- Title: NIGERIA: Lagos launches electronic bus tickets to ease transportation.
- Date: 20th August 2013
- Summary: LAGOS, NIGERIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BRT BUSES AT A BUS PARK BRT BUS DRIVING INTO A BUS TERMINUS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON A QUEUE BUYING E-TICKET CARDS BANNER READING: LAGOS CONNECT CARD VARIOUS OF TICKET AGENT INSTRUCTING A COMMUTER (SOUNDBITE) (English) PATIENCE CHIAGWU, CIVIL SERVANT, SAYING: "It's a better alternative in the sense that one may be returning home late and the ticketers are not at the bus stop, you can easily board a bus and as well, one can buy in bulk that is at the end of the month, you can decide to buy a reasonable amount that will last you for the whole period." VARIOUS OF LAMATA BOSS EXPLAINING A LAGOS MAP TO A COLLEAGUE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAYO MOBEREOLA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LAGOS METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, SAYING: "We needed to bring a system that would make public transport interesting to them and to reduce so many things; number one, it saves costs, number two, it reduces people carrying money around, number three it allows we regulators to monitor what is happening and number four, the operators themselves, there's a lot of cost savings there." VARIOUS OF COMMUTERS ON A QUEUE WALKING TO BOARD A BRT BUS LAMATA AGENT DIRECTING COMMUTERS ON HOW TO USE THE CARDS ON THE DEVICE AS THEY BOARD VARIOUS COMMUTERS TAKING THEIR SEATS DRIVER DRIVING OUT OF THE BUS TERMINUS VARIOUS COMMUTERS SEATED VARIOUS OF LAMATA STAFF WORKING ON THEIR COMPUTERS SCREEN SHOT SHOWING LAMATA'S WEBSITE (SOUNDBITE) (English) DAYO MOBEREOLA, MANAGING DIRECTOR, LAGOS METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORT AUTHORITY, SAYING: "We have a transport master plan for Lagos state, we're also, the cable car is there so we're bringing in a gar-mount of public transport system that will make it easier for people to travel all around Lagos and we're integrating it with water transportation as well so you can travel, make use of ferry and rail or ferry and buses; all of that together and that is why the e-ticket is actually very much important." VARIOUS OF COMMUTERS SEATED WITH THE DRIVER TAKING THEM TO THEIR DESTINATION (SOUNDBITE) (Yoruba) ADETIMEYIN ELIZABETH, LAGOS RESIDENT, SAYING: "Some people say they cannot pay 200 naira, at least let them pay 100 naira so it will be better for those who earn a poor wage, number two, the BRT buses are always full, it ought not to be so and BRT should have a maximum number for those sitting and standing, let the people not be too much because of tapping out. If people are too much, there will not be space to tap out if the crowd is too much, do you understand? Also, the drivers need to be taught how to deal with the commuters in a polite manner. Also, we need to be reminded on how to use the cards because we are not yet used to it, someone should be positioned here to remind us to tap out because we think of so many things in Nigeria, there's no money, we just manage so we can easily forget to tap out or even forget our bus stops; we need to be reminded for one month or two to tap out." VARIOUS OF COMMUTERS TAPPING OUT AND ALIGHTING FROM THE BRT BUS
- Embargoed: 4th September 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA17AIDF7HRE3WJK9D36SZSDL6P
- Story Text: Nigeria's commercial capital, Lagos has launched an e-ticketing initiative for commuters using it's Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) system in an effort to streamline the country's burdened transport infrastructure.
The teeming city of an estimated 20 million people is Africa's fastest growing and generates 70 percent of its revenue internally from taxation and public services such as buses.
The BRT system introduced in 2008 as one of the solutions to an ailing transportation sector now caters for about 200,000 people everyday. With over 100 buses plying different routes and a dedicated lane for the BRT buses, it offers an almost traffic free commute.
The cashless BRT e-ticketing service allows passengers to purchase an electronic card and top it up on the go.
Commuters throng bus stations like this one; the Mile 12, to load their cards and even though it is still an unfamiliar process for many, some are enjoying the convenience.
"It's a better alternative in the sense that one may be returning home late and the ticketers are not at the bus stop, you can easily board a bus and as well, one can buy in bulk that is at the end of the month, you can decide to buy a reasonable amount that will last you for the whole period," says Patience Chiagwu, a civil servant who works late hours.
Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the body responsible for regulating BRT operations says e-ticketing and subsequent projects are aimed at reducing poverty by increasing economic efficiency through lower transport costs and enhancement of employment opportunities.
"We needed to bring a system that would make public transport interesting to them and to reduce so many things; number one, it saves costs, number two, it reduces people carrying money around, number three it allows we regulators to monitor what is happening and number four, the operators themselves, there's a lot of cost savings there," said Dayo Mobereola, managing director, for LAMATA.
The cashless scheme costs commuters a minimum of 20 naira (12.5 US cents) depending on their destination; an attractive fee when compared to the former cash fare of 70 naira (44 cents).
The buses are equipped with an automated collection system that electronically deducts the fare when the passengers' electronic card makes physical contact with the device. LAMATA officials assist passengers with the process.
The electronic cards are designed to function in several modes of transportation within the sprawling city.
State authorities are expanding roads, water-ways and constructing several light railways to ease transport and congestion.
"We have a transport master plan for Lagos state, we're also... the cable car is there so we're bringing in a gar-mount of public transport system that will make it easier for people to travel all around Lagos and we're integrating it with water transportation as well so you can travel, make use of ferry and rail or ferry and buses; all of that together and that is why the e-ticket is actually very much important," the LAMATA boss said.
But despite the success it has recorded so far, many residents say there are still challenges that need to be addressed.
"Some people say they cannot pay 200 naira, at least let them pay 100 naira so it will be better for those who earn a poor wage, number two, the BRT buses are always full, it ought not to be so and BRT should have a maximum number for those sitting and standing, let the people not be too much because of tapping out. If people are too much, there will not be space to tap out if the crowd is too much, do you understand? Also, the drivers need to be taught how to deal with the commuters in a polite manner. Also, we need to be reminded on how to use the cards because we are not yet used to it, someone should be positioned here to remind us to tap out because we think of so many things in Nigeria, there's no money, we just manage so we can easily forget to tap out or even forget our bus stops; we need to be reminded for one month or two to tap out," said Adetimeyin Elizabeth, a Lagos resident.
The Lagos state government is working on revamping the transportation system in line with a mega-city project in readiness for a demographic explosion which it anticipates could reach a population of 40 million from the current 20 million in the next decade. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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