Public transport shortages exacerbate Moroccans’ struggles during peak seasons

Professionals and trade unionists in Morocco’s road transport sector say pressure on taxis in the days leading up to religious holidays and school breaks requires more effective regulatory intervention. They called for strengthening supply and improving public transport management to meet growing travel demand while easing the burden on citizens during high-congestion periods.

Industry stakeholders emphasized the need to modernize the road transport sector by adopting contemporary management approaches. They highlighted the importance of expanding supply through diverse and integrated transport options to keep pace with the ongoing transformation of Moroccan cities and respond to rising mobility needs.

Speakers said this modernization should improve service quality and further develop the legal framework governing the sector. This would help ensure transparency and equal opportunities among operators, ultimately reducing the chaotic conditions and recurring shortages seen during peak periods.

Advanced management

Mustapha Chaoune, secretary-general of the Democratic Organization of Transport and Multimodal Logistics, said the days preceding religious holidays create additional pressure on transport services, especially taxis, due to increased trips related to shopping and other errands.

“This period naturally sees intense movement and a simultaneous surge in transport demand, while available supply remains limited,” he told Hespress AR.

Chaoune added that the situation has become an annual pattern.

“What is required today is raising public awareness to avoid leaving errands to the last minute, as this behavior leads to severe overcrowding and strains a transport system that is not sufficiently prepared,” he said.

He noted that the issue does not lie in the system’s design itself but in the sudden volume of demand, which requires expanding the fleet to ensure adequate supply.

Chaoune also said the sector suffers from structural imbalances, particularly in road transport and collective passenger services. These accumulated challenges represent a legacy that cannot be resolved quickly, meaning current conditions require pragmatic management while longer-term reforms are implemented.

He added that the most practical short-term solution lies in strengthening oversight by security and local authorities, particularly at transport hubs and in areas where unauthorized operators may be active. He called for increasing the number of available vehicles to better balance supply and demand and ensure safer, more organized travel during peak periods.

Modernizing the sector

Samir Farabi, secretary-general of the Democratic Transport Union, said Morocco’s public passenger transport sector faces structural and organizational constraints that require a comprehensive and integrated response aligned with evolving user needs and market dynamics.

Farabi said the current system suffers from a clear shortage of supply, particularly in certain cities, affecting service quality and worsening daily commuting conditions.

He said the situation calls for a new approach focused on expanding and organizing supply by reforming the permit issuance system. He also urged the integration of modern transport models, including ride-hailing applications, within a clear legal framework that ensures fair competition among operators.

Farabi emphasized the need to open meaningful dialogue between authorities, professional bodies and driver representatives.

He also highlighted the role of ride-hailing applications in alleviating transport shortages, particularly during peak demand periods, noting that they have helped improve urban mobility despite the need for clearer regulation to ensure proper integration into the broader transport system.