[OSM-Talk-ZA] Talk-ZA Digest, Vol 121, Issue 3

[Johan W Joubert]

Grant,

I've been thinking about this a lot too.

The taxi route "approvals" are (theoretically) done by the provincial Operating License Board. The problem is that the documented route is merely described by the taxi ranks forming the endpoints of the route. It is up to the various associations to negotiate among themselves the details between the ranks. For example, the route between Mamelodi and the Bloed Street rank (east-west) has a northern and southern boundary within which the holders of an operating license must travel, but they may indeed divert from the "single" route. Seems chaotic? Some would agree. But they're pretty well organised. Problem is... not documented. Hence the (now less so) frequent violence: no agreed routes to refer back to.

Anyway, I am in belief that the minibus taxis, or paratransit as it is more formally known, is part of South Africa's mobility solution... not the perpetual pain and "necessary nuisance" it is made out to be.

Maybe we can keep this "dream" in mind when we discuss going forward on how to map the routes. 

I've been working for a few years now with Susan Woolf, an amazing lady that is currently finishing up her Ph.D at WITS. She's done quite a lot of work on understanding the taxi culture. She published the first, in my mind (other than the confusing poster by DoT), booklet on taxi hand signs (see http://www.adaenup.co.za/content/taxi-hand-signs ). South African Post Office also released a stamp set from Susan on taxi hand signs in 2010... it was named one of the top 10 (came in at #5) stamp collections in the world ( ). Since the booklet (with 26 hand signs), more than 50 is already known for the greater Johannesburg area.

So, here's the dream - maybe we can have associated mapping parties - consider Google Maps: http://maps.google.ch/?hl=en&ll=47.401065,8.501723&spn=0.005722,0.014795&t=m&z=17

If you click on the bus/tram at Meierhofplatz, it will open a popup showing you all the lines servicing that node (thanks to the General Transit Feed Specification, amongst other standards). In this case, clicking on one of those lines will open a window showing the actual departure schedule of the different lines. 

With our cellphone penetration we've already revolutionised "banking" in Africa, why not do the same for the minibus taxis. Instead of a "schedule", why not at least show the destinations that you can reach from that locations, as well as the associated hand signs. 

Susan Woolf focused on Johannesburg. I have clearance from the University of Pretoria's Ethical committee to run with such a project in the greater Pretoria/Tshwane area... should anyone wants to get involved. It goes deeper than just the "hand sign", the stories behind some of those hand signs are BEAUTIFUL!!

Some of my thoughts, looking forward to this thread.

Prof. Johan W. Joubert, PrEng
Optimisation Group & Centre of Transport Development
Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering
University of Pretoria
Private Bag X20
Hatfield
0028
South Africa

Tel: +27(12) 420 2843
Fax: +27(12) 362 5103
Cell: +27(82) 338 0565
Skype: johanwjoubert

Email: johan.joubert at up.ac.za

This message and attachments are subject to a disclaimer. Please refer to www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ for full details.
Hierdie boodskap en aanhangsels is aan 'n vrywaringsklousule onderhewig. Volledige besonderhede is by www.it.up.ac.za/documentation/governance/disclaimer/ beskikbaar.

On 16 Sep 2012, at 1:00 PM, talk-za-request at openstreetmap.org wrote:

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> How best to map major intercity Taxi routes?
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