Africa Transforming Paratransit into BRT

Existing public transport conditions in Africa present difficult circumstances for both operators and customers - a situation exacerbated by high urban population growth, increased private vehicle ownership and worsening congestion. Furthermore, municipal governments in Africa often lack the necessary resources to address the formalization of public transport services. A few cities, though, have demonstrated leadership in creating a new public transport paradigm for the continent. In 2008, Lagos, Nigeria, launched a 'BRT Lite' corridor which, although basic in nature, proved that a form of BRT was possible in Africa. With the impetus of hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup, three South African cities, Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Port Elizabeth, had initiated BRT starter services by 2010. Johannesburg's launch of the Rea Vaya system in 2009 marked the first 'full BRT' system in Africa. These early efforts have spawned similar efforts elsewhere, including additional systems being developed in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. The results to date, especially from the new South African systems, show that African innovation has in many ways surpassed other wealthier parts of the world. The leap from informal paratransit systems to high-technology BRT indeed appears to be a realizable achievement for Africa