Rea Vaya is set to transform public transport in and around Joburg. At the end of August commuters will have access to a truly world-class system - safe, fast, affordable and reliable. So what do commuters think of Rea Vaya? We spoke to Zingisa, who uses public transport to travel to work and to visit friends.
 You currently use public transport. What time do you have to leave home to get to work on time?
I live in Southdale and work in Parktown. At the moment it takes about two hours using public transport to get to work by 8am.
What do you see as the key priorities for public transport?
Safety, efficiency and reliability. I have to work to earn a living and that means that I spend three to four hours every day on the road travelling to and from work. As a commuter I am not in control of driving the vehicle. Whatever mode of transport I may use, I need to be able to travel without fear and with the assurance that I will see my friends and family at the end of each day.
What do you think of Rea Vaya?
I love the idea, especially because it will provide commuters with choice. I want to feel safe and be treated with respect - first as a human being and then as a customer. I think that Rea Vaya will provide me with that. It looks like, among other things, Rea Vaya will reduce the time I spend travelling between home and work as buses will run every five minutes and I won't have to wait for the bus to fill up with passengers when I'm there on time. That way I'll be guaranteed to arrive home earlier.
What do you think of paying for transport with a smart card instead of with cash?
The smart card is a good idea. This means that I will be able to budget for my travelling costs and pay a once-off fee on a monthly basis, instead of having to worry about having exact change on a daily basis to pay for transport fees.
Will you use Rea Vaya as a mode of transport? Why?
I will definitely use it and I cannot wait for the day it starts operating! I believe it offers safe and convenient transport, as well as good customer care. |
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