Mototáxi: proposta de parâmetros e normas gerais para concessão do serviço - estudo de caso no município de Betim-MG

Abstract

The public transport system in Brazil consists primarily of buses, which represent 90% of the demand. However, the number of motorcycle sales doubled from 1995 through 2000 and once again from 2000 through 2005, reaching the peak of 1.6 million motorcycles in 2007. This hasaccounted for a change in the motorcycle use profile, as their owners not only use them for their own transportation, but also for services such as motorcycle courier and taxi. Particularly motorcycle taxi is an irreversible reality in a significant number of Brazilian cities, as it is part of the populations transportation habits, even though the service is usually provided illegally. Government intervention is crucial to repair operational failures that emerge from the illegal practices, including risk factors and environmental issues. Against this background, this thesis reports on a case study in Betim, a Municipality in Brazil, building on the examination of (i) law and documents related to public transport services, (ii) secondary data of quantitative surveys carried out in 2011 to approach motorcycle taxi drivers, Betim residents and motorcycle taxi users, and (iii) primary data of interviews carried out in 2012 with actors involved in the motorcycle taxi system. The result provides technical requirements that should be included in public announcements for motorcycle taxi drivers engagement as a means of enhancing transport quality, especially in terms of safety, comfort, environment, civility, andlegalization of taxi drivers operations for their social inclusion. Moreover, the case study suggests topics to be included in specialized training and education courses to be offered to future and current motorcycle (taxi) drivers as a means of turning motorcycle taxi a real option for improved urban mobility.