Pan African Philosophy | 03 November 2008
A Theoretical Framework for Analysing Ride-Hailing’s Impact on Motorcycle Taxi Livelihoods and Safety: A Dar es Salaam Case Study, 2008
M, o, s, e, s, K, a, t, o
Abstract
The digitalisation of urban transport in East Africa via ride-hailing platforms is reshaping the informal motorcycle taxi sector. This theoretical article examines the introduction of a ride-hailing application for motorcycle taxis and its hypothesised dual impact on drivers' livelihoods and road safety, an area requiring greater theoretical attention within the Arts & Humanities. This article aims to construct a theoretical framework for analysing how platform-mediated work reconstitutes the economic and safety conditions of motorcycle taxi drivers. Its objectives are to synthesise concepts from political economy, digital labour studies, and transport safety to model the potential trade-offs between income stability and accident risks. As a theoretical framework article, it employs a conceptual methodology. It critically synthesises and adapts existing social theory to the specific context of motorcycle taxi platformisation, building a structured analytical model from secondary literature. Key insights: The proposed framework posits that while app-based dispatch may increase income predictability for some drivers, it simultaneously introduces new safety pressures, such as algorithmic monitoring encouraging faster trip completion. A central insight is the potential for a 'safety-livelihood paradox', where platform features designed to enhance economic efficiency may inadvertently elevate risk. The constructed framework provides a conceptual tool for future empirical research. It challenges simplistic narratives of technological progress by highlighting the complex, often contradictory, outcomes of ride-hailing integration within the informal transport sector. Future research should apply this framework in empirical studies across different urban contexts. Policymakers and platform developers are urged to consider its dimensions—particularly the safety-livelihood nexus—when designing regulatory and operational protocols. digital labour, motorcycle taxis, ride-hailing, platform economy, transport safety, livelihoods, theoretical framework, East Africa This article contributes a novel theoretical framework to the field of Pan African Philosophy, offering a structured lens to analyse the intertwined economic and safety implications of transport platformisation in African urban contexts.