Daily Mobility in Urban Peripheries: The Role of Clandestine Taxis in Dakar, Senegal

Abstract

Background: This study addresses the mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheries of Dakar and the transport services they use to meet their mobility needs, in particular the unlicensed shared taxis (“Clandos”). In the peripheries, which suffer from a lack of jobs and amenities, mobility is essential to meet household needs and for social integration. Current transport policies focus on formalizing supply and organizing the system around high-capacity transport facilities, such as the Regional Express Railway (TER) or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), but they have difficulty in dealing with the mobility problems facing the outskirts of the city. Methods: The study is based on secondary analysis of the 2015 Household Travel Survey and on a survey on the activity of Clandos conducted in 2021 in Dakar. Results: The analysis highlights the daily mobility practices of the inhabitants of the peripheral areas. These residents, who are on average poorer than the others, travel mainly on foot. Their access to public transport remains limited and, when they use it, a significant proportion of their trips are made by Clando. Clandos have a dual function. On one hand, they are used for long trips to the center, in competition with buses, but more often they operate as a complement to buses. On the other hand, they are mostly used for local mobility within the peripheries. Conclusions: Although relatively expensive, Clando services are valuable for the inhabitants of the peripheries and their daily mobility. They should be better integrated into transport and planning strategies for the peripheral areas.