The deadline to participate in the demand-and-supply survey for hail-and-ride customers and metered-taxi operators, including those using e-hailing platforms, has been extended to Monday 24 October 2022.

Those interested to participate can do so by either downloading the cellphone application from app stores, or going online.

The questionnaire is intended for customers who make use of metered-taxis that are hailed at a rank or through a company, or e-hailing platforms such as Bolt, InDriver, and Uber; as well as for operators who provide these services, whether they have a legal operating licence or not.

Importantly, the survey is anonymous.

All interested parties now have until 24 October 2022 to complete the survey.
The questionnaire starts off by asking whether the person participating is a customer, or an operator. After the participant has selected the applicable response, the appropriate questionnaire will follow for completion.

‘We have decided to extend the deadline so that more people can participate. I am calling on all Capetonians who make use of these services to please use the extra time to complete the survey.

‘While we are of the view that the state should ideally not need to engage in trying to measure market demand, nor stipulating market supply, the current law requires that we follow a clear and transparent process to decide on the issuing of new operating permits by the Western Cape Provincial Regulatory Entity (PRE).

‘By participating in this survey you will help us determine how many operators Cape Town needs. Thus, customers will in the end benefit from telling us where the gaps are so that we can address these in a systematic and planned manner.

‘The questionnaire is aimed at informing us of the customer’s hail-and-ride experience. For example, participants are asked about their trip start locations, how long they usually wait for the operator to arrive, how often they travel and at what times. It should take about five minutes, if that long, to complete the questionnaire,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Urban Mobility, Councillor Rob Quintas.

As for operators, the City is calling on all metered-taxi operators – whether hailed at a rank or through a company, or e-hailing platforms – to complete the questionnaire.

‘The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide us with critical data to more accurately determine the factors to apply in whether the City can support the issuing of any new operating licences by the PRE. The questions posed to operators focus on their operating hours, waiting times between trips, busiest and quietest times. The latter is important because the long-term sustainability of the industry is key.

‘I am thus urging operators to please make use of the opportunity and complete this anonymous questionnaire. The more data we collect, the better, as this will enable us to make an informed decision. By working together we can create an operating model that is in the interest of customers and operators, and the businesses facilitating these services,’ said Councillor Quintas.

Caption: The City developed a survey to determine the demand for and supply of metered-taxi services across the city. The survey is facilitated on a cellphone application that is available for downloading from app stores; and it is also available online. The new closing date for participation is 24 October 2022.

Source: City of Cape Town