The trial, which began on Saturday, May 24, features ten electric buses operating daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Buses leave terminal stations every three to five minutes, even if not fully occupied, allowing passengers along the route to board more easily. Each bus departs with a maximum of 63 passengers, with remaining seats left for roadside pickups.
The initiative is part of Kigali's broader push to make public transport more efficient and accessible and is being implemented by the City of Kigali in collaboration with the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), EcoFleet, and BASIGO.
Emma Claudine Ntirenganya, the Director General for Communication and Education at the City of Kigali, says the pilot will help determine the best way to improve the overall passenger experience.
'With this pilot study, we want to understand whether drivers who experience low passenger volumes during off-peak hours can make up for it during peak times," Ntirenganya revealed during a recent media interview.
"We also want to make room for those onboarding along the way. Typically, buses get overcrowded at stations and people waiting at intermediate stops are left stranded. This new system is helping us rethink how we serve all commuters more equitably.'
If the trial proves successful, authorities plan to expand the system to other routes across the city.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/kigali-begins-pilot-program-for-express-commuter-buses
