This African city thought cable cars could fix its traffic gridlock. It was wrong
Summary
Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, launched a cable car system in 2024 to ease heavy traffic and reduce long commutes. However, the system stopped running after a few weeks because many people could not afford the fares, and the cables now hang unused above the city.Key Facts
- The cable cars were meant to help thousands travel over the traffic jams in Antananarivo.
- The system cost about $173 million and was funded with loans from France.
- It started operating in 2024 but ran only a few weeks before stopping.
- The fare was set between 70 and 90 cents per trip, much higher than minibus taxi prices.
- Most people in Madagascar live in poverty, with an average commuter salary of about $72 per month.
- Officials hoped the cable cars would carry 75,000 people daily and shorten commutes from up to three hours to 10-30 minutes.
- Some residents were unhappy because basic services like running water and electricity had not been improved.
- Experts said people chose to avoid the cable cars because they needed to save money, even if it meant sitting in traffic.
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