Traffic jams around the world

World Car Free Day is marked each September 22 in many countries. It was first celebrated in France in 1998. Unfortunately, little progress has been made, in terms of alleviating traffic congestion, since then. Every September 22, the streets of central Paris are closed to motor vehicles. Only taxis and electric cars can be found. The rest of the year, Paris streets look more like this


It’s hard to do without a car in Moscow, Russia. There are no bicycle lanes, and the cramped public transit network leaves a lot to be desired. So, Moscow’s motorists spend hours in traffic jams each day


In the United States, there are 765 cars per 1,000 people. This is more than anywhere else in the world. This is one reason, megalopolises, including New York City, are clogged with traffic.


Although there are only 81 cars per 1,000 people in Brazil, traffic jams in Sao Paulo rival those in New York City.


In Mexico, there are 138 cars per 1,000 people, or twice as many as Brazil


The early morning commute in Chongqing, China.


In spite of a low ten car per 1,000 people ratio in China, Beijing is plagued by heavy traffic and smog.


Cairo, the capital of Egypt, is notorious for heavy traffic, highlighting its status as Africa’s largest city.


This is central Damascus before recent political clashes.


In Nigeria, there is just one car per 1,000 people. Nevertheless, police still have to direct traffic


Bicycle as well as vehicle traffic stacks up on the streets of Hanoi, Vietnam


More buses than anything else clog the arteries of Manila, the Philippines.


In some districts of Islamabad, Pakistan, it’s hard to tell which way the traffic is moving.


Modern highways can be vulnerable. Even a small accident, like one which happened last summer in Hamelin, Germany, can cause temporary delays.


An unprecedented traffic jam many kilometers long formed in French Guiana after the Larivot Bridge was shut down in November 2009.