The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam: A Pilot Study on Critical Infrastructure, Sustainable Urban Development and Livelihoods

Abstract

Inner-city transportation looms large in big cities in the so-called Global South due to rapid population and urban growth. To tackle this challenge, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system was implemented in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) in 2016. This paper reports on the results of a pilot study on the impacts of the BRT on city development and livelihoods in Dar. Our pilot study, which is part of the collaborative research project LIPSINDAR (Linking Partners for a Sustainable and Inclusive Dar es Salaam), was not designed to provide a comprehensive insight into the problems of urban planning, infrastructure modification and their impact on urban livelihoods. Rather, using the example of Dar es Salaam, the study served as an entry point to highlight challenges and future research demands in the context of urban insecurities and risks in large cities of the Global South. In particular, our study investigated the BRT as an element of critical infrastructure in Dar es Salaam and probed into its impact on residents’ livelihoods, focusing on the influence of service disruptions on everyday routines, and on different stakeholders’ views on the functionality of the BRT. Elaborating on this topic, interviews, street vendor surveys and mappings were used as methods to describe the processes. To examine the results more closely, the outcome was divided into groups of different fields of activity, namely Traffic Management, Local Residents, City Administration, Basic Provision Services and Street Vendors. In summary, the pilot study confirms that the implementation of the BRT system has, in general, served to improve urban livelihoods. Reducing commuting times and enhancing access to basic services found positive results. There is, however, still potential for improvement: the bus network, in particular, needs to be expanded and the vulnerability to natural extreme events, especially flooding, needs to be addressed.

Walking on sunshine: Pairing electric vehicles with solar energy for sustainable informal public transport in Uganda

“…This approach aims to reduce trips, shift towards sustainable forms of transport (public transport, non-motorised modes and electric vehicles) and improve the transport-system's efficiency through infrastructure [49,50]. In sub-Saharan Africa, the avoid and shift approaches have not been intensively studied [51]. The focus has been primarily on improvements:…”

Walking on sunshine: Pairing electric vehicles with solar energy for sustainable informal public transport in Uganda

“…This approach aims to reduce trips, shift towards sustainable forms of transport (public transport, non-motorised modes and electric vehicles) and improve the transport-system's efficiency through infrastructure (Le and Trinh, 2016;Osei et al, 2021). In sub-Saharan Africa, the avoid and shift approaches have not been intensively studied (Krüger et al, 2021). The focus has been primarily on improvements: urban traffic management strategies such as widening roads, optimising road signalling and tightening law-enforcement (Sietchiping et al, 2012;Shams and Zlatkovic, 2020;Krüger et al, 2021;Venter et al, 2018).…”

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, the avoid and shift approaches have not been intensively studied (Krüger et al, 2021). The focus has been primarily on improvements: urban traffic management strategies such as widening roads, optimising road signalling and tightening law-enforcement (Sietchiping et al, 2012;Shams and Zlatkovic, 2020;Krüger et al, 2021;Venter et al, 2018). Ironically, evidence from other world cities suggests that building freeways and roads around cities only increases car dependence and thus intensifies congestion and pollution (Sietchiping et al, 2012).…”

Ray of hope for sub-Saharan Africa's paratransit: solar charging of urban electric minibus taxis in South Africa

“…This approach aims to reduce trips, shift towards public transport and non-motorised modes and improve vehicle efficiency coupled with electrification (Le and Trinh, 2016;Osei et al, 2021). In sub-Saharan Africa, the avoid and shift approaches have not been intensively studied (Krüger et al, 2021). The focus has been primarily on improvements: urban traffic management strategies such as widening roads, optimising road signalling and encouraging multi-modal transport (developing mass transit systems such as BRT and promoting walking and cycling) (Sietchiping et al, 2012;Shams and Zlatkovic, 2020;Krüger et al, 2021;Venter et al, 2018).…”

“…In sub-Saharan Africa, the avoid and shift approaches have not been intensively studied (Krüger et al, 2021). The focus has been primarily on improvements: urban traffic management strategies such as widening roads, optimising road signalling and encouraging multi-modal transport (developing mass transit systems such as BRT and promoting walking and cycling) (Sietchiping et al, 2012;Shams and Zlatkovic, 2020;Krüger et al, 2021;Venter et al, 2018). Ironically, evidence from other world cities suggests that building freeways and roads around cities only increases car dependence and thus intensifies congestion and pollution (Sietchiping et al, 2012).…”