Joint effort can stop traffic jam
Jan 02, 2008
<b>Your platform</b><br><br>By Salim Uhuru, <br><br>I am a daily commuter around some of the most crowded streets of the city. I move a lot around as I transact my businesses. These streets include Ben Kiwanuka, Namirembe Road, Luwum street, Wilson Road and sections of Kampala Road. Having used
Your platform
By Salim Uhuru,
I am a daily commuter around some of the most crowded streets of the city. I move a lot around as I transact my businesses. These streets include Ben Kiwanuka, Namirembe Road, Luwum street, Wilson Road and sections of Kampala Road. Having used these streets for many years, I realise that the situation is getting worse every passing day. And yet, we the Local Leaders in the city are not looking to find a solution to these problems soon.
I have been carrying out research as to why traffic jams are increasing and I have come up with at least three major diagnoses.
The first of these is the taxis. It is fool hardy to have two major taxi parks in the city, with each holding at last 4,000 vehicles at any one time. To make matters worse, these parks are so near each other. And, UTODA is still registering taxis every day.
To add to this, the taxis have very many stages outside the parks. These unplanned stages add to the jams. For example, taxi drivers have long turned parts of Luwum, Wilson and William streets into stages. Arua Park, Namirembe Road, Kampala Road, especially near Shell Kampala Road, the Post Office and the Constitutional Square have also been turned into parks.
There is a lot of inconvenience to other road users because of these taxis. To make matters worse, these taxi drivers do not show any respect for other road users. They are impatient most of the time and pull in and out of the road at will.
My suggestion is that it is the time to go the Kenyan or even international way. We no longer need taxis parked in one place like the expanse park waiting for passengers. Local Leaders have to set up a system were taxis are constantly on the move. Local Leaders have on several occasions suggested satellite parks be set up outside the central business district.
Although efforts have been made, for example at Nakawa, this proposal has largely failed because of various issues, one of which is UTODA`s perceived connection to the powers that be. However, I think that it is high time we implement it.
The second cause of traffic jams, are the boda-boda riders. I am one of the people who use them, as I run my businesses, but this cannot stop me from commenting on how disorganised they are.
For starters, they do not pay any levies to the council and yet, they contribute heavily to the destruction of the city infrastructure, including increasing garbage. Boda-bodas can park anywhere at any time. In fact, most of the time, they park in the road, thus cutting off many drivers.
Roads like Namirembe, especially near the Nakivubo Stadium are full of these riders. I think it is high time Local Leaders stood on their ground and organised these riders.
The third issue is the upcountry buses. These buses still use the main bus park behind Qualicel Building, but they cannot fit there.
As a result, they park along the sides of various roads, including Namirembe Road and sometimes Kafumbe Mukasa Road. Like the case is with taxis, bus parks had been set up outside the city center, but the directive was somehow abandoned. If we are to successfully fight these jams, we must avoid politicking.â€
By Salim Uhuru,
I am a daily commuter around some of the most crowded streets of the city. I move a lot around as I transact my businesses. These streets include Ben Kiwanuka, Namirembe Road, Luwum street, Wilson Road and sections of Kampala Road. Having used these streets for many years, I realise that the situation is getting worse every passing day. And yet, we the Local Leaders in the city are not looking to find a solution to these problems soon.
I have been carrying out research as to why traffic jams are increasing and I have come up with at least three major diagnoses.
The first of these is the taxis. It is fool hardy to have two major taxi parks in the city, with each holding at last 4,000 vehicles at any one time. To make matters worse, these parks are so near each other. And, UTODA is still registering taxis every day.
To add to this, the taxis have very many stages outside the parks. These unplanned stages add to the jams. For example, taxi drivers have long turned parts of Luwum, Wilson and William streets into stages. Arua Park, Namirembe Road, Kampala Road, especially near Shell Kampala Road, the Post Office and the Constitutional Square have also been turned into parks.
There is a lot of inconvenience to other road users because of these taxis. To make matters worse, these taxi drivers do not show any respect for other road users. They are impatient most of the time and pull in and out of the road at will.
My suggestion is that it is the time to go the Kenyan or even international way. We no longer need taxis parked in one place like the expanse park waiting for passengers. Local Leaders have to set up a system were taxis are constantly on the move. Local Leaders have on several occasions suggested satellite parks be set up outside the central business district.
Although efforts have been made, for example at Nakawa, this proposal has largely failed because of various issues, one of which is UTODA`s perceived connection to the powers that be. However, I think that it is high time we implement it.
The second cause of traffic jams, are the boda-boda riders. I am one of the people who use them, as I run my businesses, but this cannot stop me from commenting on how disorganised they are.
For starters, they do not pay any levies to the council and yet, they contribute heavily to the destruction of the city infrastructure, including increasing garbage. Boda-bodas can park anywhere at any time. In fact, most of the time, they park in the road, thus cutting off many drivers.
Roads like Namirembe, especially near the Nakivubo Stadium are full of these riders. I think it is high time Local Leaders stood on their ground and organised these riders.
The third issue is the upcountry buses. These buses still use the main bus park behind Qualicel Building, but they cannot fit there.
As a result, they park along the sides of various roads, including Namirembe Road and sometimes Kafumbe Mukasa Road. Like the case is with taxis, bus parks had been set up outside the city center, but the directive was somehow abandoned. If we are to successfully fight these jams, we must avoid politicking.â€