Numerous books have been written which deal with transport problems in developed and developing countries, and with the planning and management of transport organisations in developed countries, but none deals specifically with the planning, regulation, management and control of public transport in developing countries.
This book meets that need. It examines and explains the problems and characteristics of public transport systems in developing countries, and discusses the alternative modes, management methods, and forms of ownership, control, regulation and funding, with particular emphasis on what is appropriate at different stages of development and for different cultural backgrounds. It deals with urban, rural and long distance transport services, principally by road. This emphasis reflects the magnitude of the urban transport problem, and the predominance of road transport in most developing countries. The planning of bus services, particularly in urban areas, is covered in some detail, since this is often an area of considerable weakness. Similarly, the management of transport services and the maintenance of vehicles, including vehicle design and transport fleet planning, are also dealt with in depth.
The book is aimed at all those who are involved in the provision of public transport in developing countries, including transport planners, managers of transport undertakings, aid agency and government officials responsible for the funding, provision or regulation of transport, transport consultants and advisers, and in particular students of transport or urban and rural affairs. Since there is much in common between transport operations in the developing world and in developed countries, this book should be of interest to transport operators and planners everywhere.