Abiria Transport Magazine

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Transport Magazine |Issue No: 1119 |December 2019 - February 2020

CASHLESS FARE SYSTEM Cashless Matatu Fare System Set to Jumstart Ailing Economy

FERRIES ON LIKONI CHANNEL Likoni Ferries’ Dirty Linen No Longer A Fairy Tale >>>PAGE 5

DIGITALISING PUBLIC TRANSPORT To Little Too Late, For Swvl It’s Riding On Cliff-Hanger >>>PAGE 7 & 8

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN TRANSPORT IN THE DIGITAL ERA >>>PAGE 21

MEET OWUOR OTET, THE 32-YEAR-OLD, WHO IS BECOMING A HOUSEHOLD NAME IN THE WORLD OF ROAD SAFETY.>>> PAGE 19

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LET’S TALK: A LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DIGITALISATION IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT SHOULD BE AN ONGOING EVOLUTION Digitalisation of public transport is an ongoing process.

This advancement in digital technologies offers the sector the much needed impetus to skyrocket customer experience to new heights. And it seems the trend is neither going to end with the introduction of electronic fare systems nor digitalisation of parking systems.

In this issue, we look at the potential of e-ticketing to restore sanity to the sector that employs over 350,000 people nationally. It is estimated that through a cashless fare system, the matatu sub-sector is likely to raise tax revenues in excess of Sh100 million every year, which is likely to jumpstart the ailing economy.

In that regard, digitalisation presents a number of challenges and opportunities for public transport. A recent survey by the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) paints an encouraging picture. In a survey dubbed Digital preparedness in public transport, UITP says that ‘58% of the respondents already have a strategy for digital transformation in their business’.

On the other hand, ‘62% of the respondents said that they did not have a sufficient number of employees with accurate digital expertise’. It should be noted that having up-to-date knowledge of digital tools and technologies is key in developing the best strategy for your business.

Indeed, digitalisation has the potential of revolutionizing customer experience such as through online ticketing and scheduled passenger information.

Digitalisation is the gateway to Mobility as a Service (MaaS) and on-demand transport services. The government and all key players should be at the forefront in agitating for a smooth transition.

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Edwins Mukabanah

PUBLISHER: Abiria Magazine, View Park Towers, Utalii Lane, 8th Floor P. O. Box 41001 - 00100. NAIROBI. Email: info@kenyabus.net EDITOR IN CHIEF: Edwins Mukabanah EDITOR: Ezekiel M. Mwabili WRITERS: Abdi Dika Evans Mutuma CONTRIBUTORS: Damaris Kiilu, Constant Cap, John Mwanika & Dr. Gladys Nyachieo LAYOUT & DESIGN: Ezekiel Mwabili Abdi Dika Evans Mutuma CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: Paul Mwangi, Ken Njenga & Sez Simon EDITORIAL BOARD: Antony Odongo Phyllis Barasa To advertise call: 0727999286/0733125494 Email: abiriamagazine@kenyabus.net

www.kenyabus.net @AbiriaMagazine Abiria Magazine

table of contents

5

3

23 7

5

9& 10

13

FERRIES ON LIKONI CHANNEL

DIGITISING PARKING SYSTEMS

6

11

OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN TRANSPORT IN THE DIGITAL 21 ERA

VOLVO BUS CRÈME DE LA CRÈME

7

DIGITALISING PUBLIC TRANSPORT

APP TO MAKE PUBLIC SPACES SAFER

12

WORLD CITIES DAY

GHANA BAMBOO BICYCLES

27

VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd Managing Director Edwins Mukabanah (centre) with other officials during the launch of Abiria Card, a cashless payment card

Cashless Fare System Cashless Matatu Fare System set to jumstart ailing economy

By Damaris Kiilu & Abdi Dika

A

ccording to the Africa Development Bank, Kenya’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is projected to grow by 6.1% in 2020. Investment in cashless fare system is billed as having the potential to further jumpstart the economy by injecting nearly Sh100 million (US$968,000)yearly in tax revenues, according to reports. A cashless fare system in the matatu subsector is equal to the task: it helps public transport companies recoup Sh47 billion worth of investment emanating from matatu cartels ranging from illegal gangs, traffic police, county askaris, route cartels, courts, stage ‘manambas’, squad crew and theft by crew.

In 2014, Kenya Bus Service Management Limited (KBSM), a franchise, in partnership with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) was the brain behind the cashless matatu when they launched ‘Abiria Card’, following a government’s directive then that all Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) go cashless.

The ‘Abiria Card’ was MasterCard enabled which, besides being used for transit, could also be used in any MasterCard branded acceptance outlets. These early and subsequent attempts by other commercial banks to roll out ‘smart card’ to be used across by all public transport companies were meant to revolutionize the paratransit sector that employs over 350,000 people nationally.

The attempts flopped owing to interoperability hiccups witnessed, and authorities would later on bank on ‘Huduma card’, a government e-payment card, which would be used as a transit card, and had been piloted successfully awaiting implementation hitherto. Several other African countries have followed suit. In 2016, Rwanda embraced a cashless fare system, as an initial attempt to automate the public transport sector.

According to sources, the new system is cardinal in “speeding up boarding times, further enhancing customer experience”. Be that as may, digitalisation of public transport can no longer be considered a trend but an ongoing evolution influencing every aspect of our daily lives and businesses. This advancement in digital technologies has presented a number of challenges and opportunities for public transport.

The society is evolving and customers are demanding digital services to suit modern lifestyles. Digitalization is happening in urban and public transport and it brings a host of opportunities for the public transport sector including opportunities to increase efficiency and improve quality, lower costs, improve customer experience and loyalty and explore new services. Its impact currently varies between regions; some public transport stakeholders consider it a major trend which is entirely redefining their business.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 Increasing digitalization of public transport has led to the exponential growth of the volume of data and information. By analyzing customer travel patterns, companies can evaluate their frequent riders, hence giving them discounted rides or free rides as a loyalty bonus.

