Challenges and Opportunities for Private-to-Public Transportation Modal Shift and Integrated Multimodal Passenger Transportation Systems in Gaborone

Modal shift from private to public transportation has the potential to reduce problems threatening sustainability of urban transportation systems. Discouraging the use of private vehicles in favour of public transportation has been promoted to reduce numbers of vehicles on the road and alleviate traffic congestion. Integrated public transportation systems, incorporating all available modes into a single operational system provides seamless functionalities and convenience. It is crucial to understand mode choice factors, for both public and private vehicle users before promoting multimodal transportation systems. Understanding the current operational state of the public transportation systems as well as perceptions of private vehicle users towards public transportation will enable evaluation of susceptibility to modal shift and multi-mode integration. The aim of the study is to explore prospects of an integrated multimodal public transportation system as well as evaluate possibilities of modal shift by private vehicle users. These are achieved through evaluating perceptions of private vehicle users towards the public transportations system in Gaborone, Botswana. The study uses data gathered through a questionnaire survey; reviewing the state of public transportation based on users’ experiences and perceptions, assessing reasons influencing the use of private vehicles, users' understanding of sustainability and the role played by the increasing number of vehicles on the environment. Availability and effectiveness of public transportation services is evaluated, and the study also explores factors that would lead to modal shift. Results of the study showed that safety and convenience were the most influential factors which may influence modal change while financial and technological factors are least influential. It is further determined that the current state of the public transportation system is detrimental to modal shift, therefore improvement is needed to the system to discourage use of private vehicles while promoting inter-modality between public modes and Non-Motorised Transportation.