Or how about paying for your fare with your airtime?
There are so many ways to skin this cat and at the same time offer a service we desperately need.
The result will be less pressure on our roads and highways, and less wear and tear on them of course, as well as the benefits of decreasing the amounts of toxins we spew into our air.
And I would love the opportunity to see my city from a different point of view.
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