The concept of sustainable transport means both effective and environmentally friendly transport which is a dream of many countries around the world.
As far as Rwanda is concerned, heavy investments have been put in infrastructure and public transport. According to Imena Munyampenda, Director General of Rwanda Transport Development Authority (RTDA), the country is making sure that the effectiveness and the environmental factors are met.
For the environment, efforts are being deployed in acquiring green transport; replacing fuel empowered buses by electric and hybrid buses, this will reduce gas emission and air pollution.
According to an inventory conducted by Rwanda Environment Management Authority (REMA) in 2019, Vehicles are the biggest agents of air pollution with 13 percent of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.
The country must also focus on expanding its road network by adding more lanes to existing roads and constructing new ones to improve effectiveness and reduce congestion.
Moreover, this will increase the reliability of buses because it will help bus operators to make schedules.
“A passenger will be able to say that my bus will be at this bus stage in the next five minutes,” Imena said.
“We want to reach a stage where people will leave the private cars at home and choose to board a bus to town.”
Meanwhile, in effort to fight congestion, RTDA is working on project that is intended to provide dedicated bus lanes.
Imena Munyampenda, Director General of RTDA
However, while the government is making significant efforts to improve transport infrastructure, road users are still facing numerous challenges that hinder their daily commuters.
Emmanuel Byishimo, a driver from Kigali, highlighted the difficulties faced by those who navigate the city’s streets every day.
According to Byishimo, one of the main issues is lack of designated lanes for different types of vehicles. “In Rwanda, we don’t have separate lanes for motorcycles, cars, and bicycles,” he said.
“All of these vehicles share the same road, which makes mobility difficult, causing frequent accidents.”
Congestion is another major issue, particularly during rush hours. Byishimo noted that even when driving his own car, he is often delayed due to traffic jams.
“There are areas with constant severe congestion. Even if I’m driving my own car and not using public transport, I still end up being late because there are no options but to wait for the traffic jam to clear,” he said.
He cited specific roads that are frequently clogged with traffic, such as the route running from Rwamagana in the Eastern Province toward Kigali, especially between Kabuga and Remera.
The road connecting Nyarutarama to Gishushu is another hotspot for congestion, particularly during peak commuting hours.
Emelyne Murekeyisoni, a Kigali resident who relies on public transport, also shared her experiences with the city’s transport system.
While she prefers using motorcycles for quicker travel, she acknowledged the risks. “Motorcycles help me avoid traffic jams, but they come with higher risks of accidents compared to cars,” Murekeyisoni said. “However, I accept this risk to save time.”
She also pointed out the delays that plague Kigali’s bus services. “The waiting times at bus stations can be very long. Sometimes, buses don’t depart until they are full, which means I could spend an hour waiting before the bus leaves,” she explained.
These delays not only cause frustration but also affect productivity, especially for people heading to work. “If you’re late for work, it could impact your performance, or even cost you your job,” Murekeyisoni added.
Both Byishimo and Murekeyisoni agree that significant changes need to be made to improve the transport system and realize the dream of sustainable transport.
Byishimo advocates for the construction of dedicated lanes for motorcycles and bicycles to help reduce traffic accidents and congestion. “If there were roads specifically designed for motorcycles and bicycles, it would reduce the number of accidents and ease congestion,” he said.
“Cars wouldn’t have to compete for the same lane, and this would help reduce traffic jams.”
Murekeyisoni echoed this sentiment, suggesting that creating separate roads for different types of vehicles could alleviate some of the problems.
“Public transport should have its own lanes, while large vehicles like trucks should be restricted to certain roads. Private cars should also have their own lanes,” she said. “This would help reduce transportation problems.”
Even if there are still significant challenges to overcome so that the country may develop a more sustainable transport system, it is clear that are some progresses made.
The quality of the road network has improved during the last decade due to substantial investment and sustained improvement in maintenance. The total network for roads countrywide is 44,671km of which 1,973 km is paved; and 72% of the total paved roads are national roads.