In 2024, Lusaka's transportation landscape is dominated by car usage, with a significant portion of the population relying on buses. Despite the heavy reliance on cars, there are opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce emissions in Lusaka's traffic system.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves around 3.57 minutes waiting, 21.71 minutes driving, and covers a distance of 17.62 km.
  • Bus - Bus commuters spend about 12.5 minutes waiting and 22.5 minutes on the bus, covering a distance of 5.25 km.
  • Car - Car users experience a driving time of 30.4 minutes with a total distance of 22.57 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Car
63%
Bus
25%
Home
13%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the rainy season due to poor road conditions. Holiday seasons see a spike in traffic as residents travel to visit family.

Commuter Pain Points

Frequent traffic jams during peak hours cause significant delays. Limited public transport options lead to overcrowding on buses.

Best Travel Times

Traveling before 7 AM or after 7 PM can help avoid peak traffic. Midday travel is generally smoother due to reduced congestion.

Event Impacts

Public events and festivals often lead to road closures and increased traffic. Sporting events can cause localized congestion around stadiums.

Sustainability Efforts

Lusaka is exploring bus rapid transit systems to improve public transport efficiency. Initiatives to promote cycling and walking are being considered to reduce car dependency.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services are gaining popularity, offering flexible transport options. These services help reduce the number of cars on the road, easing congestion.

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 8 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
10.9 miles
Walking
6.4 mins
Waiting
3.6 mins
Driving Car
21.7 mins
Bus / Trolley
6.4 mins
Other
0.7 mins
Total:
38.9 mins
Average when primarily using Bus
Distance
3.3 miles
Walking
12.5 mins
Waiting
12.5 mins
Bus / Trolley
22.5 mins
Other
2.5 mins
Total:
50.0 mins
Average when primarily using Car
Distance
14.0 miles
Walking
4.0 mins
Driving Car
30.4 mins
Total:
34.4 mins
Lusaka Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Car usage is predominant, highlighting the need for alternative transport solutions.

Investing in public transport infrastructure could alleviate traffic congestion and reduce emissions.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Lusaka's CO2 emissions index is notably high at 6047.43.

Efforts to reduce emissions could focus on promoting public transport and reducing car dependency.

Time

The time index stands at 38.86, indicating moderate traffic delays.

Improving road infrastructure could help decrease commute times.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index is 164.89, suggesting room for improvement in traffic flow.

Optimizing traffic signals and routes could enhance efficiency.

Lusaka

Nearby Cities

We don't have any relevant "Quality of life" data on cities with a 200 mile radius of Lusaka
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