It was recently reported in the newspaper that the City of Windhoek is modernising the urban transport plan. This is long overdue and I hope that it will be done as speedily as possible, and in consultation with consumers. In this article I wish to look at the broader concept of transport in the country, and propose certain areas which local authorities, and transport institutions should look at when developing their plans to the benefit of consumers.
Taxis
Namibia has a predominantly public taxi system compared to a
private (radio taxi) system. This means that in most towns a consumer can take
a taxi with other customers and be dropped at any destination they request.
The biggest problem in local taxis seems to be the lack of
indications potential customers can give to indicate where they wish to go. A
customer can stand anywhere and hope to get a taxi to take any point they wish.
In fact, I often see customers standing on the wrong side of the road to the
direction they wish to go in. This causes unnecessary problems with multiple
stopping taxis and irate other road users.
I would like to suggest the Namibia Bus and Taxi Association
come up with a “finger guide” within towns to indicate where they wish to be
dropped off. For example in Windhoek, a thumb raised means City Centre, a hand
on the head would mean UNAM and a raised fist could mean Avis.
In addition, I would like to suggest we as customers also
take responsibility of where we wish to be picked up and dropped off. If we do
not think carefully about the road hazard we create, the local authorities and
law enforcement will be forced to write a fine for customers we indicate they
wish to picked up or dropped at dangerous places
On a personal point of notice: I notice that the residents
of Park Foods in Khomasdal do not have a taxi rank within their area. A taxi
rank is stationed at the entrance to the area (situated in front of a property
owned by the Khomas Regional Council), but no further stops within their area.
This should be expanded by NABTA.
In terms of long haul taxis, NABTA must become a consumer
oriented service organisation. The executive must be aware of the unruly
behaviour exhibited by some taxi owners at their loading areas, as well as
their “bag of tricks” used on unsuspecting customers.
Public Bus Transport
I would like to see a public transport bus company in
Namibia that covers all the major towns and tourist destinations. There must be
a middle ground between the public transport taxis and the scheduled shuttles
that will provide affordable, safe transport for locals and tourists alike.
(While I am dreaming, I would like to see a inner city train
service in Windhoek. Imagine getting onto a train at UNAM, getting off at
Bahnhof for a coffee or dentists appointment and then continuing on to a
friend’s house in Avis?)
But back to bus services.
The city of Windhoek is becoming a busy place and many of
the cars on the road are carrying only one or two people. The public bus
service exists but has not updated from an Apartheid service which provides low
cost transport to domestic workers and labourers travelling from the low cost
townships to the CBD and high cost suburbs in the mornings and back again in
the evenings. It needs to be modernised to provide affordable and reliable
transport between all areas of the city. Most modern city authorities provide
this through published time tables and even goes so far as to create dedicated
bus lanes. Why not Windhoek?
Once again on a personal note, I wonder why there is no bus
service through Khomasdal. The bus stops are clearly marked on the streets
throughout the township, but I have yet to see a municipal bus stop at any one
of these bus stops.
Wishful thinking
Lastly, I would also like to see a proposal for public train
and air transport service that delivers commuters cheaply and safely between
towns. Or will this only happen in 2030?
