BUS SERVICES: DEREGULATION AND PRIVATIZATION (LESSONS FOR THIRD WORLD CITIES). IN: HANDBOOK OF TRANSPORT SYSTEMS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL

Economic deregulation and privatization of urban bus services can have both negative and positive aspects. This paper examines the experience of deregulation and privatization in: London, England; the U.K. outside of London; Accra, Ghana; Santiago, Chile; Kingston, Jamaica; Hong Kong; Riga, Latvia; and Nairobi, Kenya. These examples reveal that the following factors should be addressed in deregulation and privatization efforts: the objective of the deregulation and privatization, the need for some regulation even in a deregulated system, encouragement of public transport, decontrol of fares, fare evasion, non-commercial routes, commercial law, the capacity of the bus industry, private monopolies, the reliability of services, multitrip ticketing, concessionary travel and privatization strategy. The problems and solutions encountered in these experiences can be adapted to assist developing countries where better bus service is becoming an increasingly important approach for dealing with rapidly growing populations and urban road congestion.