Abstract
The rapid rise of e-hailing services, such as Uber and Bolt, in 2013 has significantly transformed urban mobility in Johannesburg, South Africa. These e-hailing services leverage Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as GPS and digital payment systems, to offer a convenient and flexible alternative to traditional transport modes. They also address challenges such as traffic congestion, inadequate public transportation infrastructure, and safety concerns. Despite their growing popularity, with the international e-hailing market valued at USD 93.32 billion in 2024 and likely to reach 2.31 billion users by 2029, a gap still exists in understanding factors driving the adoption of e-hailing services in Johannesburg and their impact on alternative transport modes This study aims to address this gap by exploring the determinants of e-hailing adoption and its influence on other transportation modes in Johannesburg, where minibus taxis dominate, accounting for 60% of daily trips.
The primary objective of this study was to identify the key determinants of e-hailing adoption in Johannesburg and examine their relationship with the use of other transport modes. Secondary objectives included (i) investigating the association between socio-demographic factors and e-hailing adoption, (ii) determining the association between ICT use and e-hailing adoption, and (iii) determining the correlation between e-hailing use and alternative transport modes in Johannesburg. Adopting a positivist research philosophy and a quantitative approach, the study utilized a survey strategy, employing a structured questionnaire distributed to 1,200 respondents aged 18 to 65 years, selected through stratified random sampling to represent Johannesburg’s diverse population. Data was collected from shopping malls and analysed using descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression, and correlation analysis to explore relationships between variables. Ethical considerations, including informed consent and participant anonymity, were strictly adhered to, with clearance obtained from the University of Johannesburg’s Research Ethics Committee.
In terms of objective one, results reveal that socio-demographic factors, particularly age and middle-income levels, significantly influence e-hailing adoption, with younger, tech-savvy individuals and those in middle-income brackets showing a higher likelihood of...