Skip to main content

Nairobians travelling patterns during the Festive Season


The advent of ride-hailing technology was a game-changer in the taxi business in Kenya and across the world. Public transportation is now more convenient and reliable. These Apps have not only transformed the transport sector, but they have also improved many other business infrastructures that directly affect our society. An analysis of the GPS systems belonging to Bolt, a leading ride-hailing company in Kenya, reveals interesting formed trends by Kenyans during the festive season. 

According to the information, Nairobi County has high economic vibrancy; with more riders and App-based cabs per square kilometre than any other urban centre in Kenya.  It, therefore, formed the base for the study. Bolt used their own Christmas and New year data for 2018, focusing on travel patterns on the city’s major roads and frequently visited malls. They also looked into popular destinations in Nairobi as well as the most popular ride times.

A heat map of travel patterns in Nairobi

A heat map of travel patterns in the city shows higher rides within the Central  Business District (CBD), Eastleigh area, Upper Hill, Hurlingham, Kileleshwa and Nairobi West.  This could be due to high social and economic activities within these areas. Eastleigh is popular for trendy and affordable fashion items and people frequent the area during the festive season for new clothes for Christmas parties or gifts for colleagues and family. 

The CBD and Nairobi West are known for their social joints and vibrant nightlife.  The Christmas to New year period is associated with parties, random get-togethers and church masses for believers. Young and old folks with fat pockets frequent these social joints for parties and celebrations as well as to let loose as the year spans out. 

The data further reveals higher rides requested at 10pm in the evening and 4am at dawn within these areas,  a reflection of the times when people stream into joints and clubs and leave them respectively.  The heat map also shows the less requested routes in various areas of Nairobi including Ofafa Jericho, Ngara, Makongeni, Mlango Kubwa, Lower Karen areas and Eastland. A dive into most popular destinations indicates frequently visited Malls and Airports.  Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) was a popular destination for many rides painting a picture of many people flying out of Nairobi for either a holiday or for an up-country visit.

Key Malls visited by shoppers include; Thika Road Mall (TRM), Westgate Mall, Sarit Centre Mall, The Junction Mall, Eastleigh Mall, Two Rivers Mall, Yaya Centre, Garden City Mall, The Village Market, Galleria Mall and The Hub Karen.

It is interesting to note that most trips in Nairobi are taken from 2pm onwards into the evening during the festive season. This could be attributed to the fact that majority have closed their 8am - 5pm jobs and only leave their residential places to go meet up a friend, attend a family gathering or go out to shop. As a result of the above data, it is becoming increasingly important that the drivers of these ride-hailing cabs know when and where to hang around for business and make a killing during the festive season.

We appreciate technology and it goes without saying that technology is one of the key factors driving society's progress. Humans depend on technology to travel, to communicate, to do business and to live in comfort. It has made our lives easier!

Bolt is a leading ride-hailing App in Africa that provide convenient, reliable, safe and affordable transportation services. It has presence in over 35 countries with over 30 million users globally.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Visa and Halotel bring secure and convenient mobile payments for Tanzanians

Visa, the global payments technology company, has announced a strategic partnership with Halotel to enable Visa on mobile payments on Halotel’s HaloPesa wallet in Tanzania.  The service will be rolled out in early 2019 thereby enabling HaloPesa’s one million registered wallet holders to use Visa on mobile to securely make merchant payments and conduct cash deposits and withdrawals at Visa agents. Any HaloPesa customer, including those who do not have a bank account, will be able to benefit from the solution. The aim is to connect more Tanzanians to the global payment system, bringing secure and convenient mobile commerce for consumers and merchants.  “We are excited about this partnership with a key mobile service provider such as Halotel. Our partnership with Halotel will ensure that Tanzanians can pay using Visa on their mobiles at over 40,000 new retailers. It will also help expand financial inclusion for Tanzanian consumers who will now be able to benefit from pa...
Post a Comment
Read more

Visa Takes a Shot at Financial Goals with New Football Video Game

With FIFA World Cup ™ excitement heating up , Visa (NYSE: V), the Official Payment Technology Partner of FIFA, invites football fans to sharpen their financial skills on the virtual pitch with the new version of the educational video game , Financial Football. Gamers can suit up as the country of their choice and take their best shot for the coveted trophy by correctly answering questions designed to help players make smart, well informed money management decisions. To further Visa’s commitment to uplift lives through the power of sport and the global platform of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ , Visa is working in collaboration with clients and non-profit organizations to make the new version of Financial Football available to as many people as possible. Visa and partners will host events, learning series and promote game availability in more than 100 markets around the world leading up to and following the tournament. With only one-in-three adults estimated to have a basic understan...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bolt launches its car-sharing service Bolt Drive

Bolt, the leading European mobility platform, launches its car-sharing service, Bolt Drive. The new service allows customers to rent a car for short periods of time using the Bolt app. Bolt will invest €20 million in launching Bolt Drive in Europe this year, starting with a pilot in its home market, Estonia. Bolt is the first mobility platform in Europe to offer car-sharing, ride-hailing and micromobility with scooters and electric bikes in one app. By enabling customers to quickly and conveniently rent a car at the tap of a button, Bolt allows them to be less dependent on personal cars and encourages the use of alternative modes of transport for short-distance trips. Markus Villig, CEO at Bolt, said: “Personal cars are the primary cause of problems in urban transport. They are responsible for traffic, environmental emissions and taking up city space. Bolt’s mission is to help people give up their personal cars by providing a better alternative. For people to switch from ownership to o...
Post a Comment
Read more