Remember the good old days, when you had transport options for beating the legendary Lagos traffic? Then, it was hard to believe that the traffic in Lagos could get any worse. Since the Okada and Keke Napep Ban in Lagos, the traffic has achieved a new level of Epic. Commuters leave their houses before sunrise and get home at odd hours of the night. While we await further intervention from the government on alternative means of transportation, we can apply these 5 effective ways to cope with the Lagos traffic:

1. Avoid the rush hour

Whether it is for school runs or work closing, it is now expedient to hit the road before everyone else. Asides leaving an hour or two before, you can also plan your movements to ensure that you are not on the road when the rush hour starts.

2. The friendly neighbourhood Google Maps

The popular location app has a feature that helps track which route is the fastest to get to your destination. Also, using Google Maps, you can also check where the traffic is heaviest so as to avoid it. Importantly, it can also tell you how long it will take to get to your destination. Therefore, by monitoring the duration of your journey, you can make better decisions concerning when to begin your trip.

3. Comfort food

We know that it is very uncomfortable to be stuck in traffic. So to make up for it, we recommend that you bring along some healthy snacks. It’s called comfort food for a reason, right? Furthermore, long trips tend to limit you from eating enough or eating right. It is important to avoid impulsively buying junk food from street hawkers. You can pack nuts, sandwiches or yoghurt to eat on the way.

4. Engage your mind

When was the last time you finished a book? You will be surprised the amount of reading you can get done when you invest the hours you burn on the road. Asides commuters, if you own and drive a car, you can opt for an audio-book or tape to engage your mind in the gridlock. Your body should not be the only part of you on a trip, let your mind travel as well.

5. Connect with people

There are people from different backgrounds and walks of life on the streets of Lagos daily. Certainly, everyone has a story and you can learn valuable life lessons from engaging with your seatmate on the bus. Even private car owners who choose to give rides to pedestrians for free or fare can benefit from such meaningful conversations. You never know what friendships and partnerships can be cultivated on a 2-hour journey.