CHAPTE ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The global transportation industry is at a turning point that calls for quick response and revolutionary change (Sonko et al., 2024). Public transportation provides a convenient and reasonably priced means of transportation for both residents and visitors, making urban areas unfeasible without it. A number of issues, including funding constraints, aging infrastructure, shifting commuter needs, and overcrowding, contribute to the constantly shifting state of public transit. Transportation systems must innovate and adapt to meet the demands of a fast changing terrain as cities continue to grow and change (Wang et al., 2023). Finding long-term solutions for public transportation will require cooperation between governmental organizations, commercial businesses, and community groups (Wang et al., 2023).

The demand for travel by individuals and households is essentially a function of their desire for physical access to workplaces, educational establishments, shops, and social, recreational and community facilities. The extent to which these desires translate into actual travel will be moderated by the time and costs involved in making the desired trip. Travel times and costs will be dependent on: the supply of suitable transport services, including speed, quality and convenience factors relating to the services (for example, service frequency, reliability, crowding), the financial cost (price) of the services, perceptions of any social and environmental costs associated with the trip and the services involved (for example, level of safety and security, adverse environmental effects) (New Zealand Ministry of Transport, 2014).

Transport terminals serve as crucial nodes in the transportation network, facilitating the smooth movement of people and goods. However, these terminals often face a myriad of challenges that can impede their efficiency and effectiveness. One major issue is traffic congestion around terminals, leading to delays in arrivals and departures. Insufficient parking facilities exacerbate this problem, causing inconvenience to passengers and contributing to traffic congestion in the surrounding areas. Inadequate infrastructure and limited terminal capacity further strain the operations, hindering the seamless flow of passengers and goods.

In European context, according to Shah et al. (2021), the challenges faced by public transportation facilities are multi-faceted and require innovative solutions. However, Transit terminals are often confusing places that result in long wait times and delays. Traveling and the movement of goods should be easy, accessible, and most importantly, time efficient. Unfortunately, this is not a reality. Architecture can support innovative transit technologies, wayfinding strategies and common-sense design approaches that can advance the way we use public transportation. The last decade has seen a rise in architecture that seeks to incorporate as many modes of transportation under one roof at a single location. This thesis will attempt to provide that architectural solution while conforming to a busy yet rapidly developing city center.

Traffic continues to get worse as population grows and the number of vehicles that are on the roadways increases. America’s roadway system is not built to handle the peak hours of traffic, therefore causing people to wait in long lines as drivers compete for limited space. There are several solutions that Downs insists upon. First, charging peak hour tolls and integrating electronic “smart cards” to allow more people to travel per lane is one solution. This is something that has recently become more and more common on city highways and bridges. Another solution to traffic congestion is to “greatly expand highways.” Building a roadway that can handle the peak hours of traffic would certainly help the issue, “but this ‘cure’ is totally impractical and prohibitively expensive.” To widen roadways, the government would have to demolish millions of buildings, cut down trees, destroying natural habitats, and pour millions of tons of concrete, making “every metropolitan area into a concrete slab.

In developing countries such as China, South Korea, India, successful public transit networks have emerged as integral components of sustainable urban development worldwide (Liu, Bardaka & Paschalidis, 2023). Public transit serves as a cornerstone in the endeavor to create sustainable urban environments, addressing broader societal and environmental challenges associated with private vehicle reliance. However, key advantages of robust public transit systems include efficiency, reduced congestion, and environmental impact (Magalhães et al., 2022).

In Singapore, efficient bus network serves as a compelling case study in the transformative power of a well-designed public transport system.  Singapore success in public transit begins with strategic route planning that considers the needs of diverse communities (Etukudoh et al., 2024). The bus network is intricately designed to cover key residential, commercial, and industrial areas, ensuring widespread accessibility.  This thoughtful planning minimizes the need for private vehicle ownership, especially in urban areas where residents can rely on the comprehensive bus network for their daily commute.  Advanced ticketing systems and real-time tracking further enhance the user experience.  Advanced ticketing systems streamline the boarding process, reducing delays and optimizing efficiency.  Real-time tracking allows commuters to plan their journeys more effectively, minimizing wait times and enhancing the overall reliability of the system (Etukudoh et al., 2024).

In Kenya the transport sector is characterized by inadequate infrastructure, high costs, poor safety and inefficiency. These are attributed to a number of challenges in the sector that make investments into the sector quite difficult (All Africa news, 2012). The high cost of funds has been a major hindrance to investment in Matatus which are the main means of transport in the country (Chitere & Kibua, 2004). Mukabanah (2008) comments that government subsidies are required to build, maintain, and operate most public transport sectors. In most developed nations like China, USA and some European nations, the government owns the public transport sector due to the financerelated challenges likely to be faced by private investors (Stares & Liu, 1997).

The transport sector is a key link of the Cameroonian economy and an essential support to the country’s accelerated growth strategy, particularly through its significant support to the implementation of productive sectors strategies (in agriculture and rural development, mines, industry, urban development, trade). In keeping with the medium and long-term thrusts defined in the Growth and Employment Strategy Paper (GESP), the Government undertook to scale up the share of the paved road network from 10% in 2010, to 17 % by 2020. It is in this context that AfDB responded favourably to the Cameroon Government’s request to finance the rehabilitation of the Ring Road: Bamenda-Babungo-Kumbo-Nkambe-MisajeMungong-Kimbi-Nyos-Weh-Wum-Bamenda-Misaje-Frontière Nigeria, under the Transport Sector Support Program-Phase III.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Public transit is a crucial component of sustainable urban development, offering a compelling alternative to private vehicles (Cong et al., 2022), public transit promotes social equity by providing affordable transportation options for all residents, regardless of income levels.  Buses and other public transit modes play a pivotal role in promoting efficiency, reducing traffic congestion, and curbing emissions (Yannis & Chaziris, 2022). In addition, public transit helps to increase accessibility for all members of the community, particularly those who may not have access to private vehicles. By providing a more affordable and environmentally friendly transportation option, public transit can contribute to creating more inclusive and equitable cities.

One significant problem faced by land transport terminals is the lack of seamless connectivity with other modes of transport. Inefficient integration between terminals, such as bus, taxi, and heavy trucks terminals, hampers the smooth transfer of passengers and goods. Limited or fragmented public transportation networks make it challenging for travelers to navigate between different terminals, leading to inconvenience and delays. In this regards, the public transportation facilities in Bamenda town, particularly concerning the operations of the Vatican Travel Agency, face various challenges. These challenges hinder the agency’s ability to provide efficient and reliable transportation services to the public. Despite the importance of public transportation facilities in Bamenda town, there is a lack of comprehensive research focusing specifically on land transport terminal problems and prospective. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the land transport terminal problems and prospective with case of Vatican bus stop Bamenda town.

1.3 Research Questions

1.3.1 Main Question

What are the land transport terminal problems and prospectives in Vatican bus stop Bamenda town?

1.3.2 Specific Questions

• What are the problems faced at Vatican bus terminal in Bamenda town?
• What are the causes of this problems faced at Vatican bus terminal in Bamenda town?
• What measures can be used to address problems at Vatican bus stop Bamenda town?

1.4 Research Objectives

1.4.1 Main Objective

To examine the contribution of land transport terminal problems and prospectives in Vatican Bus stop in Bamenda town

1.4.2 Specific Objectives:

• To identify the problems faced at Vatican bus terminal in Bamenda town.
• To identify the causes of these problems faced at Vatican bus terminal in Bamenda town.
• To assess the measures can be used to address problems at Vatican bus stop in Bamenda town.