What can Uganda learn from China about managing traffic?

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📍  Raziah Athman in Beijing 🇨🇳

The constant hum of vehicles on Beijing's ring roads, and the smooth flow despite heavy traffic, is proof that this city has mastered traffic management. It is a huge contrast to my experiences commuting in Kampala.

In China's capital, vehicles are classified based on size, ownership, and energy consumption, with registration plates in distinctive colours — blue, green, and white —indicating different vehicle categories and when they can be driven.

The segmentation simplifies recognition and detection.

New energy cars license plates introduced since 2016 are green. Yellow plates are for buses. The city character comes first in China vehicle registration plates, followed by five characters. You can’t miss the differences. 

My journey began at Beijing Daxing International Airport, which is 54 km from Peking University in Haidian district, where I am studying Chinese governance under the Dongfang Scholarships.

Our guide, Hu Mingwei, a seasoned Beijing resident with experience in over a dozen countries worldwide, shared his insights on navigating the city’s traffic. He often opts for hotels rather than enduring two-and-a-half hours in rush hour traffic to return home.

In contrast, many Ugandans can relate, as I too spend a similar amount of time commuting in Kampala every day.

Traffic on a road in Kampala

Meanwhile, back here in Beijing, as we approach the build-up area, the road is clearly demarcated, including bicycle lanes and walkways.

In the wake of the cashless revolution, bike sharing has taken shape, hitting one billion total number of shared rides by November 2023. According to the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Transport Report, this is a new record.

The road signs and traffic lights are meticulously indicated, the intersections are easy to navigate even if they appear like a maze from a distance, and there are several subway stations that connect the entire city of 21 million people.

By train, this journey would have taken about 20 minutes on the new high-speed railway service that connects the urban area of Beijing to the airport with a top speed of 250 km/hr.

Traffic on the West Fourth Ring Road in Beijing

China has benefitted from technological progress and as Professor Wu Changqi of Peking University explains, leapfrogging has led to “improved national innovation system and technology absorbing capacity”.

But ultimately the world’s second largest economy follows its own unique path to modernization. 

Beijing's ring roads

Beijing's six ring roads are crucial in managing the flow of vehicles.

Compared to Uganda's road systems which are often strained by the pressure of heavy trucks and urbanization, Beijing’s infrastructure represents years of strategic development.

The city has undergone significant upgrades since the early days of the Silk Road, showcasing a commitment to modernizing urban transport.

The Silk Road dates back thousands of years when traders needed to ferry mainly silk and other products over vast regions.

These ring roads mimic the characteristics and values of the Silk Road; driving economic, technological and social development. Bringing the idea much closer, the infrastructure resembles that of the Forbidden City. The first four ring roads are symmetrical and the rest circular.  

Ring road one in reality doesn’t exist, because “it is considered to be the perimeter of the Forbidden City”, according to Professor Zhao Dongmei from Peking University. It runs for 17 kilometres.
 
The second ring road cuts through Beijing’s central areas and the Beijing Railways Station and Beijing North Railway Station.

The peripheral third ring road, completed in 1990, passes through the central business district and is linked to four Expressway.

The fourth ring road covers eight kilometres from the city centre and has fake traffic lights that fool motorists into slowing down.

The fifth ring road is a full expressway running near Olympic venues stretching 10 kilometres.

Drivers take the Olympic lane along a Beijing ring road on July 14, 2008

The sixth ring road is remote, covering 130 kilometres of toll expressway.

The G95 Capital Area Loop Expressway is known as the seventh Ring Road, but not officially. It is an orbital road of about 1,000 kilometres encircling Beijing.

Managing vehicle numbers

A striking aspect of car ownership in China is the lottery system for purchasing vehicles. This controlled approach limits the number of cars on the road, ensuring that traffic congestion is kept in check.

Mingwei recounted his experience of waiting to enter this lottery for a new license plate, illustrating the lengths to which the government goes to manage vehicle numbers effectively.

Only Beijing residents and members of the police and military are allowed to purchase vehicles. But it is a lengthy process that can take three months. Government agencies are barred from buying vehicles for five years. 

The State Council reports that nationwide, 21.7 million passenger cars were sold in 2023. Despite the restrictions, ownership is growing.  Moreover, Beijing, like many cities in China, restricts the number of cars that can enter the central area. 

To drive a car registered in another city is equally restricted and the driver must apply.

Not following rules and traffic violations attracts exorbitant penalties that are automatically charged through the recognition systems. All activities on Beijing’s roads are captured by CCTV cameras and can easily be tracked.

Also, worth noting is the fact that major road accidents are declining thanks to efficiency in transport management.

Electric vehicles

In recent years, China has seen a dramatic rise in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, with the International Energy Agency reporting 8.1 million electric vehicles on the road in 2023.

This surge is supported by local manufacturers like BYD, which produced 1.6 million battery-only cars last year. The Chinese government actively promotes EV production, creating a competitive environment that drives innovation.

Visitors check out a BYD Seal 06 DM-i electric car at the 2024 China (Tianjin) International Auto Show in Tianjin, China, on October 3, 2024

Uganda struggles with air pollution and vehicular emissions, largely due to outdated vehicle fleets and a lack of incentives for cleaner technologies.

Implementing a targeted strategy for promoting electric vehicles, including subsidies or tax incentives, could significantly enhance Uganda's air quality and traffic management. 

Four-networks integration

Beijing’s transportation system is not only about cars; the integration of four networks — subways, buses, bicycles, and walking paths — creates a cohesive urban transit ecosystem.

My experiences on the Beijing subway highlighted its efficiency, affordability, and accessibility.

This model of integrated transportation is something Uganda could emulate, particularly in urban areas like Kampala, where public transport options are limited and often inefficient.

A view of the Old Taxi Park in Kampala

The concept of integrating multiple modes of transport could improve travel efficiency and service quality in Uganda.

By developing a reliable public transport network and encouraging alternative modes of travel, such as cycling, constructing special lanes for bikes, Uganda could alleviate not just congestion on its roads, but accidents as well. 

If half of Uganda’s population lived in one area

Beijing is home to over 21 million people within a 16,410 km² area, a density that mirrors Uganda's challenges.

With a population approaching half that of Uganda’s total in a much smaller area, Beijing’s traffic management strategies provide valuable lessons in urban planning.

China has already extended infrastructure support to Uganda, in a massive co-operation undertaking projects in roads, dams, airport, and bridges. Uganda is among the 38 sub-Saharan countries under the Chinese Belt and Road Initiative. Ninety-four (94) other countries across all continents share the benefits.

If half of Uganda’s population lived in a concentrated area, as it does in Beijing, the lessons from China’s traffic systems would be even more critical.

Passengers wait for a maglev train at a station during a trial operation in Beijing, China on December 30, 2017

Uganda must invest in smart urban planning and infrastructure development to prepare for future population growth.

As Uganda grapples with escalating traffic woes, looking to Beijing offers a wealth of knowledge in effective traffic management and urban planning.

From controlled vehicle ownership and the promotion of electric vehicles to integrated transport networks, these strategies could transform Uganda’s approach to its own traffic challenges.

Adopting such measures may not only enhance mobility, but also improve the quality of life for all Ugandans.