Low Bus Usage in Male’ Highlights Need for Better Routes

A study commissioned by the Male’ City Council has revealed that the ferry between Male’ and Vilimale’ is the most widely used public transport in the region. The study was carried out ahead of plans to set a vehicle limit in the congested capital.

According to the data, an average of 6,540 people use the ferry between Male’ and Vilimale’ every day. This makes up 96.8 percent of all daily travel between the two islands.
In comparison, the RTL bus between Male’ and Hulhumale’ sees about 15,141 passengers a day. Despite the higher number, this accounts for just 7.4 percent of people traveling between those two areas. Within Vilimale’ itself, the RTL bus carries around 939 passengers daily, representing 13.9 percent of travelers.

Meanwhile, in Male’—where traffic congestion remains a major issue—only about 2,014 people use the RTL bus service each day. That’s just 1.47 percent of the population.
The study stressed the need to improve the quality of public transport and increase the number of available routes. It emphasized that these steps must be taken before any vehicle restriction is introduced.

Based on the analysis of road availability, width, parking spaces, and other factors in the Male’ region, the study recommends capping the number of vehicles at 89,413.
City officials are expected to use these findings to guide future planning, with a focus on easing traffic and promoting more efficient public transport options across the islands.