The Debate (no.31); Public vs. Private Transport: Sustainability, Influences, and Innovations

Transportation is the movement of people or goods from one destination to another, either by land, sea, or air. Transportation has eased movement and made life easy for everyone. Transportation comprises both private and public transport.

In this debate, I’ll be using different subheadings to highlight which is more preferable between private and public transportation. But before moving forward, let me invite @lovelystar, @bossj23, and @eunice.

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Let’s create a scenario where a public bus comes to a terminal and carries 50 passengers to their various destinations.

Second scenario: Imagine these same 50 people having their own private cars and heading to their different destinations.

Judging from the two scenarios, you don’t need a soothsayer to tell you that public transportation cuts more carbon emissions and brings less harm to the environment. When buses and trains carry lots of passengers, it reduces the number of cars on the road that would have polluted the air and caused traffic congestion. When the road is free, it leads to decreased carbon emissions from the bus because of free traffic flow.

Over the years, with technology, we’ve witnessed the advent of electric cars and buses. Many public transportation companies are buying into the idea of utilizing renewable energy sources, reducing carbon emissions.

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Using Nigeria as a case study, a lot of things influence the transportation choices of people, namely:

• Cost of Transportation: Some people will prefer to use public transport rather than private transport because of the big price difference. Public transport is far cheaper.

• Convenience: There are times when you will come out in your beautiful dress to attend an event. The best means of transportation at that moment is private transport because it will give you the necessary comfort you need. Or if you are going to an executive meeting, private transport is the best option. You don’t expect a lady wearing an expensive dinner gown to start jumping off from one public bus to another. By the time she gets to the event, either a pickpocket pretending to be a passenger has robbed her, or her clothes have been rough-handled.

• Flexibility: If you’re in a hurry or it’s an emergency, the best transport option is private transport because drivers can use their discretion to follow shorter routes to reach their destinations. Public transport is rigid. They have specific routes they follow, and even when there is traffic congestion, they hardly change their routes.

• Social Benefits: Recently in Lagos, there was a video making rounds on social media about a guy who met his girlfriend in a public bus and proposed to her in a bus as well. Public transportation promotes social interactions and can contribute to a sense of community. In private transportation, you don’t get such privileges because you’re the only one in the vehicle.

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I’ve seen cars where droplets of water come out from the exhaust pipe instead of the usual smoke we know. If they can produce these cars in large quantities and make them affordable, it will be a good alternative to traditional cars.

It’s no longer a news that electric cars are gradually becoming the preferred choice for consumers. However, the challenge so far has been the lifespan of the battery. If tech companies can improve it by giving it a longer lifespan and faster charging times, electric cars will not only be appealing but also a more viable alternative to traditional vehicles.

There are lots of bicycles out there that use engines as well. You can either decide to pedal or use the engine to navigate the bicycle. If tech companies can do something similar, like a hybrid vehicle where you can use both internal combustion engines and electric motors to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions, it will be a huge benefit to making transportation greener.

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In a country like Nigeria, a lot can be done by the government to boost public transport use by, first of all, banning all those scattered buses and trucks we call public transport and replacing them with new ones. Those buses are not fit to be on the road.

Develop and maintain good roads to aid a smooth ride and reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. It will also not be a bad idea to make special lanes for public transport. This will help customers reach their destinations faster as they bypass all the traffic congestion.

We have a lot of reckless drivers in the public transport sector who don’t obey traffic rules and regulations. This has led to many accidents that could have been avoided. Defaulters of these rules should be dealt with thoroughly by the government.

In Nigeria, a lot of people are finding it very hard to pay their transportation bills ever since they removed the fuel subsidy. If the government can at least subsidize transport fares for some groups of people like students, the elderly, and the physically challenged, it will go a long way.

Provide financial support to public transport operators to maintain and improve services, especially during this economic crises we are facing in the country.

A good public transport system that is comfortable will encourage passengers to use it. In contrast, a bad public vehicle will discourage people because they are scared if the brakes are even working at all.

Money is one major factor that can affect transport decisions. People who are very rich can afford to buy their private cars, while those still hustling to make enough money will rather go for public transport.

From a rural and urban perspective, public transportation in rural areas will definitely have low patronage because of the few people living there. However, in urban areas, the reverse is the case because the place is populated.

The young ones will have no choice but to use public transport because they can’t afford to buy a car. However, older individuals will see owning a car as a top priority rather than jumping from one bus to another. So, age is a factor.