ABSTRACT

This chapter highlights how the sustainability of transport systems, as a safe mode of transport for freight and passengers, is critical to the survival of many economies, in particular those in industrially developing countries (IDCs). IDCs already face a number of challenges such as water scarcity, healthcare provision, and poor working conditions. With an increase in urbanization in IDCs, one of the biggest challenges for IDCs is the need for reliable, efficient, and safe transport systems and infrastructure. Transport systems in IDCs are a key factor for effective and sustainable development in emerging economies. This is because transport enables trade, commerce, employment, and social interaction, bringing people together out of their immediate communities in a national and increasingly global life (Sustainable Energy Africa, 2017). Multiple competing transport modes, including private vehicles that are designed for high speed and acceleration by relying on fossil fuels, negatively characterize transport systems. The gaseous and particulate emissions from motor vehicles (especially when filled with petroleum) are a major environmental and sustainability issue (Sustainable Energy Africa, 2017). Therefore, a mass public transport system with a mix of different modes is more environmentally effective than people driving in vehicles. City bus and train systems provide the most energy-efficient transport in terms of energy per commuter per kilometer (Sustainable Energy Africa, 2017) but are often underutilized in IDCs due to examples such as inconvenience factors (access to informal settlements is not provided), having a reputation of being unreliable, and being perceived as slower than more commonly used taxis. This chapter will unpack the key barriers to effective transport development in emerging economies and what role the human factors/ergonomics (HFE) discipline and profession can play in enabling sustainable transport systems.