Shared from multiple sources and consumed by a diverse range of actors, e-ticketing technology has evolved overtime where soon after independence in 1964, Kenya Bus Services (KBS) operated in the country till the early 90s using paper ticket tokens. The use of paper tickets in public transport is spread around the world especially in the developing countries.

However, it also brings a number of significant challenges which must be faced. As digitalization creeps in every aspect of the public transport business, clarifying where and how digitalization is affecting the sector however some key issues and the different opportunities and challenges involved will be explored.

The three most important factors or characteristics of an organization ready for digitalization are customer perspective preferred to internal or system view, an open staff attitude towards innovations and changes, and speed and agility: The ability to deliver much faster than usual projects. In digitalization of public transport, electronic ticketing is used which refers to the digital ticket equivalent of a paper ticket commonly associated with airline issued tickets. Electronic ticketing for urban or rail public transport is usually referred to as travel card or transit pass.

Four subsequent generations of ticketing systems co-exist in the world today and sometimes even in the same city. The oldest system of tokens or paper tickets is still widely used. The magnetic ticketing that was introduced in the 70s can be classified into two categories: Ticketing with automatic belt drive, and ticketing with manual a sweeping motion of the ticket by the passenger.

Contactless ticketing appeared in the 90s. The technology has many advantages and it is fast replacing the other two types of ticketing.

Some public transport networks are replacing their ticketing generation system directly by a contactless one omitting the magnetic ticket generation stage.

Mobile ticketing systems based on the use of the passengers mobile phone for the payment of travel cost. The ticket selection is performed by sending an SMS to the background system where an electronic ticket is then returned via SMS to the user.

In public transport, e-ticketing systems are not only means of payment but process huge amount of information which offer a large range of possibilities to make public transport easier to use, to manage and to control. They offer as opportunities to introduce integrated pricing structure that are not easy to implement with traditional payment tools.

Ticketing is a tool for the implementation of a pricing policy with the consideration of operational, commercial and social objectives.

The ticketing system is the translation of fares into concrete means of payment (for the passenger) and fare collection (for the operator).

Electronic ticketing technologies are classified according to the way they are used for payment. The digitization of public transport gives transport companies new opportunities to offer their customers integrated digital services along the service chain and optimize their transport operations as well. Using transport network models to stimulate traffic systems can help to optimize public transport and plan new, dynamic and individualized mobility services.

Several types of tickets are used in public transport systems (ticket based discrimination) in other words the price depends on the ticket type used. The use of differential pricing for such tickets is a way to segment the market and maximize revenue. Types of online e-ticket model have been used by Kenya Airways and other firms for more than ten years where clients buy tickets using credit cards or mobile money.

Referring to standards when defining e-ticketing, specifications offer several advantages in terms of sustainability of systems, provision of information to travelers, cost saving etc. In addition there are several reasons for transport authorities for introducing electronic ticketing systems. The reasons include: Prevention of fraud, fare flexibility, improved information for transport planning, and improved image for public transport.

An integrated ticketing system is defined as one in which it makes no difference in terms of price if a passenger has to board more than one public transport vehicle to complete their journey. The matatu electronic ticketing is a cost saving innovation made possible by technology and if effectively implemented would empower commuters with flexibility in terms of time management, cost regulations at peak or off peak hours and improves commuter services.

With e-ticketing, it becomes much more straight forward to provide multi-modal and multi-operator tickets that can be used for travel on any element of a public transport network. E-ticketing is seen as a breakthrough in the world of digitalisation of public transport, and the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) too has a role to play in the matatu e-ticketing project: to create and implement a unified system of public transport management and electronic payment for the passengers transportation seeking to reduce expenses and ensure favorable conditions of the system.

BENEFITS TO THE USER• Smart cards are small, they fit in everybody’s pocket• Smart cards are very secure, can’t be read, copied, manipulated with, counterfeited or duplicated• Smart cards protect privacy such as removing your wallet in public• One can easily budget for monthly transport cost• Commuters are served much faster• Reduces the burden of carrying coins• Introduction of self-service environment• No more change hassle with bus conductor

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

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TRANSPORT & SAFETY

Ferries at Likoni Channel were declared unseaworthy more than a decade ago. A new report tabled in Senate has also echoed similar sentiments terming them as death traps

Ferries on Likoni Channel

Likoni Ferries’ Dirty Linen No Longer A Fairy Tale

By Evans Mutuma

A

s the world gears up for the 45th Annual Interferry Conference to be held in Australia in October 2020, there are many concerns about the safety and conditions of ferries especially in developing countries.

According to Cruise&Ferry, “Since 1985, some 97% of known ferry fatalities have occurred in domestic operations in nonOECD countries. Over the 10-year period between 2009 and 2018, 99.8% of known fatalities occurred in domestic operations in non-OECD countries. Hence, it’s evident that any efforts to enhance ferry safety should target domestic operations within these developing markets”.

The ferry industry, like the shipping industry in general, is heavily regulated in terms of safety, environmental impact and security. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is the United Nations body responsible for establishing regulations for international shipping. However, many countries base their domestic regulations on the IMO standards. Some nations adopt the IMO rules completely for their domestic ships.

According to Interferry Worldwide, the global ferry industry is similar in size to

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

the commercial airline industry, transporting approximately 2.1 billion passengers per year, plus 250 million vehicles and 32 million trailers (not including China).

In Kenya, there are five ferries operating on the Likoni Channel: MV Kilindini, MV Kwale, MV Nyayo, MV Harambee and MV Likoni. More than 300,000 passengers and 6,000 motorists ply the route daily. A recent report tabled in Kenya’s Senate paints a gloomy picture of the safety and condition of the ferries which put the lives of hundreds of thousands at risk every day. The report was tabled by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo Junior.

The report came days after a long-televised ferry accident which saw a mother and her daughter killed after their car slipped off the ramp of MV Harambee on September 29. President Uhuru Kenyatta has since suspended the entire Kenya Ferry Services Board in a gazette notice following the accident.

According to the report, the three ferries: MV Harambee, MV Nyayo and MV Kilindini are old and in dilapidated state. The ferries are said to have been bought in the 1990s.

