Shared Taxis in Africa

Called Minibus Taxis these ten person vans are the main means of transportation in some cities in Africa.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Share_taxi



From Wikipedia :
"A given share taxi route usually starts and finishes in central locations known as
taxi parks, lorry parks, motor parks, (taxi rank, taxi stand ) etc
These are usually located near the centre of a town or near a major market. "

Kampala, Uganda
Could be a taxi park or a gathering for market day.


Cape Town, South Africa
More popular than automobiles or city buses, the minibus taxi fleet of 10,000 vans carries 60 % of commuters in Cape Town SA.
Pretty amazing when you consider that they are not supported by tax payer dollars.
Riders pay about 75 cents per trip.
With 4.5 million population, probably 2.2 million workers times 60% it might be 130 riders per van.
That would be at least 260 rider-trips per van per day. More with transfers.



Johannesburg, South Africa
In door, four level taxi rank. Probably at a train station


Soweto
Out door taxi waiting area. Each line of vans is waiting to serve a particular avenue.
Each van will pick up a load of ten riders at the train station and take them out on their assigned avenue.

From Wikipedia :
"Once the share taxi leaves the taxi park, it then proceeds along its route.
Drivers generally stop to drop passengers wherever they want to alight
and to pick up those who flag down the vehicle from the side of the road. ....
Passengers picked up en route pay their fare to the conductor,
who rides with the passengers (sometimes in a standing position), opens and closes the door, and handles any extra baggage.
The conductor and/or driver remembers exactly which passenger got on where; nevertheless, arguments about the price often take place. "




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