The Use of Technology in Improving Road Transportation: A Study of Bolt (Taxify)

The Use of Technology in Improving Road Transportation: A Study of Bolt (Taxify)

Chapter One

 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The basic objectives of this study are:

1. To examine the factors of technology such as bolt and Taxify and how they relate to urban transportation in the study area.
2. To determine the extent to which technology such as Bolt and Taxify affect the road transportation system.
3. To examine the effect of technology such as Bolt and Taxify on urban road transportation in the study area.
4. To make recommendations that would improve transportation.

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The Concept of Road Transport Network

Transportation systems are commonly represented using networks as an analogy for their structure and flows.The term networkrefers to the framework of routes within a system of locations, identified as nodes. A route is a single link between two nodes that are part of a larger network that can refer to tangible routes such as roads and rails, or less tangibleroutes such as air and sea corridors (Chapman, 2008).

Network is defined as the interconnectivity or linkage of a set of components of a system in to a complete whole to produce a spatial and structured pattern. Network may be either static feature at a point in time or a dynamic phenomenon which is subject to change through time (Chapman, 2008). This means that a road network grow with time. Smith (1977) identified three elements in a network called by various names. These are nodes, vertices or points, the edge, linkage or route. These nodes, vertices or points refer to the settlements while the edge, linkage or route refers to the roads. In the course of making the nodes and linkages easily identifiable, a network is transformed into a topological graph which is a representation of the geometry of a network showing the relationship between nodes and linkages without considering the scale of the map and morphology of the actual route.

 Road Transport Development

Transportation is a very important factor in the socio-economic development of area. According to Sieber (1997), the study of transport network is not new but is becoming more important in recent times. Geographers have now become increasingly aware of the relationship between transport development and economic development of any given region. Most geographers tend to study the effects of transport infrastructural development as it relates to any form of activity. Howel (1984) supported this by stating that transportation is clearly a necessary ingredient of every aspect of economic and social development. It plays a role in getting land into production and in making other services accessible. The different modes of transportation, which are air, road, railway, water and pipelines transports, are all instrumental in one way or the other in bringing about development in an area. The successful and continued existence of a society is crucially depended upon the availability of adequate transport facilities (Adekanye 1971). The selection of a specific transport mode for a particular purpose depends on upon a range of modes available, their relative costs, safety and convenience (Mbaye and Moustier, 2000).

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CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

 Research Design

This research problem studied using descriptive survey. According to Saunders, Lewis & Thornhill (2003); “descriptive research portrays an accurate profile of persons, events, or situations”. Descriptive surveys was aimed at establishing the use of Taxify in improving road transportation in Nigeria.

Population

Population of the study included key informants whom the researcher believed would provide the needed data.

The target population for this research was the operators of Taxify in Lagos, Nigeria.

CHAPTER FOUR

DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS

 Demographic Profile of the Respondents

The demographic characteristic of the participants sought in the study involved age and sex of the respondents.

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

  Discussion of findings

1. The rise of the e- hailing transport modes proved that there are problems in the current conventional taxi service in Lagos. Overcharging, Reckless Driving, Rude Driver are found to be the most common complaints people experience in riding a taxi in Lagos.
2. From the survey conducted, it was found out that sixty-two percent (62%) of Taxify users are also private car owners. It is noted that 8.4% are female and 71.6% of the users have a Bachelor’s Degree. Hence, the seventy-six percent (76%) of riders are anticipated to be employed. Furthermore, it is noted that the average age of Taxify users is 31.48 years old, and the median is at 26 years old.
3. From the survey, it is was founf out that the e- hailing technology has impacted road transportation positively, as road hassles and crime is reduced.
4. The study determined that due to the poor public transport system, most numbers of women opt to ride either a conventional taxi or book a ride through Taxify for safety and convenience.
5. Convenience, Safety, Reliability, Less hassle, Just like my own car, Easy to book a ride, Cashless Payment, Drivers have undergone background check, and Cars are new are the top reasons why people book a ride through Taxify.
6. This study also proved that private car owners now have hthe option to use their cars occasionally and still enjoy the same service through Taxify. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of the respondents are willing to give up their car for a convenient mode of transportation. The other 43%, however still prefer to have a car because of the present condition of our transportation sector as evident in the growing sales of cars.
7. The primary purpose of riding Taxify of the respondents is to “commute to work”. This is due to the better service Taxify provide which filled the gap that the other public transport modes lacked and complements the poor service of some conventional taxis. Twenty-four (24%) of the respondents are willing to add 100 to 150 pesos for a convenient and reliable ride.

