The concept of sustainability is clearly and familiar term as it cuts across different professions and specializations. However, it seems to be affiliated more with environmental conservation than other works of life. Whether that is true or is the result of personal bias, I rather put forward my opinions anyway.
I was recently in Paris, France and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania respectively on vacation and opted to use a public taxi among many options available in these two cities. Apart from their geographical divergence also cultural and geopolitics may vary very much.
However, when it comes to sustainability and climate change, both have stakes and shared responsibility if not the impacts they endure. Mind you that, the climate change impacts do not respect any border.
Fast forward, I realised in common, both cities use the transport option through the same application “Bolt” which is a taxi drive requested through the application. It is becoming common in most cities where even the common “scouters” are using the same application. In my case, I had to use the vehicle and I realised that it was quite reasonably priced and effective.
However, I tried to think of its effectiveness and benefits over traditional taxis and I came to realise that it is so sustainable. How sustainable are they? Below is an account of the Bolt Taxi’s sustainability from my personal view after clicking in my mind where drove through this means of transport.
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Firstly, the application provides an option to choose a type of mobility ranging from motorcycle, tricycle, small taxi, or van (Combi) at your fingertips. The process is hassle-free and convenient from any location within the operating region. You are reachable from any local point to navigate to another and you can confirm the costs on hand before you confirm the ride.
This is so moderate and friendly as you can weigh the cost and decide before making any step, you own your decisions and have financial freedom on your expenditures.
Next to that, you are automatically given an option of the nearest ride which does not last long to get to your pick-up point. In so doing, you reduced the unnecessary costs which would have been incurred in terms of fuel, time and tear and wear if the ride had come from a traditional taxi which is fixed in one parking lot.
Coincidently, it may be that the ride you pick just enlightened another customer and would then ride you back and so the connection goes on. It very much serves the fuel, time tearing and wearing of the vehicles while reducing carbon footprint and serves money.
Employment is another unmentioned aspect of the Bolt Application. I had cheat chats with drivers and amongst them were graduates who were employing themselves through taxing, while others were employed but working extra time to make ends meet to support their families.
One of the drivers who is an engineer graduated a few years ago and engaged himself in this business, he has realised that he is making more than what could have been a formal monthly salary from employment and he is likely to continue the engagement in a taxi than being employed elsewhere as an engineer by profession.
Besides that, the income generated through these taxis benefited the government through revenue taxis and several other taxes related. In every ride, you could see the amount of taxes paid and what was accrued by the Bolt as company and driver as well. This is just a low-hanging fruit for the government where income generates so automatically to their coffers. It therefore offers an income which can make more sustainable and improved development in all related sectors.
Improved connectivity and accessibility through the Bold is another aspect worth mentioning whereby there is now access to transportation means even in areas where public buses are not reaching. It makes it easy now for people and goods transportation which in a way improves mobility of goods and services at the same time.
It is therefore worth having this option for most backward places where some infrastructures for public transport have not been reached. Whether in Machimbo, Tandale or King’ong’o, one can request a ride and swiftly get a ride.
The drive for the Bolt can initiate his availability only by switching on the app from wherever he/she is and getting the client. It is therefore a flexible work environment and one can decide to work overnight or during the day as deemed okay. Most people are now flexible enough to work even overtime after routine employment shifts and gain extra income.
This is a very big push economically and it is a positive gesture toward financial inclusion and development. The strongest economy always offers several options and one can decide on means to engage in either at any time and conditions. This is indeed a big gesture towards sustainable development.
Also, read: Rapid Urbanization: How Tanzania’s Cities Shape its Economic Destiny
Parking places for traditional taxis are becoming quite scarce and are likely to increase the costs of rides. The modal through bolt does not require a full-time parking lot rather hop on, and hop off making it easy to plan for the physical areas for other development purposes. Although this option is not the cheapest and affordable yet a reasonable and decent means of transport.
With the continued electricity and gas use in vehicles, it continued to be the best and cleaner alternative in the market contributing substantially to the Net Zero Initiative.
“Shared transport can transform our cities by lowering emissions, reducing congestion, and the demand for parking spaces. Our long-term environmental goal is to offer 100% carbon net zero shared mobility solutions by 2040”. This is the motto of the Bolt towards the environment in its Working towards net zero shared mobility.
I find this is a serious commitment towards mobility sustainability since their work is convincing that there is progress in improving living styles and conditions.
Now, Bolt is available in more than 600 cities globally continues to offer a sustainable ride and has its supply chain well monitored to embed the sustainability aspects. Standing out as an example of a mobility option globally, there are others not mentioned in this article but this is just one of the outstanding experiences from personal observation.
I hereby motivate more of this kind and encourage the countries to explore other such options to transform their mobility system in this direction. It does not imply that Bolt is the only best option but is among the showcases which I opted to present herein.
It does not ignore the other transportation means such as traditional taxis, public buses including rapid transit buses (Mwendokasi) and the common Boda-boda. The best part of it is the smartness in terms of using technology and improving sustainability through cleaner mobility.
