Bush taxi

A bush taxi (French taxi de brousse or taxi brousse) is an automobile used for public transportation, particularly in West and Central Africa. In East Africa, the equivalent is a speed taxi, although the Swahili term is matatu may also be used. Many bush taxis are previously owned vehicles imported from Europe or assembled from parts in Nigeria or Kenya. The original seating of the vehicles is usually stripped out in order to allocate more and longer benches and thus more passenger space. In addition, more people generally sit on each bench than would be the case in more developed countries. They are often in poor condition, though wealthier countries tend to have better maintained vehicles. Bush taxis are the only form of public transportation in many developing countries.

Bush taxis are usually found in central locations known as a taxi parks, lorry parks, motor parks, garages, autogares, gares routières, or paragems. These are usually located near the center of town or near a major market. Larger towns often have several taxi parks, one for each road out or for each major destination. When passengers arrive, they are often assailed by people known as touts or coti-men whose job is to persuade travelers to use their specific taxi company with efforts that range from praising the comfort of their vehicle to promising a quick journey or grabbing baggage and throwing it atop their car. Nevertheless, most bush taxis only leave after all possible seats have been sold, whether that be a be a matter of minutes, hours, or days. Taxis headed to more popular destinations thus generally have lower wait times, though such locales are often serviced by more than one company. Travelers often opt for the car with the more passengers, leading some companies to sit employees in cars to make them seem fuller than they really are.

In some towns and villages, taxis are not affiliated with any particular company and several privately owned cars queue up to travel. Despite the fact that they are all in effect competitors, drivers still wait for other cars to depart before they begin to fill up their own vehicles.

Operation

Bush taxis service most major towns on major roads, though more popular destinations tend to have more cars traveling in and out per day. Ticket prices vary, but taxis traveling lower-quality roads tend to be more expensive than those servicing towns on paved routes. In addition, taxis that cross international borders cost even more (and are often illegal). Passengers can usually purchase a ticket for a reduced price if they wish to get out at another destination on the same route. Luggage, which often includes livestock and produce, is usually placed on top of the vehicle for an extra, negotiable fee (though this fee is often not actually required). The earliest vehicles for most destinations leave between 6 and 9 AM, though more remote locations often leave much earlier.

Because of the horrible conditions of many African roads, bush-taxi rides are often slow-going and physically demanding. Voyages are also hard on the taxis themselves, and vehicles frequently break down en route. Drivers and mechanics are often experts at repairing vehicles despite a serious lack of proper parts. Trips on bush taxis can be quite dangerous, as well, since drivers are pressured to arrive as quickly as possible. This also means that with better road conditions drivers can go at even more dangerous speeds than usual. Other travel hazards sometimes encountered are road bandits and police checkpoints.

Bush taxi companies tend to run under one of two models. In the first, individual vehicles are owned by individual drivers but operate under the same company name. In the second, cars are owned by a single company that pays the drivers. Private taxis also operate under no company name, though these are usually illegal. These private vehicles also tend to be more overloaded, with passengers sitting on the roof, on the hood, and in the trunk.

Types of bush taxi

There are three main types of bush taxi: the station wagon, the minibus, and the lorry.

In the past, most station-wagon bush taxis were modified 1980s-model Peugeot 504s. In some countries they are known as "five-seaters" or "seven-seaters", but in fact, they may seat nine passengers or more. The cars have three rows of seats. Today, however, other models, such as the Peugeot 505 or the Toyota Corolla have supplanted the 504 in some countries and are gaining ground in others.

The minibus (French minicar) is quickly becoming the most common type of bush taxi in West and Central Africa, especially for longer trips. Minibuses are van-like vehicles that may seat between 12 and 20 passengers. Due to the vehicles' larger size, drivers often also employ a helper who rides in the back portion of the vehicle and tells them when to stop to let people off or helps load and unload baggage. Minibuses tend to travel at a slower pace, and they take longer to fill up and to pass through police checkpoints. These vehicles generally charge more than standard buses but less than Peugeot-type bush taxis.

The lorry bush taxi is also sometimes encountered. It is a typical lorry (or truck) with benches along the sides of the bed for passengers. There is often a cover for the bed as well.