In order for the blue economy sector to remain lucrative and attractive, there is need to shun high-handedness while developing passenger

and motorists’ safety practices, to ensure needless accidents do not occur in the future.

However, accidents do happen and a critical part of a safety system is to ensure that the lessons of accidents are well documented and disseminated.

More importantly there is need to ensure funds allocated to the maritime sector are used prudently. The government needs to train and remunerate well emergency service providers, including specialized deep sea divers and standby rescuers who ought to be on high alert as long as ferry services are available.

According to Interferry worldwide, “This requires thorough procedures for accident investigation. The lessons need to be communicated to both operators and regulators so prevention and response can be continuously improved”.

Time is ripe for the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) to be alive to changes happening in the surrounding by investing in digital safety technologies and well-trained personnel to avert huge crises that are likely to deal a severe death blow to the promising sector which is projected to inject nearly $5 billion into Kenya’s economy in the next decade.

TRANSPORT & SAFETY

The Volvo 9900 has been singled out as the safest bus in the just concluded Busworld conference held in Brussels

Volvo bus crème de la crème

Volvos’ Premium Coach Voted Best, Safest At Busworld

By Volvo

“The Volvo 9900 has been singled out as the safest bus in the just concluded Busworld conference held in Brussels”

T

he Volvo 9900, Volvo Buses’ premium coach, received two prestigious awards at the just concluded international Busworld show in Brussels. Facing tough competition from eight rivals, the Volvo 9900 was voted both safest and best coach in all categories in the Busworld Awards 2019 competition.

The Volvo 9900 received the accolade, and was named Grand Award Coach. The jury awarded the Volvo 9900 high points for driving characteristics, interior and exterior design, and maintenance simplicity.

“The Volvo 9900 is one of the most award-winning coaches ever. It previously won the coveted Red Dot Award design prize, the Sustainable Bus Award and Coach of the Year in Spain, but above all the Volvo 9900 is highly regarded by customers, drivers and passengers resulting in good sales figures. Receiving another two prestigious

awards at Busworld is even more confirmation that we have succeeded in our aim to offer a coach of absolute world class,” says Håkan Agnevall, President of Volvo Buses.

In addition to Grand Award Coach, the Volvo 9900 received an award for best safety – the Safety Label Coach.

It received far higher points for its safety level than did the other participating coaches, not least thanks the accessibility to the automatic fire-extinguishing system, a front impact system that protects the driver in the event of a collision, and the Zone Management System that provides information about the vehicle and allows the operator to remotely control the speed via a computer.

Door illumination that assists the passengers when boarding and exiting was another feature that the jury noted in its assessment.

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

6

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

The digital disruption of public transport has arrived even as the government continues to reiterate that SWVL and Little Shuttle have been operating illegally. The two bus hailing companies had been stopped from operating until they acquired requisite licences from the authorities

Digitalising Public Transport To Little Too Late, For Swvl It’s Riding On Cliff-Hanger

By Evans Mutuma

T

he digital disruption of public transport is here, but who is chewing more than they could swallow?

In 2017 the Kenya government rolled out a special Tourism Service Vehicle (TSV) licence amid claims that Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) were converting their vehicles into tour vans during tourism peak seasons driving the former out of business.

Now, tour operators have converted their vehicles into PSVs and are now operating under the banner of bus-hailing networks namely SWVL, the Egyptian-based bushailing start-up and Little Shuttle, a move that has since caused ping-pong between them and the licence authority National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA).

NTSA through its Director General Francis Meja has continued to reiterate that the bushailing companies are operating without

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

authorization and lack requisite operating licences. Recently, the transport authority halted services from Little Shuttle and SWVL until they obtain legal licences required to run a public transport business.

Through a holding statement to the media, Little CEO Kamal Budhabhatti regretted that the government had barred them from operating further.

“I have no quarrel with the authorities.

They are doing their job as per what is listed in their bible. However, I would have appreciated that they open a dialogue with technology companies like us on how to work together and change the face of public transportation in our country,” reads part of the statement.

Kamal maintained that, “they have been running the services for last three quarters, and had proved that public transport can be operated in efficient and profitable manner

which can then bring sanity in the chaotic public transport in our city”.

SWVL started with Ksh 51 million ($500,000) funding raised from Careem, their most strategic partner. It launched in Nairobi in February 2019 and had in August injected Ksh 1.6 billion ($15 million) into the market.

SWVL has continued to operate unabated despite warnings from the authority to end the service by October 1. It charges a flat fare of Ksh 200 ($2), has a fleet of 150 coaches operating in more than 150 routes within Nairobi and its environs.

According to local media reports, SWVL says that, “they will never comply given the nature of laws which do not address their model of operations”, stressing that, “the digital disruption in transport had arrived and it will not be a case of whether the authority okays their operations or not”

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THE POWER OF TRANSIT MEDIA

TRANSPORT INFRUSTRUCTURE

DIGITISING PARKING SYSTEMS Identifying a free car parking lot is now easy

By Abdi Dika

M

otorists could spend an average of 55 hours a year cruising for parking in the cities of Europe and North America and 91 hours specifically in London.

That was prior to the automation of parking systems and processes.

However, in today’s world it is now easy for to locate a parking spot through the use of an app that provides real time information about the availability of a parking spot, with only one click.

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

For instance, the “Mercedes me connect” app offers a real-time parking space using “real-time sensors” and defined algorithms. This allows motorists to determine when a parking space gets free, and once the space is identified, the car is then directed to park in a convenient manner.

This type of innovation is available for both parking structures (multi-level parking) and roadside parking (onstreet parking).

There are of course numerous parking apps that are being used by cities all over the world. One such app is “BestParking”, which is a top parking app, and has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Forbes, ABC, FOX, CBS, and NBC. It locates all the available parking spots in your area so you can quickly compare and save.

Available in 105 cities and 115 airports throughout North America, it will find you the best spot, no matter where you are. It even sorts spots by price, so

TRANSPORT INFRUSTRUCTURE

market report by Allied Market Research points out that the smart parking market was valued at US$5 billion in 2017 and is projected to reach $11.6 billion by 2025, a compound annual growth rate of 11.2 percent from 2018 to 2025.

