Comparison of two accessible transport service designs in South Africa

Abstract

The paper provides an evaluation of recent experience in South Africa with two service designs for transport dedicated to disabled users. The designs – a Dial-a-Ride system and a fixed-route, fixed-schedule system operating on the “service route” model – were tested as national demonstration projects in major urban areas. Both systems focused on marginalized user groups: disabled residents of isolated communities with no accessible public transport services and very low car ownership levels. The paper describes each service in more detail, and provides an assessment of the user impacts and cost-effectiveness of each. Both types of service succeeded in providing effective transport to a relatively small group of users.