Martin Mendelsohn is a Namibian graduate researcher working with Development Workshop in Luanda on his Masters thesis for the University of Cape Town Planning School on the impact of para-transit (specifically candongueiros) in Luanda. He has gathered literature on para-transit studies done elsewhere to find useful parallels between the candongueiros and matatus in Kenya than possibly the mini-bus taxis in South Africa. He has carried out field work in Luanda, interviewed taxi drivers, studied travel times and mapped results using GIS tools. Despite the rapid growth of Luanda and the significant investment in new satellite-dormitory-city development, (often Chinese financed), the city still lacks a rapid urban transit system. Some arterial and ring-roads have been built but a strategy for rapid public transport has not yet been implemented. Private vehicles used by senior civil servants and middle and upper class commuters have led to serious road congestion. The public bus service cannot meet the demand. Consequently, the majority of the population is dependent on private and informal taxi services of the paratransit sector. Combi-type mini-buses candongeiros and passenger-carrying motorbikes called kupapatas dominate this paratransit market. The research suggests that urban transport planning in Luanda should develop a hybrid between rapid public transport on principal travel routes and employ paratransit on local collector routes. Transfer nodes therefore must be planned at strategic points.

1. A Future for
Candongueiros in
Luanda
Martin Mendelsohn (2015)

2. Why Transport, Why
Candongueiros?
• Transport infrastructure can make or break a city
• Micro costs
• Macro costs
• Decentralisation
• Increasing numbers of cars
• Candongueiros work
• Luandans use them – they provide flexible transport
• Lack of other adequate public transport
• They make Luanda work
• By understanding them perhaps they can work better!
Results M.Mendelsohn Candongueiros tracking (2015)

3. Decreased traffic
• New and Rehabilitated roads
• Ring road
• Business/service decentralisation
• Launda Sul
• Increased public transport
• Bus
• Train
• ferry
Results from DW Household survey(2014) of 394 respondents living in new satellite townsCity of Muenster Planning office (2001)

4. Increasing traffic
• Economic Growth
• Traffic
• Parking
• Decentralisation
• More Candongueiros
• Population Growth
• 2004 est. 4,000,000
• 2014 6,000,000
• ~5% growth rate

5. Future Government strategies
• Continued Road Expansion
• Densification
• Business/service decentralisation
• Airport
• Zango 2
• Increased public transport
• LRT (2018)
• BRT (ND)
But- will this be used and by Who?
But- Who does this benefit?

6. Government planning Framework
• Rational planning
• Little – no stakeholder consultation
• Planners know best, set planning priorities
• performs efficiently
• Focus on Provision of large scale infrastructure

7. Government planning Framework
• Positive Contributions:
• Restructuring of city is able to take place to reflect ideal future structure: Paris – Haussman
• Takes place during economic boom, positive knock on effects on economy
• Allows restructuring of services: Water/sewage/electricity
• Creates space and articulated density
• Creates future environment which encourages growth
• Introduction of LRT/BRT
• Negative
• Vulnerable market contributors are affected negatively:
• Relocation of markets
• Loss of Jobs based on new transport
• Over commitment of development may lead to economic crises:
• US housing crises & resultant recession
http://www.spandd.net – Proposal for LRT/BRT in Luanda

9. Candongueiros
• Origins:
• Started in the 1980s with decreases in Bus provision
• Quickly grew to fill market gaps
• Estimated numbers vary: 3200 (2004)5
; 9,000(Dec 2014)4
; 20,000 (Jan 2015)4
; 30,000 (2008)6
• Nairobi (pop 3.3 Million, 2009) ~12,000 Matatus (2008)7
• Difficulty in quantifying the informal sector
• Operation:
• Normally consists of owner, driver, Collector, car washers, mechanics
• Work 6 days a week
• 6th
day is driver’s day
Total Income
(p.w)
Vehicle Rental
(p.w)
Driver
income (p.w)
Number of
trips (p.d)
111000 71000 45000 222.7
Results from DW Household survey(2014) of 394 respondents living in new satellite townsResults M.Mendelsohn Candongueiros tracking (2015)
At 222 trips perdiem and 20,000 Candongueiros that is 4 ,440, 000 trips.

10. Candongueiros
• Positive Contributors:
• Dynamism
• changing environment
• Demand by cost
• Regular Stopping
• Independent of government
• Can service markets smaller than Mass Transit
• Low barrier to economic activity
• Negative Contributors:
• Reckless
• Creation of congestion
• Price changes arbitrarily

11. Public Transport:
• Travel Times:
• Infrastructure development:
• Carrying capacities:
500m
Bus
08.00 08.02
+2min
08.06
30km/h
08.00 08.01
+1min
08.03
+1min
08.05
+1min
08.07
+1min

12. Looking Forward
• Regulation of Candongueiros
• Government can provide subsidies if:
• Self regulation of routes
• Fair competition
• Less reckless behaviour
• Lower cost for passengers
• Less waiting(Candongueiros) = less congestion
• No Integration, No Regulation
• Loss of employment
• ~1:2.5 employment per car
• Possible backlash/unrest
• Integration, Regulation :
• Possible loss of employment
• Integration with BRT/LRT/Kupapatas as feeder services
• Better service for all – possible decrease in private vehicle usage

13. Bibliography
1. http://www.spandd.net/new/pt-PT/mobilidade-e-transportes.htm
2. Google earth
3. http://sti-india-uttoolkit.adb.org/mod1/se3/004_1.html
4. http://www.portalangop.co.ao/
5. Lopes, C. M. (2005), «From machimbombos (buses) to candongueiros (minibuses) and kupapatas (taxi-bikes): the
evolution of passenger road transport in Luanda and in Huambo in the last 25 years of the 20th century». AEGIS
Conference, Londres, Junho.
6. Lopes, C. M (2010) “Dinâmicas Do Associativismo Na Economia Informal: Os Transportes De Passageiros Em
Angola.” Análise social 45, (195) : 367-391.
7. Kumar, A., & Barrett, F. (2008). Stuck in traffic: Urban transport in Africa. AICD Background Paper, 1.