NEWS INTERNATIONAL FOCUS
An open market
IN THE SECOND PART OF HIS ARTICLE ON PARKING IN AFRICA, WAISUI SERIKI OUTLINES THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOREIGN INVESTORS
I
n the major African cities of Lagos, Cairo and Nairobi, parking space is a rare commodity, but one that people are reluctant to pay for. People view the automobile as a symbol of status
and personal freedom. T is automobile dependency is accentuated by intense advertising campaigns persuading customers to purchase new vehicles. In developing countries, motorisation is seen as a sign of economic development. At the same time, most road
infrastructures are seen as a public service to be subsidised. Consequently, drivers do not bear the full cost of automobile use. When a resource, such as a road, is free to access, it tends to be overused leading to congestion. In Africa, automobile dependency
ranges from low to acute. Among the most relevant indicators of automobile dependency are the levels of vehicle ownership per capita, motor vehicle mileage and the proportion of total commuting trips made using an automobile. High automobile dependency
Automobile dependency is creating problems in many African cities
is reached when more than three quarters of commuting trips use cars. For the highly-populated African cities, this fi gure has remained around 75 per cent. In Lagos, in Nigeria, 75 per cent of
workers depend on cars for commuting. By contrast, in Amsterdam, 35 per cent of all residents use bicycles or walk to work, and a further quarter of the population use
road and parking facilities in an ongoing attempt to avoid congestion in African cities. Other transportation alternatives tend to be disregarded. In many cases, zoning regulations impose minimum standards of road and parking services and, in reality, encourage automobile dependency. One way of addressing the problem would be to establish national traffi c funds to create better roads and infrastructures. Most cities in Africa use parking
attendants to collect parking revenues. However, this system is open to fraud and theft by those responsible for collecting monies. Parking facility owners continue to employ parking attendants because the alternative – machines – is too costly and relies upon a consistent energy source and an expert support team, neither of which are readily available. It is a diff erent situation in Johannesburg
– the seventh largest African city. Here the majority see parking as a paid service,
With proper parking regulations and good management – parking revenue in Africa will quadruple by 2015
public transport. In Paris, fewer than half of commuters rely on cars. Even though these European cities are older, often with narrow streets, they have far less congestion than Lagos.
A new vision T ough there are transport policies in most parts of Africa, little emphasis has been placed on parking standards and regulations. T ese are now currently being reviewed as part of Vision 20:20, a process through which many African leaders are demonstrating understanding of the importance of eff ective planning and investment. T e allocation of public funds aims to improve
not a free commodity. T e proliferation of overseas parking companies in Johannesburg has helped other cities in South Africa to see parking as potential big business, which can make a substantial contribution to the country’s economy. T e South African model is proving a
catalyst for change in other African cities. Eff ective planning, combined with a
change in behaviour, will create an exciting market for investment. It is estimated that – with proper parking regulations and good management – parking revenue in Africa will quadruple by 2015. Utilising the expertise available from overseas companies in developing an eff ective transport system, which includes parking, makes good sense. T is investment opportunity is still a
new area for many foreign companies. Parking professionals in Africa are aiming to re-educate African leaders and policy- makers on the creation of an enabling environment for potential investors.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Waisui Seriki is chief executive offi cer of V-Park Management Solutions, based in Nigeria
12 OCTOBER 2011
www.britishparking.co.uk
BALONCICI /
SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
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