Many factors are at the origin of the problem of urban transport and the ordeal of users who are increasingly dissatisfied with the services of this sector. Anarchy, poor management of certain lines, notably the 1 and the 900, accentuate the daily inconveniences of users who, out of necessity, use this mode of transport. If the quality of services on certain lines is pointed out, what is most worrying is the low frequency of bus passage and their inadequate distribution throughout the territory of Mohammedia. This explains why public transport remains out of step with the dynamic that the city is experiencing. How can one explain the eternal problems of urban mobility and the transport conditions in certain buses? The growth in demand for means of transport explains the problems that hinder urban travel. Regarding lines 1 and 900, passenger inconveniences are increasingly frequent. Currently, even when buses are crowded, the staff working there continue to take on passengers, caring little for their comfort and the risks that this type of behaviour presents. The route of line no. 1, for example, suggests that it was only designed to be profitable, without any concern for the inconveniences it generates: a route that is too long, crossing many points of the city and interspersed with many stops, a considerable waste of time for users, repetitive breakdowns of the buses that ensure this line, because their state continues to degrade without any reaction from the relevant services. Same story for line no. 900 which connects Mohammedia to Casablanca, in both directions, via the coastal road. Overloading, numerous stops, absence of air conditioning, dilapidated state of certain buses, discourteous behaviour of certain controllers, lack of respect for the elderly or the sick, children tossed in all directions in total indifference. "We have become accustomed to these daily scenes which have become customary and which, paradoxically, no longer bother us. The most worrying thing remains the security aspect which is neglected, the non-respect of the provisions of the specifications, etc. Transport policy must meet the needs of the inhabitants and must be adapted and thought out to ensure fluid and efficient mobility, while guaranteeing the safety of users. In the event of a fire or traffic accident, are the overloaded people covered by insurance?" indignantly asks this regular bus user.
Creating the conditions for healthy competition: Urban transport is at the centre of all concerns. A mother deplores the laxity of the relevant services, the lack of sanctions and the monopoly of the delegated company. "It is urgent to take the necessary measures for the introduction of other urban transport companies for the operation of critical lines and the creation of new routes within the framework of delegated management. In other words, we must break the monopoly situation that characterises this sector, so as to create the conditions for healthy competition for citizens," she indicates. Thus, in terms of transport policy, much work remains to be done. It is necessary, first of all, to resolve the problems linked to the operation of certain lines and the non-respect of the provisions of the specifications. Unprofitable lines, road infrastructure, the state of certain buses, overloading, among others, are all problems that will have to be remedied. In short, the upgrading of urban transport depends on a mobility plan that is carefully thought out and designed to reduce the deficit that this vital sector is experiencing.
News 29 Aug 2014 3 min read
Mohammedia is suffering from its public transport

