The ‘Matatu’ system in Nairobi has become the first informal network to be launched on Google Maps.
Matatus are the main mode of public transport within Nairobi, and are used by over 70% of the city’s population. They are a cheap, convenient and consistent means of movement within the capital. They however also pose a huge challenge as they are overly chaotic.
The Matatus are privately owned by individuals and as such, their operations are very hard to keep in check. Their ticket prices are unregulated and their stop points can be unreliable.
In a collaboration called Digital Matatus, researchers from MIT, Columbia University, and the University of Nairobi along with the design firm Groupshot released a map of the entire matatu system last year-a first for a non-formal transit system. And on Wednesday, it became the first informal network to be launched on Google Maps. Just as New York commuters can plot their subway routes on the service, residents of Nairobi can now jack into the matatu system on their smartphones.
This was made possible through a thorough research and four months of riding the matatus armed with smartphones. Residents of Nairobi can now find every route within the city on their smartphones at any time.
