Recently, the Kenyan government announced plans to restrict private vehicle use in the Nairobi central business district (CBD) as a way of curbing congestion. Instead, motorists would park their vehicles on the outskirts of the city and use public transport to reach the city centre.

Measures to manage private vehicle use are key to improving the efficiency of Nairobi’s transport system. But as we disincentivize car use, we need to take corresponding steps to improve the performance of the Nairobi public transport system.

Today, PSVs are stuck in traffic, resulting in slow journeys during peak hours. Given the radial matatu route structure, commuters travelling across town are forced to make arduous transfers across the CBD.

Moving forward, a bus rapid transit (BRT) system would be a more sustainable and inclusive alternative for all. Successful BRT systems have dedicated lanes to free buses from congestion and stations with step-less boarding to improve accessibility.

A BRT system would provide an opportunity for the public transport industry to professionalise and provide reliable service under government oversight.

Efficient BRT systems need well-planned infrastructure in line with existing and future demand patterns. Information on passenger movements is key in identifying BRT routes, defining service frequencies, and sizing corridor infrastructure.

The system design should support the value proposition of efficient, reliable, affordable, and shorter commutes. Cross-town BRT services would eliminate the need to transfer, reducing congestion in the central business district. BRT service extensions running directly into outlying areas would reduce time spent on journeys, encouraging a shift from private cars.

Once a reliable public transport system is in place, we need to rethink existing parking policies. On a typical day, the streets of downtown Nairobi are filled with cars angling for space on the city’s increasingly congested streets. Double and even triple parking is rampant, and cars often park in spaces meant for pedestrians and cyclists.

Currently, the county government charges a daily parking fee of Ksh.300 in the CBD. Most of Nairobi’s off-street parking structures remain underutilised as drivers prefer cheaper on-street parking.

In addition, the county government is considering plans to increase off-street parking spaces in the city in a bid to increase revenue. However, In the absence of higher fees commensurate with market demand, on-street parking areas will remain crowded even as the off-street supply is expanded. In the long run, an increasing supply of parking will encourage more drive-alone trips and greater reliance on personal vehicles.

A strategy that adopts hourly parking fees based on the level of demand can ensure sufficient availability. With demand-responsive pricing, charges will vary depending on location and even the time of day. Studies show that motorists are extremely sensitive to cost.

When the price of private vehicle use is high, commuters opt for public transport. Hourly pricing also can help shift long-term commuter parking to off-street lots, freeing up prime on-street spaces for short-term users. In the process, hourly parking fees can increase revenue for cities. The extra revenue generated from demand-responsive pricing can be used to fund public transport improvements.

The city should enforce parking regulations with stricter fines and digital enforcement systems. IT-based enforcement systems can improve efficiency by ensuring real-time data tracking, more accurate citations, better documentation of violations, and easier payments.

Returning to the question of park-and-ride, are there ways that we can encourage the use of public transport without the need to build massive new parking lots? A better solution is to apportion government land near public transport stops for affordable housing.

The space occupied by a car in a structured park-and-ride lot, inclusive of driveways and ramps, is around 20-25 sq m—the same space as an affordable housing unit. Mixed-use development is the optimal use of land near BRT and commuter rail stations, as it would help Nairobi ensure that the majority of residents are within walking distance of high-quality rapid transit.

Integrated land use and transport planning, effective demand-based parking policies, and an efficient public transport system are key to addressing the current challenges Nairobi is facing, enabling city residents to enjoy fast and affordable commutes.