The rise of the on-demand taxi: practices and challenges for improving urban transport supply in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso[L'essor du taxi à la demande : pratiques et enjeux pour une amélioration de l'offre du transport urbain à Ouagadougou, au Burkina Faso]

On-demand taxis are made up of chauffeur-driven transport vehicles (VTCs) and hourly taxis. They are one form of urban taxi transport. Unlike shared taxis, which generally provide a conventional, basic type of service, on-demand taxis offer a more professional service. The aim of this study is therefore to analyze the contribution of on-demand taxis to improving urban transport provision in Ouagadougou. To this end, in addition to documentary research and direct observation, data was collected using qualitative and quantitative techniques. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with urban taxi users and operators. The results of the study show that Ouagadougou saw its first hourly taxis in 1990 and its first VTCs only in 2022. In addition, 23% of the users surveyed in Ouagadougou chose to travel with VTCs and hourly taxis because of the professional services offered by these modes of urban transport. In addition, 100% of the taxis used for transport on demand in Ouagadougou have a fleet of vehicles in good condition. However, the study reveals that, to date, there are no urban transport regulations governing the activities of VTCs and hourly taxis. On the one hand, this vacuum presents governance issues for the sub-sector, with the potential for conflicts of interest between players, and on the other, economic issues with the loss of tax revenue.