Some cities still make use of traditional parking systems that might be convenient to their jurisdictions.

METERED PARKING One such method is the use of metered parking system. The Parking meter also allows users, if they use a prepaid card payment, to pay for consumption, of course if it’s permitted by the tariff plan.

On the parking meter, at the time of arrival, it’s possible to identify if a person is authorized to park into a specific parking lot, or in a specific area, by entering the specific card.

At one time, the average monthly income from metered parking for a certain city was estimated at $85,300.

MULTI-LEVEL PARKING In 2014, the Nairobi County had plans to construct a seven-storey automated parking facility within the CBD at a cost of Sh.4 billion.

This automatic car parking system enables the parking of vehicles, floor after floor and thus reducing the space used.

The future of parking lies in automation, and intelligent apps are helping motorists spot a free parking space in seconds thus ensuring free flow of traffic

you can instantly visualize where the most affordable (and most expensive) spots are. The app has 850,000 monthly users.

indicate that over 30% of a city’s traffic can be attributed to cars cruising for parking.

Automated parking is beneficial to a city as it creates room for transparency in revenue collection (as there are options for in-app payments) and eliminates the need for a parking attendant.

In a study conducted by the International Parking Institute in 2018, 42 percent of respondents said the demand for guidance systems to help drivers find parking was one of the top emerging trends in parking for the year.

This type of parking assistant also saves time taken to locate a parking space and allows free flow of traffic. Reports

MARKET VALUE Automated parking promises good revenues for the city. In fact, a recent

Multi-storey (multi-level) car parks provide lower building cost per parking slot, as they typically require less building volume and less ground area than a conventional facility with the same capacity.

A multi-storey car parks offer greatest possible flexibility for the realization of optimum parking solution.

Time-saving vertical and horizontal movements take place simultaneously ensuring fast parking and retrieval times.

PARKING PRICING It is imperative to charge motorists directly for using parking facilities.

If parking must be subsidized, offer comparable benefits for use of other travel modes. In Kenya, buses pay higher parking fees compared to private cars despite the latter spending almost entire day in the parking lot further putting into question the pricing model.

In some cases, authorities should manage and price the most convenient parking spaces to favor priority users.

That means charging higher rates and using shorter pricing periods at more convenient parking spaces (such as onstreet spaces, and parking near building entrances) to increase turnover and favor higher-priority uses. The idea is to “apply performance-based parking prices, which means that prices are set so that at least 10% of parking spaces are unoccupied at any time.”

The pricing structure should be progressive. For example, in some cities they charge $1.00 for the first hour, $1.50 for the second hour, and $2 for each subsequent hour.

Effort must be made to improve pricing methods to make parking pricing more cost effective, convenient and fair. For example, use electronic pricing systems that accommodate various payment methods and rates, and allow motorists to pay for just the amount of time they will be parked.

For short-term parking, charge by the minute rather than by the hour; and for long-term parking charge by the hour rather than by the day or month.

PARKING MANAGEMENT To bring sanity in the parking business, there is need to ensure fair parking pricing, by charging motorists for directly using the parking facilities, Use better charging techniques to make pricing more convenient and cost effective and by increasing parking supply by using otherwise wasted space, smaller stalls, car stackers and valet parking.

Other ways to better manage parking are providing convenient and accurate information on parking availability and price, ensuring that parking regulation enforcement is efficient, considerate and fair and by improving walking and cycling expands the range of destinations served by a parking facility and reduces vehicle trips.

In terms of legislation, there is need to consider parking tax reform by enacting various tax policy changes that support parking management.

Even with the digitalisation of parking systems, it is still important to change the politics of parking so that cities can meter more of their valuable curb space, produce more money, less traffic, cleaner air, and a cooler planet.

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

10

TRANSPORT INNOVATION

APP TO MAKE PUBLIC SPACES SAFER

The SafetiPin app helps travellers rate the safety of a public space using several parameters. The app then shows a score card of the area under question rating its safety

Safer Matatus, Termini Just A Click Away

By Abiria Reporter

W

omen travel even after dark hours and more often, unsafe public transport and poor lighting at bus stops tend to scare them away. It doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to one award-winning social enterprise dubbed SafetiPin App developed by Dr. Kalpana Viswanath.

SafetiPin, a mobile app, is one tool that has been developed to collect data on safety in cities. Building on the international methodology of safety audits, SafetiPin has transformed it into a mobile app that crowd sources data and information on insecurity in cities. Using SafetiPin, data have been collected in seven Indian cities.

According to Dr. Viswanath, “Women’s mobility in cities is very strongly affected by perception of safety.

They often make decisions to not go to a place or not take certain kinds of jobs based on the feeling of safety. Thus the lack of safety has repercussions which go well beyond the acts of violence”.

SafetiPin App works using the safety audit methodology which assesses the safety of public spaces, and has been used effectively in more than 40 cities around the world, more especially in India.

Safetipin measures nine parameters including lighting, openness, visibility, security, and public transport. The audit, which can be crowd-sourced, generates a pin which is visible on the app. Based on safety audits conducted, a safety score of an area is generated for people to see and use for making safer decisions. The free app can be downloaded and used in any city in the world.

Dr. Viswanath says that, so far data has been collected in over 20 cities in India and globally. The data is visible on the app and can help people make safer decisions about moving around. Data is also shared with city stakeholders to help them improve safety of cities by pointing out deficiencies and problems in public spaces.

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

“While Safetipin is used to understand safety in public spaces, it has been used to conduct studies that specifically focus on public transport in the city of Delhi, and this can be replicated in other cities around the world”.

In one study, she points out that 275 bus stops in the city were mapped to measure the safety score, and these were shared with the Transport Department. The data found that 44% of bus stops had an average score between 2-3.5 out of 5. But the data also showed that 40% of the stops had poor lighting. Improving street lighting was then given as a recommendation to the concerned stakeholders. “It is very important for bus stops to be safe as women often wait there even after dark”.

