There’s so much to love about The Island of the Gods. However, as many of us already know, traffic in Bali is one of the most significant downsides to visiting the island. Sadly, while the tourism industry has continued to grow, not a whole lot has been done to improve the traffic situation.
If you do a quick Google search, you’ll find plenty of forum posts describing how congested the streets are in Bali, all the way back to 2010. Despite its decline in popularity as a result of the recent pandemic, Bali remains one of Southeast Asia’s most popular tourist destinations. And traffic has bounced back in a big way since May 2021.
So, why is the traffic so bad? And what can be done in the future to ease congestion, and improve the commute for locals and tourists alike?
How Much Traffic Has Changed in Bali?
As we can see, traffic is nothing new to tourists in Bali – the same complaints we hear today were being made 13 years ago. One of the tourists even commented on how narrow the roads are, and how they are clearly not designed to handle vehicles in such great numbers. They were absolutely correct, and this comment remains just as valid today.
Unfortunately, their dream of a train or bus system in the more congested areas is still just that… a dream.
With the increasing popularity of bike taxis such as Grab and Gojek in Indonesia, the roads in this tourist hotspot are becoming even more congested than ever, resulting in long lines of traffic in certain regions, particularly tourist destinations such as Canggu, Kuta, Legian, and Seminyak.
The traffic does peak at certain times, usually around 6-8 a.m. when everyone starts their day and again between 5-7 p.m. when the day is ended and the tourists start to head out for dinner, or other activities… the nightlife on the island is a big contributing factor towards traffic.
The Causes of Traffic in Bali
The causes of traffic in Bali are inextricably linked to these three factors: the influx of tourists, Bali’s inability to accommodate a large number of vehicles with its existing road infrastructure, and the Balinese driving style.
Tourist Influx
Over the years, the number of travellers coming to Bali has continued to grow. Even though tourism experienced a significant decline during the pandemic, the island has seen people from all over the world flock back to Bali following the end of COVID-19 restrictions.
If we take a look at the Indonesia Central Agency of Statistics website, we can see the number of tourists coming to the island every month of the year.
In July 2023 alone, the island welcomed almost half a million tourists from all over the world. Unfortunately, a large portion of the population is concentrated in the west side of Denpasar, in well-known areas such as Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and Canggu – one of the hottest tourist destinations in the entire world.
This concentration creates plenty of heavy traffic in the surrounding areas.
Road Infrastructure
Much of the infrastructure on the island of Bali has evolved over time, mainly focused on buildings such as hotels, resorts, and villas, as well as tourist landmarks and activities.
Road infrastructure and water drainage systems, sadly, have not seen the same rapid improvement. Canggu’s traffic and Ubud’s traffic are a few examples of this issue, where roads have fallen way behind the increased demand.
This is made worse by difficulties with water drainage infrastructure. When it rains heavily, many roads flood, causing further issues for everyone passing through and slowing traffic immensely.
Attitudes Toward Driving in Bali
We’re not referring to the fact that Indonesia uses a left-hand traffic system. We’re referring to how chaotic drivers in Bali can be, both locals and visitors. Some, particularly newcomers, may find the driving style overwhelming. But those who have visited the island several times find it normal. But does that mean it has to continue?
We can probably agree that in the long run, it’s better for driving to improve here in Bali – but what causes it in the first place? Firstly, the fact that most of the roads have no designated lanes for cars or motorcycles causes plenty of traffic congestion, especially at intersections and on more narrow roads.
The other factor is most driver’s lack of compliance of driving rules. Sadly, many road users drive on the wrong side of the road to get to their destination as quickly as possible, causing unnecessary gridlocks all over the island. Again, the narrow roads on the island contribute greatly to this issue.
Bali’s Future Plan
There are numerous government plans to address this issue. In September 2023 for instance, according to Luhur Pandjaitan, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs, the government plans to build Light Rail Transit (LRT) to reduce traffic in Bali.
The project will start earlier next year, to accommodate the high volume of tourists coming to the island. It will be built underground and connect the island’s international airport with famous tourist destinations such as Canggu and Seminyak.
A number of works have taken place recently in tourist areas. This has included a new shortcut from Umalas to Berawa, and blocking off a number of well-used shortcuts to cars. Allowing bikes only on these stretches of road ensures they flow much more efficiently. Keeping cars to wider roads is an important part of lessening congestion.
In the meantime, the responsibility ultimately comes back to us drivers. At the very least, if we drive wisely, we can lessen traffic congestion. Keep that in mind when cruising around the island.
