Photo: Dr. Esther Boupda, Consultant in Transport Economics.Intercity Bus Station, Douala, CamerounIntercity passenger transportation is an important cluster of
economic activities in developing countries since a small share of
the population owns an automobile. Several personal and commercial
interactions are therefore assumed by bus services, implying that a
bus station is at the same time a passenger and freight terminal. It
is therefore not surprising that activities related to urban freight
distribution are located around bus stations. On the above photo, an intercity bus station in Douala, Cameroun
shows high activity levels for passengers, but also for freight. In
addition to offer long distance passenger services, the bus company
can also transport freight (parcels) on behalf of their customers.
Due to its centrality and level of activity, many commercial
activities are agglomerating in vicinity.