According to the Sociologist, one of the key issues that has been identified through safety audits has been the last mile connectivity. “It is often possible to reach a metro station or bus stop, but care has to be given to the last mile from this hub to the final destination”.

Safetipin has been used to do safety audits and identify key issues to address and improve last mile connectivity. In one study of 17 major stations in Delhi, she says some of the key issues identified were poor para-transit facilities, inadequate infrastructure—including lighting and paths for walking and waiting—and lack of security.

Safetipin can be used as a tool in cities across the world to map safety in public spaces. The information helps women make safer decisions, while also providing data for city stakeholders to improve safety in public spaces. The fact that the Sustainable Development Goals include a goal on creating inclusive public spaces shows that this has become an important aspect of urban life. Inclusive and safe public spaces promote democracy and citizenship.

STREET VENDORS MAKE BUS STOPS SAFER Interesting observations indicate that the presence of street vendors (stage workers) actually make sections of streets considered dangerous safer and more passable for commuters.

Although overcrowded, Nairobi’s Central bus station is generally considered safer as a number of hawkers, food vendors and other stage workers provide services even after dark hours. The area has good lighting that makes it safer for all.

A couple of other variables must be fixed to make women feel at ease while travelling at night. For example, poor lighting and poorly designed bus shelters make it hard for women, children and persons with disabilities to wait at bus stops during dark hours for fear of being mugged.

More considerations have to be made in areas covered by transit as majority of population depend on public transport for their mobility needs, and more in particular women.

TRANSPORT DEVELOPMENT

WORLD CITIES’ DAY The World Is Staring At A Climate Emergency

By Evans Mutuma & Damaris Kiilu

The World is celebrating Cities’ Day reeling under the umbrella of intense wild fires and choking pollution, sending the message that climate crisis is no longer a hoax.

Extreme wildfires in California and unbearable levels of toxic smog in New Delhi have been the hallmark of the global warming calendar, and time is ripe for city officials and the political leadership to rise to the occasion.

In the case of California, 160,000 acres came under wildfires in 2019, but the 2018 wildfire season was the deadliest and most destructive wildfire season ever recorded in California, with a total of 8,527 fires burning an area of 1,893,913 acres (766,439 ha), the largest area of burned acreage recorded in a fire season, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

While in New Delhi, pollution levels have become “unbearable”, and UN Environment says that “the quality of the air we breathe depends on the lifestyle choices we make every day”.

According to authorities, the heavy and toxic smog witnessed in Delhi led to massive economic losses as several flights were either cancelled or delayed due

to poor visibility, with some schools being shut.

According to reports, the megacity of 20 million people was recently blanketed by poisonous smog of car fumes, industrial emissions and smoke from stubble burning at farms in neighboring states, every winter.

Local media reports said that the reading for pollutants in the atmosphere hit 810 micrograms per cubic metre on the ill-fated day, beyond the “hazardous” zone. The recommended World Health Organization (WHO) safe daily maximum is 25.

WHO says that indoor and outdoor (ambient) air pollution caused an estimated 7 million deaths globally in 2016.

It is time to think about the future of driving in developing countries because transport is one of the most pollutant sectors: it provides more than a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest study from the European Environment Agency (AEMA).

Replacing fuel combustion vehicles with electric vehicles is one of the best alternatives in order to reduce CO2 emissions and fight climate change.

For example, the recent launch of Kenya’s first electric mobility

pilots during the Fourth UN Environmental Assembly has put Africa on the international e-mobility radar, opening up a new world of opportunities.

Reports indicate that following the reading of the Budget, Kenya could start commercial use of electric vehicles in matatu business after taxes were halved in the Budget.

This is after the Government proposed changes to the tariff structure reducing duty for electric vehicles carrying more than 10 persons from 20 percent to 10 per cent.

According to the Finance Bill 2019, fully electric-propelled coaches, buses and mini-buses with a seating capacity exceeding 29 persons (8702.40.19) as well as coaches, buses and minibuses with less than 21 persons (8702.40.22) will enjoy a 10 percent duty rate.

Nations around the world are also embracing e-scooters with the same zeal. According to City Lab, “New data shows a staggering rise in shared dockless e-scooter use in America”. But recently, authorities in some cities have put serious regulations and huge fines on riding escooters on foothpaths. Offenders are liable for fines up to $2,000 and/

or face imprisonment of up to 3 months, if convicted.

A new report by the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) shows that in 2018, the number of rides Americans took via dockless scooters, bikes, and traditional bike-share systems more than doubled from 2017 to 84 million trips.

According to media reports, e-scooters are seen as a transportation revolution as they are able to replace car trips in many cases.

In Windhoek, Namibia, SunCycles is making e-bikes powered by solar power, which are mobilizing small businesses in Namibia. Their e-bikes are assisting game guards to patrol in Salambala Conservacy – Zambezi Region. E-bikes can also be used for bicycle taxi, delivery service or eco-tourism.

Elsewhere, the UK government has invested nearly £2 billion in active travel which could help more commuters make greener journeys by using e-bikes.

According to analyses by experts, e-mobility is expected to undergo a massive boom in the coming years, growing into a US$ 390 billion market in 2020 globally.

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

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OPINION

Opportunities For Women In Transport In The Digital Era

The digital disruption of transport has created an opportunity for women to feel safe and have convenience while travelling using ride-hailing apps

P

ublic transport plays an important role in the lives of women. However, it remains a male-dominated sector.

This is evident in women’s employment in public transport, but also in the values that are embedded in its structure and provision, including pricing and route planning. Research shows that there are gender differences in access to mobility and in use of public transport stemming from differences in the social and economic roles of women and men. However, public transport policy is mainly planned and decided by men.

With policies that are being adopted by different organisations like the women’s department of the ITF, a global union federation, the gap can be bridged. Some of their adopted policies are; Women’s equality in public transport; strengthening women’s employment and promotion of decent work in public transport; ending violence against women transport workers; introducing technological change in a way that advances gender equality; and involving women workers in public transport decision-making.

