The Gambia does not operate a metro system. Transportation in Banjul and other urban areas relies primarily on bus services, shared taxis (known locally as “gele gele”), and river transport.
Key Features
• Public bus services
• Gele gele networks
• River transport
• Inter-city services
• Private operators
• Regional connections
Notable Characteristics
• River-based connectivity
• Basic transport infrastructure
• Informal sector dominance
• Cross-border services
• Tourism transport
• Regional integration
Major Transport Hubs
• Banjul Ferry Terminal
• Banjul International Airport
• Serrekunda Bus Station
• Brikama Transport Hub
• Barra Ferry Terminal
• Westfield Junction
Transport Statistics
| Service Type | Coverage | Annual Passengers | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urban Bus | Major Cities | 3 million* | 25-40 min |
| Gele Gele | National | 5 million* | 15-30 min |
| River Ferry | Cross-River | 2 million* | 30-60 min |
*Estimated figures
Operating Information
Daily Operations
• Bus Hours: 6:00 AM – 8:00 PM
• Ferry Services: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
• Peak Services: 6:30 AM – 9:00 AM, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
• Market day variations
• Weather-dependent services
• Prayer time adjustments
Future Development
Priority Areas
• Basic infrastructure improvement
• River transport enhancement
• Transport safety
• Service coordination
• Regional connectivity
• Essential maintenance
Alternative Solutions
Current focus areas include:
• Road rehabilitation
• Ferry modernization
• Safety improvements
• Service organization
• Essential maintenance
• Regional access
Development Challenges
Current Challenges
• Limited infrastructure
• Funding constraints
• Technical capacity
• River crossing capacity
• Maintenance needs
• Resource limitations
Proposed Solutions
• International cooperation
• Infrastructure development
• Capacity building
• River transport improvement
• Safety enhancement
• Service coordination
Major Cities
Banjul
• Transport network basics
• Ferry connectivity
• Infrastructure rehabilitation
• Service coordination
Serrekunda
• Urban transport services
• Infrastructure maintenance
• Regional connectivity
• Essential services
Future Considerations
Transport development priorities:
• Basic infrastructure
• Essential services
• Safety improvement
• River transport
• Service reliability
• Maintenance capacity
Rather than complex transit systems, emphasis remains on:
• Basic transport services
• Road rehabilitation
• River transport
• Safety enhancement
• Service coordination
• Regional connectivity
The transport strategy focuses on:
• Basic mobility needs
• Infrastructure rehabilitation
• Essential services
• River crossing efficiency
• Safety improvements
• Service coordination
Note: Given The Gambia’s characteristics (population approximately 2.4 million), development focuses on:
• Essential services
• Basic infrastructure
• River transport
• Safety improvements
• Regional access
• Service reliability
River Transport
Ferry Services
• Banjul-Barra crossing
• Essential connectivity
• Tourism support
• Trade facilitation
• Regional integration
• Safety priorities
The country continues to develop its transport infrastructure with emphasis on:
• Essential mobility
• River transport
• Safety enhancement
• Regional access
• Infrastructure rehabilitation
• Service coordination
This approach reflects the current needs and resources of The Gambia, prioritizing basic transportation services and essential infrastructure development while considering the importance of river transport and regional connectivity.
