Assessment of Commuter Preferences of 14-Seater Public Service Vehicles versus Alternative Modes of Public Service Transport in Nairobi City

Abstract

In the year 2010, the Kenya government announced that 14-seater vans, commonly referred to as “matatus”, were to be phased out so as to reduce traffic congestion on the roads and also to ensure efficient commuter movement. Travelers on Kenyan roads have not experienced public transport system without 14-seater PSVs. Little is known about the perception of commuters concerning the relative efficiency of 14-seater vehicles in the city of Nairobi over the alternative PSV modes. It is therefore needful to establish whether or not the phasing out of 14-seater PSVs would lead to the realization of the intended objective of decongesting motorized traffic in the city’s roads. The population was low-cadre employees at the headquarters of government ministries in Nairobi and random sampling method was used to select the ministries. Departments in the ministries were also identified through random sampling. Desired data was collected through the administration of a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using χ-test, linear regression model with respect to time and fare charged and analysis of variance. The study established that: travel time from house to workplace; the existence of alternative routes, and; fare charged, influenced choice of 14-seater PSV over the other alternative PSV modes. It is recommended that a comparative policy analysis should be undertaken to come up with a hybrid PSV policy that can serve the Kenyan commuter. Also, the government should not phase out 14-seater PSVs by force but increase taxes and levies on 14-seater PSVs which would by extension make fare high and hence make commuters shy away from the 14-seater PSVs. This refers to the mode of public passenger travel that is liked by a high number of commuters. Employees of the Government of Kenya earning salaries that are less than thirty thousand shillings per month. Refers to a means of public passenger transport vehicle which ferries passengers who randomly board it at the bus stops on the route it operates. The passengers disembark at their various destinations after paying a fee to the conductor. Such vehicles are of different passenger capacities ranging from 7 – 26-seater PSV. This refers to the capacity of vehicle used by commuters. They are in six categories namely; one passenger motorized two-wheelers, 2-3 motorized three-wheelers, 4-7-seater taxis, 8-14 seaters,14-seater, 15-32-seaters and 33-seater and above. This refers to public passenger vehicles which are licensed to carry pay-to-board passengers on Kenya’s roads. They carry a minimum of one passenger. Year: 2014 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

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