Let us not forget that half of all transport users are women, a fact that needs to be understood at all levels of transport industry firms, in particular at decision-making level. First of all, everyone has the right to travel in public transport modes for whatever reason, whether going to work, picking up the children from school, doing the shopping or simply in pursuit of leisure-time activities.

Albeit many challenges such as security, time spent traveling, affordability, safety - with nearly three in four fearful of sexual harassment abuse and violence - more women believe that the ride-hailing apps have improved their ability to get around. Women who are operating or driving ride-hailing cars and motorcycles are finding it more convenient and flexible enough for their family life balancing. Also, pay for the women in this sector is relatively higher compared to the women employed by conventional transport companies.

The feminisation of the transport industry is an ongoing trend, albeit women’s share of the workforce is still insufficient. Digitalisation is also focused on - and driven by - consumer needs, which constantly push the envelope with new transport models such as “collaborative consumption” or “Mobility as a Service” (MaaS).

Anna Karume is International Transport Workers’ Federation Africa deputy regional secretary

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

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INTERVIEWS

REWRITING THE ROAD SAFETY NARRATIVE ONE MATATU SACCO AT A TIME Meet Owuor Otet, the 32-year-old, who is becoming a household name in the world of road safety. Our writer ABDI DIKA touched base with him when he returned from Jordan, where he had attended a global fleet safety seminar.

Who is Owuor Otet?

I am the founder of Road Safety and Safe Driving Practices Facebook Page. I am also a trained and certified road safety personnel with hands-on expertise in Highway Code, aggressive driving, driver behavior and interactions, traffic signs and road marks, understanding employer road safety obligations, and building an effective journey management process.

What motivated you to become a road safety trainer?

Most ask me every time why I am doing road safety. Allow me to give you a perspective: Two years ago, on my way to the airport (JKIA,) I came across a lady lying down at a grisly road accident scene in which a truck run her over. The events that followed unfolded a new thing in me. We stayed with her in hospital for almost two months. It wasn’t easy and God strengthened her. As we speak, she just recovered from broken ribs.

After her ordeal, I started looking at other accident victims and talking to them. I realized many lacked in knowledge on road

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

safety and if only they could be enlightened it would make a difference. That is how it all started.

Where are you working currently?

I work for the International Committee of the Red Cross, where I am serving as a Safety Relay Officer.

Tell us briefly about the matatu Saccos you’ve empowered.

I have met many drivers; at times they are just a big group in different uniforms but I don’t care much as long as they listen. I have successfully conducted trainings for Embassava, Western Coach Bus, Noah long distance drivers, Kenya Army drivers, and not forgetting Subie Queen.

What problem is Kenya facing in terms of adhering to road safety?

Most Accidents are human error; however majority always rant about the poor quality of our roads. The fact is that Kenya has some of the best roads compared to other countries like Congo. Mr. Abdi, let me tell you that our biggest problem lies in several

factors such as poor driver training (it’s a business), aggressive driving, I don’t care - I didn’t know attitude, I dint see, and I didn’t think attitude. For some, it is disregard for road safety laws, distracted driving, and fatigue. All of which narrow down to human error! Let’s make our roads a safer place for all road users.

What effect has your efforts brought to the road sector in terms of safety?

I would like to quote Daniel Njoroge Kiriungi, a Visual storyteller who once said: “I think picking a narrative you believe in and running with it passionately for a sustained long time always has an effect on the recipients, subconsciously or otherwise.

After Owuor Otet’s continued road safety campaigns, I am always finding myself deliberately being extra careful when I drive near a trailer. Well, I also find myself wondering whether he is the one on the driver’s seat every time I see a trailer but his voice on being careful when near one is very loud. Keep up the campaign spirit; you never know who is listening.”

NEWS BRIEF

What are the main causes of road accidents in Kenya according to your analysis and observation?

I would summarize them into 6 items, which are: Human error, drunk driving, careless driving, speeding, mechanical problems, and corruption.

How many people are killed in road accidents every day in your estimation?

From the NTSA report it is estimated that 8 men die daily but these are only reported cases. How about the many men leave alone children and women who go unreported?

The number of fatalities is actually higher.

What is the driving culture on Kenyan roads like?

We are at the worst on driving and driving culture. For one, our roads are crowded, our driving schools incompetent and lack necessary resources, driving is taken lightly and yet to be professionalized and poorly trained driver which contributes to the alltime high road carnage.

What time of the day do these accidents occur?

Kenya is becoming interesting and you can’t tell exactly what times they happen, but fatigue experts say it’s between 2am-6am when the human biological clock has been pushed to the limit and fights back. This is also seen between noon to about 4pm when the sun begins to go overhead until the moment it sets.

Are road authorities doing enough to help address road safety in Kenya?

Yes, they are really trying very hard. What they must now do is to set the bar very, very high and should not compromise. We need to see the mandated authorities being more involved on the ground with things like road shows, television and radio programs on road safety. We need to have panels that sensitize all road users on road safety.

What main measures can be taken to curb road accidents according to your experience?

I wish to point out six points, which are: Creating awareness, Investing in road safety clinics, Investing in road users training regardless of their categories, Introducing road safety in early schools, Having Non Governmental Organizations to do road safety projects, Employing qualified personnel and teach them customer service What things are slowing down road safety efforts in the country?

Corruption, Lack of training resources, Poor road infrastructure leadership of mandated authorities, Pure negligence to traffic rules, I didn’t know attitude What is your experience of other countries in addressing road safety challenges?

I will mention 3 countries. Jordan, Zambia and Pakistan these are just few examples among the many.

In Zambia, we have two radio stations doing talk shows. I am fully involved, and I tune in. In Pakistan, we are working with Mr. Mohammed Soomro a top road safety traffic police officer. I just came from Jordan where I attended a Global fleet safety seminar.

What I will say clearly is that we are at a very good place to teach the world that even if road safety is not our culture we can still embrace it and save many human lives because 90% of accidents are all human error. Other nations take road safety so seriously, and we should follow suit.

