Our thinking

Transporting sustainably

2 August, 2024

In Africa, where the region’s urban population is increasing by 3.5% each year, a growing number of countries have invested in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, as an effective high-capacity transport service which runs on dedicated lanes to provide fast journey times, and helps to relieve pressure from city infrastructure.

But in West Africa, a more sustainable BRT system is being adopted. In response to the declining quality of their public transport services, Senegal launched its first BRT system in January, a fully electric 18.3km bus system across Dakar, using solar generated renewable energy. Following their lead, the Ivory Coast has announced the launch of their own BRT line in Abidjan, a 20km system connecting two councils with a combined population of over two million. The line will consist of 100 fully electric buses, described by the Prime Minister as offering ‘better air quality and cutting-edge technology’ to commuters.

Senegal and the Ivory Coast’s embrace of an energy efficient BRT signals an exciting step towards a more modernised urban transport system, sustainably relieving pressure from their infrastructure system, while paving the way for others to follow their lead. For more news on often underreported sustainable development stories in Africa, be sure to check out Afrik21.

By Rosie Serlin