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Namibia: Swakop Closes Hitching Spot
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The Namibian (Windhoek)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Adam Hartman
Windhoek
THE popular B2 hitch-hiking spot outside Swakopmund on the road to Windhoek has been closed for safety reasons.
The spot has for many years been used by hundreds of hitch-hikers hoping to hitch a cheap ride to the interior, instead of using licensed taxis.
Over the years the area was adopted by the public and taxi operators as a taxi rank because of facilities erected there for waiting travellers' convenience.
A large space, with shelters, and even a public telephone were among the facilities erected, but according to the Swakopmund Town Council it had been done without the blessing of the municipality.
Last week, after a joint decision by the Council and the Namibian Bus and Taxi and Association, all these facilities were removed by Roads Authority.
The area has also been closed off by roadside barriers with "no stopping" signs placed in several positions.
Due to its popularity, the area was frequented by more and more people, with several reported instances of unruly behaviour involving alcohol abuse.
A couple of years ago, a traveller was killed there after being hit by a vehicle.
Aggravating the safety situation is the fact that more traffic is making use of the Nelson Mandela Street entrance to Swakopmund's northern suburbs and fast-growing industrial area.
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There is also no lighting, making night-time hiking even more dangerous for hitch-hikers and motorists alike.
According to Melvin Cloete of the Swakopmund Municipality's Traffic Department, the closure of the area would hopefully encourage hikers to move away from this "risky" area to nearby truck ports or even the new taxi rank in Mondesa.
Cloete admitted, though, that travellers who could not afford bus fares would probably just move on to another spot further down the road to hitch a ride.
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