Which roads are notorious for these accidents?

Right now, no road is safe. Just the other day on social media we saw a tractor driver leave the tractor moving and takes a walk.

That is a road somewhere in the interior with motorbike riders who have not been trained.

Please visit hospitals you will see the gravity of what am telling you.

What challenges do you face in this regard?

Road safety is still an ambiguity to so many in this era. We only have a breed that when an accident occurs they rush to look. This makes me wonder do we need to talk about emergency response? I see the need to enlighten road users that some of these vehicles we run to just to take a look carry dangerous goods or chemicals. The so called trained emergency response teams we have are not well in response and on several occasions, we still see civilians do it their way. In this era, we need better systems to do search and rescue missions. We need standby emergency response teams along our highways.

Road safety is not our culture; many are struggling to even embrace it. Remember road safety is all about measures put into place to help avoid possible deaths, injuries, damage to environment and property. I say again measure put in place and not wild thoughts. The day we will learn this, we will be better placed to becoming road safety champions.

What is the future of road safety in Kenya?

Kenya stands a better chance to achieve zerofatalities in terms of road accidents. This can only work if and when the entire leadership of the nation is involved. For instance, we have a minister of transport who hardly speaks about road safety. We need to change this narrative; road safety is shared responsibility.

Gov’t Empowers Beach Management Units To Tap Into Blue Economy The County Government of Mombasa has empowered 14 Beach Management Units (BMUs) frAom across the County to aide them tap into the Blue Economy.

To that effect, the county government donated 28 High Density Fiber fishing boats to serve the BMUs. Each boat will be powered by 2 engines and fitted with an electronic fish finder to enable the fishermen to easily locate fish in their expeditions. Communication equipment has also been fitted to assist in case of any eventuality.

The boats, each with a capacity of 1000kg will enable the fishermen to venture further into the sea allowing them to fully maximize on the potential that they have previously not been able to reach.

“As a county, we have also stressed the importance of continuous capacity building programs that will equip the fisherfolk with the necessary skills to manage both their businesses and equipment”, said Hassan Joho, the governor.

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

20

WORLD BEST PRACTICES

GHANA BAMBOO BICYCLES

By Evans Mutuma & Damaris Kiilu

When Ghana Invented Bamboo Bikes, They Didn’t Take Us For A Ride

When Ghana invented bamboo bikes, they did not take us for a ride.

Bernice Dapaah, the co-founder, must have tasted the midly sweet flavour of bamboo, which motivated her to put Ghana on top of the world.

That was more than six years ago, when Dapaah decided to forge an unconventional path into employment. About to graduate with a business administration degree but facing a bleak job market in Ghana, she joined forces with a handful of engineering students to create an innovative product from an abundant crop: bamboo.

Her inspiration was an initiative, led by the International Network of Bamboo and Rattan, exploring sustainable, green ways to help producers out of poverty. “There’s a lot of unemployment in the country and we didn’t want to just follow the masses and look for white-collar jobs,” she says. “We wanted to come up with an idea that would also create employment for other youth.”

The result is the Ghana Bamboo Bikes Initiative, a social enterprise based in Kumasi, southern Ghana, where strong, lightweight and durable bikes are made out of bamboo and built by an ever-growing team of young people specially trained for the role. The project has serious green credentials, too: not only are the bikes an affordable, environmentally sound alternative to cars, but bamboo is fast-growing, produces up to 35 per cent more oxygen than other trees and helps to prevent soil erosion, a significant cause of concern for farmers in Ghana.

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

It’s an idea so brilliant the team won a Seed award in 2010, just six months after their first prototype, and have since gone on to win 10 other awards internationally. Along with the financial assistance, Dapaah says, “Seed gave us some technical support to develop a business plan, and gave us a lot of media platforms, too. Since then we have been growing and trying to see how best we can expand the business.”

The initiative has sold more than 1,000 bikes, including sales in Europe and the US; in Ghana, they cost Ksh 12,000 ($120) each, around Ksh 4,000 ($40) more than a secondhand steel bike, but as Dapaah points out, bamboo has a number of qualities that make it an attractive alternative to steel bike frames: “Bamboo is five times stronger than steel – in China they use it as scaffolding,” and bamboo bikes are more environmentally friendly to produce than steel bikes, as their construction uses much less energy. To meet demand while aiming to mitigate climate change, the team plans to plant 10 trees for each one they use in areas where the bamboo will help restore the soil after years of land degradation.

Dapaah and her co-founders have trained more than 35 people to make the bikes and are establishing two new workshops outside Kumasi, in the Brong Ahafo region, which will employ around 50 more youths. The idea is that each employee, once trained, can train and employ five or six others, meaning the bikes can be produced on a small scale all over Ghana.

“My favorite part of the job is when I go to the workshop to see the youths and know they are able to earn a living,” Dapaah says. “I feel so happy when I see we have been able to create a bit of laughter for them.”

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DEDICATED TRANSMISSION IN TRANSIT ADVERTISING POWERED BY CITIZEN TV Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd partners with Rydetv to enhance passenger experience Cabbytv/Rydetv, a subsidiary of Royal Media Services Ltd has entered into an exclusive partnership with Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd to install television screens in buses operating within the KBSM Ltd fleet.

Our aim is to enhance passenger experience by providing passengers with high-level entertainment during their commute. With an initial investment into in-taxi advertising through the installation of interactive screens that engage passengers of ride-hailing app taxis and more recently through our partnership with KBSM Ltd, Rydetv is proving to be a true game changer, by providing unbridled levels of entertainment in driving the transit media sector in Kenya.

TRANSMISSION Transmission is relayed through a UHF channel from our Royal Media Service that is dedicated only to KBSM Ltd fleet. Our daily transmission schedule commences at 6am to 10 pm and runs 7 times a week CONTENT We run bite size content designed to inform and entertain passengers-on-the-go and includes News, Special Features, Local drama, Comedy, Music, and Sports. Programming consists only of the best shows from our robust Citizen TV Library.

