Activity Participation and Perceptions on Informal Public Transport and Bus Rapid Transit in Dar es Salaam City

Abstract

This paper seeks to understand activity participation of the inhabitants and their perceptions towards Informal Public Transport (IPT) and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in Dar es Salaam. Focus Group Discussions, Participatory Geographical Information Systems and questionnaires were used for data collection. Findings reveal that IPT plays an important role as a means of participation in daily activities like work, shopping and social matters. The IPT is perceived to be flexible in providing access to high and low density unplanned settlements where a large population resides. The BRT system is perceived to benefit specific groups of people, especially those with permanent offices around the city center, particularly for professional workers. This paper sheds light on how the two systems are perceived by the local people and thus inform policy makers about possible improvements in public transport systems to support activity participation of the inhabitants.