Focusing on the most vulnerable

FOCUSING ON THE MOST VULNERABLE

to integrate vulnerable users, cities must understand their constraints and their needs to access jobs and social services (see chapter 2, table 2.1). they should then translate that understanding into changes in policies, infrastructure, and services (see table 5.2). in doing so, local and central governments should pay careful attention to the modes that the poor and other vulnerable groups use the most: walking, cycling, and public transport (figure 5.2). Private motorized vehicles are used by a small segment of society, and yet improving conditions for cars grabs most of the attention. table 5.2 summarizes the elements that need to be integrated in urban transport planning to tackle the barriers facing vulnerable populations in seeking to reach jobs and services. these elements have been identified through the quantitative and qualitative research developed as part of this study. to enhance the access of low-income groups to jobs and services, the government of ghana should improve the more affordable modes: walking, cycling, and public transport. Paving roads and improving lighting in strategic locations can enhance the access of neighborhoods to jobs. Paving of urban streets will allow motorized transport, such as large buses and minibuses, to access communities that are accessible only by motorcycles. thus bus and minibus service would improve the provision of more affordable modes in those areas. targeted subsidies could be explored to overcome barriers to access for some low-income groups. in general, subsidies targeted to specific disadvantaged groups require understanding the safety net databases and a good capacity to implement and monitor the subsidy programs. the study team did not find relevant examples in Africa of effective transport demand subsidies. thus the targeted subsidies used in Latin American cities such as Bogota and Buenos Aires should be analyzed for their applicability to the ghanaian context (box 5.6).

For women, improvements of public transport fleet can deliver significant benefits. Vehicle specifications should incorporate the needs of women such as low floor boarding vehicles that would facilitate entering a vehicle with goods and children, storage space for luggage and goods, closed-circuit television cameras to improve safety, and designated areas for priority users (including pregnant women). the formalization of public transport service provision should also respond to women’s needs by, for example, ensuring minimal service at offpeak hours when women tend to travel more and the presence of professionally trained drivers able to respond in case of sexual harassment in public transport.

As observed in surveys and focus groups, women would benefit from safety improvements in the bus stops and in the last mile that connects public transport with their home. improving lighting, visibility, and general safety is critical to respond to this dimension.

Fare policies should also be assessed to respond to the needs of women. one possible option is a variable fare. Lower fares at off-peak hours would benefit women, as more women travel at that time, and they could also serve as a demand management measure to distribute demand outside of the peak hours. other areas to explore in fare policy are (1) options to control the extra charges for the luggage or goods that often accompany women; (2) targeted subsidies; and (3) integrated policies for bus transfers, which are more commonly used by women.