Thanks Benjamin for attending the presentation of our report on "makeshift mobility" with IADB
As discussed in Twitter , we see that semi-formal and informal transport as basic means of providing low cost, ample coverage and frequent transport in most of our cities, creating also employment and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Costs are also very low for government, as regulation is very basic (no large staffs to supervise), and no subsidies (important as funding is always an issue)
But, there are some big "buts", vehicles are often old and polluting, operations are very unsafe, and security is a concern, including women harassment. And drivers have extended hours and are very often outside the social security system
We propose not advancing full reforms but finding ways to tackle issues while keeping the benefits for the users, and including incumbents as the service providers to the extend possible
Thanks again for commenting and letting us learn more and continue the discussion.
More comments from you and your readers are welcome .
Thanks, Dario. I enjoyed the report and the presentation. Very, very much needed.
Apologies that I got hung up on the "problem frame" and reacted to the 1st bullet point of the second slide from Lynn was "Sexual and physical harassment."
There's no denying that that happens in informal transportation - but it also very much happens in formal transportation. I know women tend to avoid the STC in Mexico DF because of sexual harassment and even Japan's railways are plagued by "gropers."
>We propose not advancing full reforms but finding ways to tackle issues while keeping the benefits for the users, and including incumbents as the service providers to the extend possible
Totally agree. I think what Bogota tried to/is trying to do with SITP is commendable. As we discussed previously, the one glaring problem area is funding. I'm glad you also covered that general funding is problematic: "These sources of revenues are unstable and dependent on the political cycle." -- so the trick is to find dedicated funding.
I think fixing the resource flows (public sector funding) and disconnecting from fare=profit is the way to go.
There's so much to mine from your report. I will feature more of it in succeeding issues. I hope the report is also a signal flare to get more attention from the multilateral funders (esp. the climate funders) on understanding, leveraging, and transforming informal transportation.
Thanks Benjamin for attending the presentation of our report on "makeshift mobility" with IADB
As discussed in Twitter , we see that semi-formal and informal transport as basic means of providing low cost, ample coverage and frequent transport in most of our cities, creating also employment and opportunities for entrepreneurs. Costs are also very low for government, as regulation is very basic (no large staffs to supervise), and no subsidies (important as funding is always an issue)
But, there are some big "buts", vehicles are often old and polluting, operations are very unsafe, and security is a concern, including women harassment. And drivers have extended hours and are very often outside the social security system
We propose not advancing full reforms but finding ways to tackle issues while keeping the benefits for the users, and including incumbents as the service providers to the extend possible
Thanks again for commenting and letting us learn more and continue the discussion.
More comments from you and your readers are welcome .
Dario Hidalgo
Thanks, Dario. I enjoyed the report and the presentation. Very, very much needed.
Apologies that I got hung up on the "problem frame" and reacted to the 1st bullet point of the second slide from Lynn was "Sexual and physical harassment."
There's no denying that that happens in informal transportation - but it also very much happens in formal transportation. I know women tend to avoid the STC in Mexico DF because of sexual harassment and even Japan's railways are plagued by "gropers."
>We propose not advancing full reforms but finding ways to tackle issues while keeping the benefits for the users, and including incumbents as the service providers to the extend possible
Totally agree. I think what Bogota tried to/is trying to do with SITP is commendable. As we discussed previously, the one glaring problem area is funding. I'm glad you also covered that general funding is problematic: "These sources of revenues are unstable and dependent on the political cycle." -- so the trick is to find dedicated funding.
I think fixing the resource flows (public sector funding) and disconnecting from fare=profit is the way to go.
There's so much to mine from your report. I will feature more of it in succeeding issues. I hope the report is also a signal flare to get more attention from the multilateral funders (esp. the climate funders) on understanding, leveraging, and transforming informal transportation.