South Africa
Johannesburg
UMR Index Rank
#62
(-6)
Score: 32%
Sustainable Mobility
#64
(-4)
Score: 31.6%
Public Transit
#65
(-3)
Score: 29.3%
Technology Adoption
#68
Score: 10.4%
| Population | 10.9 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 4,040 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 2,707 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 7,678 |
UMR Index Rank
#62
(-6)
Score: 32%
Sustainable Mobility
#64
(-4)
Score: 31.6%
Public Transit
#65
(-3)
Score: 29.3%
Technology Adoption
#68
Score: 10.4%
What Johannesburg Does Well In Urban Mobility
Johannesburg has well-connected roads and good traffic fluidity, partly a result of low car ownership. To improve traffic flow, in 2024 the city launched an initiative with 200 traffic officers from the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department who help regulate traffic flow in the city during load shedding — power cutbacks designed to protect the grid — and power outages due to high temperatures.
Like its South African peer Cape Town, Johannesburg’s investment in transport as a percentage of its GDP is higher than some of its index peers, and the city has many transportation sector jobs.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility, Public Transit, and Technology Adoption scores
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
Challenges And Opportunities For Johannesburg's Transportation System
Johannesburg’s pedestrian and cycling infrastructure is subpar, and existing infrastructure is often not well maintained. While the percentage of residents who walk is relatively high, the city lags in the percentage of people opting to cycle. Initiatives to improve cycle adoption have historically been controversial. Investments in the mid-2010s to improve cycling infrastructure in richer neighborhoods were suspended when people said the money would be better spent elsewhere.
The public transport network in Johannesburg leaves many residents with lengthy distances to their nearest transit station. Furthermore, some public transit is limited to certain areas — the rail system, for example, serves only the southern part of the city. The fact that Johannesburg is a sprawling and rapidly growing city provides additional challenges to improving transit station density. Still, the city’s vision for mobility by 2030 includes expanding the Gauteng Rapid rail link.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley
How Johannesburg Can Improve Its Urban Mobility Performance
To improve its public transit offering, Johannesburg can invest in more buses and bus routes — a cost-effective way to improve station density and reach more people with public transport services. The city also can expand its bus rapid transit (BRT) system, which was first introduced in 2006 and currently serves around 45,000 commuters daily. The city also can invest in more buses for existing BRT routes and expand services, especially in growing townships that often lack connectivity. Integrating the existing, informal minibus network into the formal public transport system can also help streamline services.
Safety is an issue on public transport in Johannesburg. To improve, the city can invest in more surveillance with security cameras and security officers at stations. The city can expand the use of local police, which is already mandated to provide security for the BRT. The city can also improve lighting in stations and run more awareness campaigns. Improving the capacity of public transit by investing in more buses and trains can help improve safety while reducing overcrowding.
Urban Mobility Readiness Index relative ranking evolution (2020-2024)
Source: Oliver Wyman Forum and University of California, Berkeley