THE ROLE OF PARATRANSIT IN SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES

This paper defines the characteristics of paratransit, and the reasons for its invention (or re-invention) in the United States are examined. Looking at conditions in southeast Asia, the author finds these types of services being squeezed out in southeast Asian cities. The pronounced trend in urban public transport in southeast Asia is towards large modern technologies operated by large bureaucratic organizations. Adverse rections to this trend by the paratransit lobby are detailed. The argument for inducing a counter-trend by fostering small technologies and small organizations is assessed and rejected. An alternative framework is offered which shifts from seeing policy in term of modernization and incorporation versus extreme decorporation; an integrated policy model is developed that reflects the dominance of conventional transit and dependence of paratransit. This leads to the conclusion that paratransit is part of the general level of development rather than the expression of a specific technology and organizational system. This paper is a revision of an invited address given at the first Urban Mass Transit Conference in Developing Countries, Manila, 21-24 November 1982. (TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01297619
• Corporate Authors:

  National University of Singapore

  Department of Geography, Kent Ridge
  Singapore,   Singapore 
• Authors:
  • Rimmer, P J
• Publication Date: 1984

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 45-62
• Serial:
  • Singapore Journal of Tropical Geography
  • Volume: 5
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: National University of Singapore
  • ISSN: 0129-7619

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Competition; Developing countries; Jitneys; Mathematical models; Paratransit services; Policy; Policy making; Private enterprise; Public transit; Technology; Transit operating agencies; Transportation modes; Transportation planning; Urban areas; Urban transportation
• Geographic Terms: Asia; United States
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 8005: Asia; 6473: Mathematical model; 1128: Paratransit; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 3855: Technology; 313: Urban area; 8122: USA
• Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00451242
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 30 1985 12:00AM