City-Level Decoupling-Case Studies

The wide acceptance of the BRT scheme has been facilitated by involving different groups of stakeholders through community engagement programs. These interactions have ensured that BRT-Lite is seen as a project created, owned and used by Lagosians. Through this approach, a sense of local ownership was developed that resulted in BRT-Lite being seen as designed for its users, rather than for bureaucrats. Third party advocacy was also employed whereby opinion leaders (local government chairmen, local chiefs and community leaders) were invited to discussions on the operation of BRT, and its benefits to the people. This group of stakeholders went on to endorse the scheme in their local communities. A public education campaign on the BRT was also carried out, including advertising along the BRT route and in print and electronic media. Brochures explaining the new system were produced in local languages and distributed to the general public at road-shows.

Demarcation of carriageway on Ikorodu Road (Source: author, Ibidun Adelekan 2011)

Key to stakeholder engagement and wider marketing was the engagement of NURTW and its members at the local level. This was achieved by encouraging the best drivers of large buses to retrain to become ‘pilots' of BRT buses. Care was taken to ensure that bus drivers who did not qualify to drive BRT buses would not feel threatened by the scheme, and the operation of their transportation services was restricted to service roads rather than being replaced by the BRT outright. This enabled passengers to choose between transport modes and also secured political and community support for the scheme. New regulations were implemented in 2007 to support the BRT-Lite, prohibiting all vehicles except the BRT-Lite buses from using the designated infrastructure. BRT-Lite operations have resulted in significant improvements in public transportation within Lagos metropolis, and have contributed positively to urban sustainability. It is estimated that BRT-Lite carries 25% of all commuters along the 22 km route while accounting for just 4% of

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