It is not about choosing between your car or the buses. It’s a choice between getting there on time or getting there in your car.
Grandstanding ? Really ? So I shouldn’t point out the fact that I researched on the solution ?
So now it’s not just about building new business districts but also clustering ? Clustering is what will solve the problem ?
And “new cities” isn’t grand ? And if you’re going to say I’m taking it out of context, how will anything short of grand solve the traffic problems in a metropolitan like Lagos. “Just new places to work outside the island.” Clearly you’re downplaying the situation on ground to suit your proposal.
Oh well, Lagosians can enjoy their AC-ed cars in unending traffic. Better in a car than in a bus right ? Gotta keep up appearances.
I did say build roads and maintain existing ones though. Sorry but it doesn’t sound right if the same government that commissioned the expansion of Ikorodu road into 5 lanes and failed to deliver after over three years suddenly turns around to say commuters of the current shit road should pay some heavy tax before they drive, with plans to further…
Oh, and if driving rather than being subjected to a cesspool that is our public transport system is seen as keeping up appearances, so be it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Oh sure. Good roads. Because no city with good roads will ever have traffic problem. Someone just mentioned how Cairo with the best rail network in Africa still has traffic issues and you’re still going on about just building roads and new cities that are not grand. Don’t you realise that the vehicle population is being increased by the residents in-situ! Today only 5 people in a street have cars, Tomorrow it’s 10, and no one new moved in.
By all means, twist and manipulate the write-up to suit yourself. Looks like that is what you have to result to now.
Did I say car owners should be taxed and then the road capacity reduced ? Do you not see that those are two separate proposals ? Did you not read the accompanying issues and requirements ?
In nearly all solutions I listed I added that public transportation needs to be improved.
You’re quick to conclude that the solutions above won’t work without any reasons. You think developed cities in the world are just throwing more roads at their traffic problems ?
Yinka lagos happens to be one of the largest cities in the world and to tell you the truth some of l the improvements u mentioned were proposed decades ago. The military tried the one day on one day off driving, ojo madueke suggested bicycles. Fashola was the first governor to have a focused public transport plan with the rail and BRT. But even BRT shows the limitations of transport in Lagos. The fast track dedicated route works only up to the end of third mainland bridge then the buses join the congestion getting into VI.
Abuja was about decongestion. Moving the fgn there probably saved Lagos from the 3 million now living in abuja and environs. Importers are shifting to Cotonou for the same reason. Nobody wants to go before their time because of lagos traffic stress.
Lagos is fast wearing out its advantages and more companies are going to question being there with traffic congestion, expensive property and office space. Some companies tired of lagos traffic wahala have abandoned it for Abuja. For Port Harcourt. Many just have their operational office in london, johannesburg, dubai and have a small sales office in lagos. At the end of the day business is about doing business not sleeping in mind bending traffic.
I believe a lot has changed since those decades ago you speak of. The situation has definitely gotten worse for starters and there are more cars on the road than ever before. Maybe they should give it another try. Like you’ve pointed out public transport alone might not be enough.
I think Abuja was about common sense which ultimately demanded decongestion. Can’t have the smallest state be the commercial AND administrative capital. If the move didn’t happen Lagos would be way worse though.
Lagos is one of the most overrated cities in the world. Superficial cost of living brought upon by the excesses of the corporate sector (Oil companies and co) and the corrupt govt.
The real issue is why isn’t any other state taking advantage of this and presenting itself as the new improved Lagos ? Instead you’d find states like Kaduna losing out on an N80B new city because of a selfish governor.
I gotta say, I’m enjoying this conversation. Lagos traffic is a very serious problem. It took me over 6 hrs to get from Ikoyi to the airport, and this was around new year’s when, I assume, a lot of businesses and schools hadn’t resumed yet.
I don’t think that kind of lifestyle is sustainable. At all.
I think lagos is a text book case of the perils of primitive planning and chaotic development. A friend of mine once said someone should drop a nuclear bomb on Lagos and start afresh and while it was a joke the idea has its merits because Lagos is an example of how not to build a city.It lacks proper mass transit and the roads are built to cater to buildings rather than flow of traffic. Lagos aspires to be an American city but lacks the planning genius that created the New Yorks and Chicagos. It doesn’t have the engineering inspiration s of the Dutch whose Amsterdam is a city that utilizes every mode of transport to move people efficiently.
Lagos is just a city that reflects the modern Nigerian character. Haphazard, undisciplined and extremely individualistic.