What causes traffic congestion in cities? That is our big question. But before we discuss about that, let us talk about the global urban population growth. Global urban population growth will be concentrated in cities. With more than half of the world’s population living in urban areas by 2050.
The majority of this growth will take place in developing countries. Developing countries are simultaneously experiencing a rapid increase in demand for personal motor vehicle usage and a lack of investment in road infrastructure. This has led to an explosion of traffic congestion in cities around the world.
Traffic congestion is a complex problem that has numerous contributing factors. In this blog post, we’ll explore five key of what causes traffic congestion in cities, potential solutions to reducing it, and what these changes mean for city planners, car manufacturers, and future drivers.
The 5 Key Causes of Traffic Congestion
Traffic congestion occurs when a road network’s flow of vehicles begins to exceed the capacity of that network.
This can happen for a variety of reasons. The most common being a rapid increase in the number of private vehicles on the road, a decline in public transportation ridership, and a geographical constraint that limits the expansion of the road network.
If left unchecked, traffic congestion will continue to grow and can lead to several negative outcomes. It can cause higher vehicle operating costs, negatively impact vehicle fuel economy, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and lead to a decline in public health as people spend more time in their cars breathing polluted air. Congestion can also negatively impact city productivity and increase the cost of living.
Rapid Increase in Road Usage by Private Vehicles
One of the most significant causes of traffic congestion is the rapid increase in road usage by private vehicles. This is often a consequence of the city’s economic growth. In a growing city, the number of people working and commuting to work each day is increasing, and many of these commuters choose to drive.
This can cause a surge in the number of vehicles on the road and lead to increased traffic congestion. In addition to the sheer number of vehicles on the road, the use of private vehicles can also contribute to traffic congestion by causing individual drivers to drive inefficiently.
When driving to a personal place of employment, individuals are less likely to be mindful of the overall flow of traffic and will therefore often drive at a speed that is less efficient for the larger number of vehicles on the road.
Limited Investment in Public Transportation Infrastructure
Another major cause of traffic congestion is limited public transportation infrastructure. Congestion can occur as a result of an overall decline in the use of public transit, a decline in the quality or quantity of public transit service, or a combination of both.
Declining ridership on public transit can be a result of several factors, including the increased ability of private vehicles to travel to more locations, innovations in the private vehicle industry (such as the development of self-driving cars), and lower public transportation fares.
When public transit fares are reduced, the number of riders will increase, but it may not increase by enough to keep up with additional demand. When a city cuts public transit fares, more people are likely to use public transit, but they are also likely to drive to work less.
As a result, the number of passengers on the public transit system remains roughly the same despite the increase in passengers, causing the system to be overwhelmed by the demand.
Geographical Limitations on Road Expansion
The third cause of traffic congestion is the geographical limitation on road expansion. Sometimes, a city does not have the room to build new roads, expand existing roads, or engineer a more efficient public transit system. In these situations, a city will likely need to decide what infrastructure projects to prioritize, and this can cause gridlock.
Geographical limitations can be a result of many things, including existing topographical features or environmentally sensitive areas that cannot be developed, a lack of funding for expansion, or a political decision to avoid certain types of expansion.
If a city has already built out its road system and has no room to add new lanes, this can cause an increase in traffic congestion, even if there has been no increase in the number of vehicles on the road.
Electronic Platforms That Facilitate Congestion
The fourth cause of traffic congestion is electronic platforms that facilitate congestion. In many urban areas, there is a high volume of commuters who travel to work during rush hour and then home again at the end of the day.
During these high-traffic times, city roads are at their most congested. In the past, commuters relied on printed newspapers or radio stations to find out about traffic conditions and potential delays on the most popular routes.
With the development of smartphone technology, commuters now can access real-time information about traffic conditions from a variety of different sources.
Most major metropolitan areas have traffic monitoring platforms that use sensors placed throughout the city to track the amount of traffic flowing on certain roads. Many of these platforms also allow drivers to report traffic incidents or construction on these roads, which is helpful.
Conclusion
Traffic congestion is a complex problem that has numerous contributing factors. One of the most significant causes of traffic congestion is the rapid increase in road usage by private vehicles. Limited public transportation infrastructure makes another major cause for traffic congestion.
The third cause of traffic congestion is the geographical limitation on road expansion. Electronic platforms that facilitate congestion are the fourth cause of traffic congestion. In the future, city planners, car manufacturers, and drivers will need to work together to address and reduce traffic congestion in urban areas. I think that’s all about what causes traffic congestion in cities.
