With the recent ban on the circulation of motorcycle taxis in the commune of Gombe in Kinshasa, the public transport situation in the Congolese capital has become a real headache for residents. Since Deputy Interior Minister Peter Kazadi took this step, public transportation to the city center has become scarce and prices have increased significantly, forcing commuters to pay double for access Gombe.
The move also revived the half-road phenomenon, where some drivers arbitrarily set high fares for relatively short trips, taking advantage of increased demand. This situation has direct consequences on the population who finds themselves having to spend more money on their daily trips.
The public authority seems ineffective in regulating fares and routes, leaving drivers room to decide as they wish. Public transport users then find themselves faced with endless waits and more expensive journeys to reach the city center, causing frustration and discontent.
This instability in the public transport sector raises questions about the governance of the city and the capacity of the authorities to enforce established rules. The Kinshasa population thus finds itself held hostage between unscrupulous drivers and controversial government decisions, accentuating the daily difficulties of getting around the capital.
In this context, it is essential that concrete measures are taken to guarantee fair and affordable access to public transport, thus ensuring the mobility and well-being of all citizens. Collaboration between local authorities, transport operators and civil society appears to be necessary to find sustainable solutions to these urban mobility problems.