Kigali Sees 30,000 More Commuters Using Public Transport After Bus Lane Expansion
Kigali, Rwanda – The introduction of dedicated bus lanes in Rwanda’s capital has led to a surge in public transport usage, with an additional 30,000 commuters opting for buses since late April, city officials report.
The expanded bus lanes, now covering major routes across Kigali, have significantly reduced travel times and eased traffic congestion, encouraging more residents to leave their cars at home.
Shift from Private Cars to Public Transport
Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya, Director General of Communication and Community Education at the City of Kigali, confirmed that daily bus ridership has risen from 200,000 to 230,000.
“Naturally, some of these new bus users previously relied on private cars, while others switched from motorcycle taxis,” Ntirenganya told The New Times.
The reforms are part of a broader effort to modernize Kigali’s public transport system, which now includes fixed departure schedules managed by state-owned Ecofleet Solutions. This replaces the old system where buses waited until they were full before departing.
Faster Commutes, Fewer Delays
The impact on travel times has been dramatic. The journey from Nyabugogo to Nyanza in Kicukiro, which once took over an hour, now takes just 30 minutes. Similarly, the Downtown-Kabuga route has seen travel times halved—from nearly two hours to just one.
The dedicated lanes currently operate on four key corridors:
- Downtown-Payage-Kanogo-Rwandex-Sonatube-Giporoso-Ku cya Mitsingi
- Sonatube-Kicukiro Centre-Nyanza Bus Park
- Downtown-former 1930 Prison-Nyabugogo Bus Park
- Downtown-Gloria Hotel-City Plaza
More Buses, Less Waiting
To further improve efficiency, additional buses have been deployed to reduce waiting times at stops. The city is also considering expanding the dedicated lane program to more routes in a second phase.
Ntirenganya emphasized that the changes aim to make public transport a more attractive option, ultimately reducing reliance on private vehicles and easing congestion.
As Kigali continues to refine its transport network, the early success of the bus lane initiative suggests that more residents are embracing the shift—a promising sign for the city’s sustainable mobility goals.
— Reported by Nexio News
