WORLD LEADERS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TO DISCUSS ELECTRIC BUSES AND RAIL AND MINIBUS-TAXI MODELS

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 The UATP Workshop, hosted by TCT, will be attended by nearly 180 delegates from all over Africa and beyond, sharing their views and expertise on mobility in the 21st Century. The gathering takes place over a period of three days and provides an opportunity for transport professionals in both the public and private sectors to exchange views and information at a time when cities are poised to play a greater role in the delivery of public transport.

‘The cities on our continent are expanding rapidly, with more people – most of them young – in search of better lives and opportunities. This growth is taking place against the backdrop of limited financial resources and a challenging economic climate. How we develop and use our urban spaces for living, working and travelling will very much determine the quality of life of our residents in future.
 
‘As transport infrastructure development within the urban realm is taking place, we also have to be conscious of the impact of carbon emissions on the environment. The UATP Workshop provides a platform to showcase a growing portfolio of evidence that illustrates the contribution of public transport to the economic growth and social development of Africa’s dynamic cities,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town, Councillor Brett Herron.
 
The workshop will commence on Tuesday 20 October 2015, with key-note speakers covering topics from bus rapid transit (BRT), non-motorised transport and the transformation of minibus-taxi industries in Africa, to alternative fuel and electric buses.
 
Delegates from South Africa, Nigeria, Germany, Gambia, Ghana, Egypt, Tanzania, Malawi, Kenya, Senegal, Burkina Faso, France, Cameroon, Benin, Switzerland, Singapore and Cote D’Ivoire will participate in various case-study sessions, study tours, workshops and round-table discussions which will culminate in a best practice blueprint for Africa based on the lessons learned over the three days.
 
Counting among the 34 speakers are:
 
  • Patricia de Lille, Executive Mayor of the City of Cape Town
  • Councillor Brett Herron, Mayoral Committee Member: Transport for Cape Town
  • Melissa Whitehead, Commissioner: Transport for Cape Town
  • Jack van der Merwe, UATP President and Chief Executive Officer of the Gautrain Management Agency
  • Alain Flausch, Secretary-General of the International Association of Public Transport (UITP)
  • AD Huang, General Manager of BYD Company Limited and also responsible for the auto and new energy product business development of BYD in the Middle East and Africa
  • Jonas Strömberg, Director: Sustainable Solutions, Scania
  • Alioune Thiam, Managing Director: Conseil Exécutif des Transports Urbains de Dakar (CETUD)
  • Tony Dufays, UITP Director: Regional Offices and Services – a recognised expert and advocate for better mobility and urban development
  • Eric Motshwane, Director of Operations: Piotrans (the first BRT bus operating company in Africa)  
  • Dr Ismael Vadi, MEC for Gauteng Roads and Transport
  • Steve Hedouin, Vice President of Middle East Africa Volvo Bus Corporation  
  • Daniel Beller, Head of Region: Africa North and South in the Commercial Vehicles Division, Voith Turbo
  • Donald Grant, MEC for Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape
     
‘Today’s world demands that public transport planners come up with innovative solutions that will meet residents’ high expectations and the growing demand for access to opportunities. This access must be provided in a responsible, sustainable and affordable manner. Similarly those of us residing and doing business in cities will have to accept that the urban landscape will change even more rapidly than before, with higher densities becoming the norm as we focus on transit-oriented development.
 
‘There will be less scope for traditional modes of transport as the space for roads and parking bays for private vehicles will become more limited. As local authorities grapple with infrastructure needs and policy decisions, residents of African cities are also required to make a mind shift towards public transport and ecomobility such as walking and cycling,’ said Councillor Herron.