Conclusion

1. Furthermore, the top reason for using Taxify is to have another mobility option for commuters that is safe and reliable. It was found out that reliability is the most attractive feature of Taxify and the convenience of online booking is better than hailing a taxi on the roadside or falling in line in a taxi stand.
2. The average trips of respondents per month based on the answers from the survey is 12.03 trips while the median is 8 trips per month.
3. Also, if Taxify service is stopped, 29% of the respondents (riders) answered to use transit more often, and 24 % answered to use taxis more often.
4. Most of the respondent operators came from different fields of work before Taxify arise. Fifty- two percent (52%) are both driver and operator, 33% are solely operators, while 15% are only drivers. The top reason why the operators joined Taxify is to have an additional income.
5. Based on the online survey conducted, Taxify operators work at an average of 5.35 times a week, at 11 to 12 hours a day or even at 16 hours and 70% of operators bought their vehicle brand new.
6. The reasons why e- hailing does not contribute to sustainable transport are as follows:
7. If Taxify service is not available, the 44% of the riders will shift to taxi, while 32% will use public transportation; The use of existing taxi and public transportation during the unavailability of Taxify promotes to sustainable urban transport by avoiding car use.
8. If Taxify service is stopped, the 29% of the riders will use the transit more often, 24% will use taxis more often, and 15% will walk more often; The inexistence of Taxify service makes the commuters shift through the use of transit more often, use of existing taxis more often and, will make people walk more often which in return in favor to sustainable urban transport.
9. Seventy percent (70%) of the operators bought their vehicle brand new for Taxify; The purchase of new cars for Taxify use of the operators is against the principle of sustainable urban transport which is car reduction.
10. Most of the operators of Taxify works six (6) times a week and at 11 to 12 hours a day and some are even at 16 hours a day;  Furthermore, the operation of Taxify at six (6) times a week at 11 to 12 hours a day is also against the principle of sustainable urban transport which is reduction of car use and promoting the use public transportation.
11. Taxify’s role in Lagos is to have another mobility option for commuters that is safe, convenient and reliable. e- hailing however compete with the service provided by taxis and this healthy competition is said to eliminate the taxi operators’ monopoly in the transport market creating a benchmark that challenges the taxi operators to improve the quality of their service.
12. From the perspective of supply and demand, e- hailing services can be optimized based on the demand of passengers in a certain area which is missing in taxi service.
13. Taxify in Lagos deviate from the true concept of car-sharing because most cars were bought brand new instead of using the existing vehicle for the purpose of becoming a e- hailing partner. We can still experience the same positive impacts of car-sharing if private car users will shift to using e- hailing instead.

 RECOMMENDATIONS

The following recommendations are made towards improving transport services provided by e- hailing as well as in aid of regulations and policy making for these modes:

1. In order to maximize the utilization of conventional taxis, dispatching method based on demand of passengers per city and per time should be used. Global Positioning System (GPS) and radio communication can also be used in assigning the taxis nearby.
2. Other e- hailing service providers should immediately process the accreditation with LSRSC to legalize its operation. Trade dress with branding logo requirement should be imposed to e- hailing vehicles to associate to its operator. e- hailing should not perform as a rent a car service or through hailing. A trip request shall only be done through online booking via e- hailing Application.
3. Taxify and other transport agencies should comply with all the other requirements mandated by the Government. Thus, e- hailing being part of our public transportation, should be regulated to ensure the safety of the public. e- hailing in coordination with LSRSC, should regulate the number of their partners to prevent traffic congestion caused by the excessive volume of members. This is essential in order to retain the basic principle of ride-sharing that was the original context by which Taxify were established and for which sustainability is anchored on;
4. Further studies on the fare setting on Taxify should be conducted to help determine the amount of fare that shall be regulated. This should include strict examination of surge fee computation to address the users’ queries and concerns;
5. Number of vehicles per e- hailing operator should be limited to give opportunities for other private car owners to ride share through e- hailing;
6. e- hailing in order to contribute to a sustainable transport should consider the concept of ride-sharing by maximizing the occupancy of the vehicle, and by encouraging the people to share their ride. e- hailing should highly discourage its members to buy new vehicles but instead utilize the existing units in good condition and qualified to the age requirement set by LSRSC.

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