The city problems This table summarizes each of the city studies, identifying each problem issue and giving a reference to it in the source document, together with a summary of the diagnosed source of the problems, the actions already taken to confront it and the further reforms proposed to address it.
Characteristics to Note
A number of general observations can be made on these tabulations.
- In most cases where fares are strictly controlled there is some combination of poor service quality and poor vehicle quality.
- In most cases where there is a states owned enterprise, the budget burden of that enterprise is considered to be a major problem issue
- The existence of a state owned enterprise is no guarantee that socially desired services will be maintained
- Self regulation by small formal or informal sector operators usually results in “tour-de-role” despatching which causes low vehicle utilization and long access walking time for passengers
- Excessively small formal private operations usually lead to on-the-road competition and passenger safety concerns
- Moves to service contracting and competitively tendered franchising is seen as a solution of several different types of problem (low efficiency, low vehicle utilization, bad operator behavior, loss of social services)
- The introduction of segregated busway systems is seen not only as a solution to congestion problems but also as a catalyst for several other reforms (vehicle standards, operator behavior controls, competitively tendered franchising, structural concentration)