Getting Around Rwanda

Introduction:

Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in Africa. Meaning, the number of people per square kilometer (not mile-this part of the world uses the metric system!) is much larger than typical cities. So many people are squished together in one small space. Having such a dense population can make traffic in the city overwhelming. 

How do people get around?:

People get around using buses, cars and these little motorbikes commonly referred to as 'motos.'

The buses during the morning and evening hours when people are going to and from work tend to be completely filled. There are people in every single seat, and everyone is literally standing shoulder to shoulder. Because there are so many people and seemingly very few buses, I often have to wait around 25 to 30 minutes for the bus to come. 

On the other hand, the most convenient way of getting around is on motos. I have not taken very many, but when I did, it was definitely an experience. They are everywhere in the city. You can walk out of a building and in less than three minutes, catch a ride from a moto passing by. They give you a helmet and you just hop on the back of their bike. The moto drivers tend to weave in between cars during traffic, which would be illegal in the U.S.

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