With the betterment of science and technology in our today’s society, people’s way of life has immensely changed. In the past, we would all hear the stories of individuals walking long distances to get to their destinations.
Today, nearly everyone owns a car which they prefer to use instead of public transport means.
World Public Transport day was founded to educate people about using more and more public transport and avoid using their cars to travel. It is also observed to raise awareness against the consequences of using personal vehicles and the dire need to use public transport to lessen the increased pollution rates and emissions of harmful gases.
At the first Eastern Africa Women in Transportation Conference held in Nairobi, Kenya, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) joined public transport employees, policy-makers, and researchers who are working towards a more inclusive public transport sector.
The conference included discussions on how to overcome gender barriers in this male-dominated sector, with suggestions on women’s inclusion and support being raised at the conference.
The General Manager of the Petroleum Institute of East Africa, Wanjiru Manyara proposed that women can help each other climb the career ladder and aim for more influential positions.
“Eliminating barriers that enable entry and progression of women can only be realized when more take up positions where they would be better placed to influence decisions for a conducive work environment and a transport system that works for everyone,” she said.
Jane Kerubo, a commuter with a disability shared the challenges that she faces to commute. Street vendors and illegal structures block the pedestrian walking lanes preventing easy movement whenever she uses her wheelchair.
She also said that many a time, buses and matatus lack ramps which makes it difficult for her to board and exit them.
Consequently, Kerubo is forced to commute at non-peak hours, which in turn affects her business and the time she gets home.
Stephanie Aketch, the Regional Road Safety Manager at Humanity & Inclusion, insisted on the need for engineers and urban planners to consider the needs of vulnerable groups such as persons with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and school-going children when designing roads.
The challenge then is for countries to develop national and public city transport services to meet the mobility need of the most vulnerable while ensuring that infrastructure is safe and climate-resilient.
On this special day, people are urged to use public transport more. They are encouraged to use the buses and matatus for mobility.
Educating each other to use the public transport means in order to reduce pollution is also a great way of observing this day.
Additionally, people can take part in different organized events and campaigns that have been planned to raise awareness of the need of using public transport.
BY STACY ODHIAMBO