Yaounde transportation
At the moment, it is a nightmare for Yaoundé city dwellers to circulate around town using taxis.
In 2006, when the Transnational Industries Cameroon (TIC), created by the US Company, Transnational Automotive Group (TAUG), and other Cameroon-based companies launched the urban transportation system “Le Bus” for the city of Yaoundé, many inhabitants saw that as an end to the two-decade stretch without an organised system of public transport.
However, the fluid movement of people brought by “Le Bus” in and around Yaoundé has been short-lived as these buses are dwindling into oblivion.
Visible to most road users in the city of Yaoundé is the lack of the “blue buses” along major roads. As such, movement within the capital city is becoming more and more difficult as people have to stand along the road for long before taking a cab from one corner of the town to another. Cynthia Tim, an inhabitant at the Mendong neighbourhood in Yaoundé said getting a cab from Mendong to the Central Market in Yaoundé is a nightmare.
Before now, Cynthia says she could stand along the road for not more than 10 minutes because she was waiting for the passing of another bus. But now, the wait is longer than normal. Just like other Mendong inhabitants, Cynthia says she could wait for sometimes over 45 minutes before getting a cab from Mendong to the Central Post Office.
According to Tim, taxis are not only limited in terms of number but the cost to board them is also expensive. Inhabitants say with “Le Bus” services, they were sure to go about their daily activities with just FCFA 150 per trip. But now, the least one can offer for a taxi fee is FCFA 250.
“Such is not only making life difficult but also movement,” Estelle Masso, another citizen in Yaoundé reiterated. Many people say they have resorted to unorthodox and risky means to move around town. The most preferred alternatives are the use of motorbikes and clandestine means of transportation which, according to another road user, Joan E has exposed many people to accidents and robbery.
As Cameroonians sort out various ways to circulate around town without the existence of an organised system of urban public transportation, the government, through its different services, is working out ways to establish an enterprise which could improve urban transportation in the city of Yaoundé. Authorities at the Yaoundé City Council are working to create Le Bus-CO SA, which will be a new transport corporation aimed at improving urban transportation in the town of Yaoundé.