WHY KENYA BUS SERVICE MANAGEMENT (KBSM) LTD KBSM Ltd operates in over Fifteen (15) routes and has privileged access to Nairobi CBD which has a daily population of over 5 Million people to and from the below metros: • Northern Metro: Kiambu ,Thika, Kikuyu & Ruaka • Southern Metro: Kajiado, Ngong, Rongai, Kitengela & Kiserian • Eastern Metro: Machakos, Kangundo, Kitengela & Athi River ADVERTISING RATES DAILY RATE PER SPOT AD (Ksh) Property Description

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SCORELINE, THE MARKET LEADER IN TRANSIT ADVERTISING Formed 15 years ago, Scoreline has over the years shown itself to be the market leader in transit advertising. The company has handled high end clients since inception in 2004 and continues to handle even more either as repeat or new clientele.

According to Managing Director Bernard Otieno, timely delivery and good service is what has led to their success. “Our first client when we started business in 2004 was Western Union money transfer. For such a big global entity to trust us, they were aware of our exceptional service,” he said.

He added: “Since then, we have managed to handle even bigger clients, delivering quality and timely service all the time.” Otieno said he is proud of their partnership with Kenya Bus Service Management Ltd which he pointed out has ensured their services remain top.

“KBS have been our biggest partners and together with them they have ensured we remain the preferred solution provider. We hope to continue with this partnership in the near future.”

Apart from Western Union, other clients who have trusted Scoreline to serve them include Celtel (now Airtel), Betway, Safaricom, GoTv, Startimes, Standard Media Group, KAPA Oil Refineries, Uber and Omo. The company is also big in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sponsored the Koth Biro football tournament as well as a number of chess tournaments.

POINT OF VIEW

NEWS BRIEF

RURAL PLANNING AND LAST-MILE CONNECTIVITY

TRAFFIC LIGHTS WORLDWIDE SET TO CHANGE

Elderly-Friendly Transit To Spur Rural Development Majority of population who have worked and lived in cities would spend a huge chunk of their remaining lifetime in rural areas as they grow old and proceed to retirement.

To help such special groups fulfill their mobility needs, there is need for a vision for mobility in the rural areas.

In today’s world, transportation in rural areas, especially last-mile connectivity, is fast becoming a critical issue; authorities need to consider this to spur rural development, and to help the aging population live a quality life.

As an example, let’s look at rural areas of Japan, where the use of traditional public transport is falling dramatically due to a decreasing and aging population and a higher dependence on private vehicles. In many regions, train, buses and taxis are operating at a loss. The situation is only expected to worsen with low birth rates and an increasing lack of drivers, as the population ages beyond the ability to drive. The ability to maintain public transport in these regions is expected to be further weakened by a shrinking tax base.

Japan is leading this trend - but she is not alone. The populations of rural areas are decreasing globally. According to the United Nations, rural population decreases will be faster in the majority of G20 countries.

Japan, on the other hand, is in a great position to lead rural mobility transformation thanks to the adoption of new technologies, a regional community with a sense of urgency to try innovative solutions, and a government dedicated to working with the private sector to find solutions.

As a basis, new vision for rural mobility could include: 1. Flexible operation to adapt to specific user demand: bundling different modes of transport, for example 2. Right-sized transit offerings: gather data about profitability across modes and pilot new mobility solutions including AV, MaaS, TNC, ride sharing, car sharing and carpooling options 3. Integrated multi-modal transit solutions: seamless services such as trip planning, scheduling and payments across modes 4. Proactive involvement of transit operators, residents and large regional employers: create regional solutions comprised of small villages, towns and key services and businesses such as hospitals and energy suppliers 5. Highly efficient operations to maintain services in challenged areas: consolidate back-office operations to lower overall costs Creating solutions with diverse multi-stakeholder communities is the way forward. The aim is to provide the critical foundation for regional communities to develop and maintain sustainable public transportation services. With transparent data, policymakers will know where to prioritize their efforts and design solutions that work. This all needs to happen in partnership and through careful consensus-building with residents, city council members, local governments and surrounding businesses.

The ultimate goal is to create opportunities for and spur innovation in new mobility solutions.

Traffic lights all over the world is set for a major change thanks to the efforts of one Swedish engineer who has contested in court the timing sequence of one traffic light in Oregon that led to his wife being fined $260 for ‘jumping traffic lights’.

Mats Järlström, the engineer, studied electrical engineering back in Sweden, and is now reportedly working to fix the timing sequence formula that’s governed traffic light signals around the world since 1960.

Järlström has proposed to the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) that yellow light timing should be extended from 3.2 seconds to 4.5 seconds. ITE is the advisory group whose members represent 90 countries and which adopt guidelines for traffic signal timing. Any changes made would be submitted to the institute’s board of directors for final approval next year.

ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

26

REVIEW

VOLOCOPTER AIR TAXI

G

erman aviation start-up, Volocopter, has created the world’s first autonomous air taxi that riders will be able to hail with their smartphones.

Volocopter aims at revolutionizing air mobility by providing safe, quiet, and emission-free transportation.

In 2017, the “air taxi” received a Ksh 3 billion ($30 million) investment from Daimler, and completed a Ksh 5.5 billion ($55 million) funding round from Geely in 2019.

The VoloCity, which is set to become Voloctoper’s first commercially licensed vehicle, can accommodate two people and hand luggage. It has a range of about 22 miles (35 kilometers), and airspeed of about 63 mph (110 km/h).

Its 18 motors are powered by nine rechargeable batteries that can be swapped in about five minutes, which can help to minimize downtime. Its makers also claim the vehicle is quiet because the 19 rotors all operate in a “narrow frequency band” that sounds twice as loud as a single rotor.

REVIEW COURTESY: BUSINESS INSIDER

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ABIRIA MAGAZINE | DECEMBER 2019 - FEBRUARY 2020

Volocopter also plans on opening a “VoloPort” in Singapore by the end of the year. VoloPort will function similarly to an airport where passengers can check into their flights and spend time in lounges while waiting to enter the takeoff and landing grounds.

There will also be an operations and services center where the air vehicles can be maintained.

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