Transport is a fundamental part of every nation’s economy, allowing people to travel to and from work, and ensuring that goods and services are effectively delivered. Intercity bus service thus plays a critical role in transporting residents, especially people who do not have cars, cannot drive, or choose not to drive.
On the other hand, it has also been argued by some transport economists that intercity transit can have various costs, many of which tend to be overlooked or undervalued (Armstrong-Wright, 1993; Litman, 2016). For instance, Litman argues that traffic congestion, pollution imposed on non-users and accident risk imposed by transit vehicles are usually caused by intercity bus travels. Transport infrastructure of many nations are now coming under significant and multiple pressures due to urbanization, rising global populations and environmental challenges. It is estimated that about 3 million people move into cities every week and that soon there will be nearly 2 billion cars in use in the world, placing pressure on already stretched transport infrastructures.
In Ghana, cities perform several higher order functions; hence people commute to these cities daily to engage in all forms of activities. As a result, large volumes of intercity buses use the National highways (N routes) daily. However, the increasing number of buses on these corridors (N routes) can be seen to have several disadvantages. These shortcomings are made manifest through long queues and waiting time at bus terminals, long journey time, high bus fares, road accidents, traffic congestion, deterioration of road surface, rising maintenance cost of vehicles, high fuel consumption and adverse environmental effects (including CO2 emissions).
In spite of the foregoing challenges, it appears very little has been done to tackle the shortcomings in a comprehensive manner. Mulligan (2014) has stated that the efforts are usually concerned with expanding road infrastructure. This has often come at the expense of public transport services and severely congested roads have been the result.
An alternative solution worth considering is the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in reducing intercity bus travel. Empirical studies conducted by ANOKS Research have confirmed that many intercity bus travel purposes could be reduced through the use of ICT. Shrivastava (2012) alludes to this assertion by stating that ICT could play a vital role in bringing the vision for convenient, joined up, multi-modal sustainable mobility to reality. For instance, ICT can facilitate travel demand reduction through video-conferencing and telepresence systems, net meetings, voice over internet protocol systems such as Skype and Hotmail messenger which now include video facilities, facilities to enable home or remote working (including work hubs), shopping ordered from and delivered to homes, and even via synthetic environments.
ICT should therefore be seen as an enabling tool within a wider transport policy framework designed to create sustainable travel behaviours. There should therefore be an evolution of a more ICT oriented and comprehensive approach adopted to formulate transport policies generally aimed at solving urban transport problems.
My name is Kofi Anokye, a development enthusiast, and by the time I leave this world, it must be better than I found it. Brains, not natural resources, develop a nation!
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