City of Kigali has announced a series of measures aimed at ensuring free flow of traffic to ease movement in the city’s busy business district. Implementation of the measures that start tomorrow with the opening a bus terminal where buses can drop and pick passengers, will also see street parking in some busy areas prohibited. While Kigali does not yet have the level of traffic congestion as other cities in the region such as Kampala or Nairobi, this preemptive move to nip in the bud the inevitable problem, is commendable and should be fully implemented. The new terminal, opposite Kigali Central Prison, will not only make life easier for city commuters, but will also improve the flow of traffic in that side of town where huge commercial building will soon open doors to business. With public transport running smoothly, city authorities should boldly implement the plan to limit the number of private cars entering the business district by imposing hefty parking fees. While private car owners have every right to enjoy the comfort of their vehicles, sometimes there is need to regulate inconsiderate use of limited space. For example, if all the hundreds of thousands of business people operating in downtown brought their vehicles out on the streets, there would be virtually not even walking space. This has costs implications not only to the public, but also the business community as traffic congestion slows down work including eating into the time one would spend to travel from home to their place of work; or from office to the bank to seal that very important deal. Less traffic congestion is also in line with Kigali’s policy to curb pollution and maintain its reputation as a clean city.
