In a country where appearances hold a lot of weight and transport costs are in a never-ending hike to the top, young Nigerians are getting creative. Enter the art of the blended commute: taking communal public transport like buses halfway, then switching to a ride-hailing service like Bolt or Uber to reach your destination. This strategy combines financial prudence with a touch of soft life.
A now-viral X post from user @m3troszn summed it up best: ‘taking public transport halfway to the location and ordering bolt to complete the trip, a concept 😊.’ The post clocked over 2 million views, not because the idea was radical, but because it hit close to home. Many Nigerian youths, especially in the middle-class, have either done it or considered it.
Because let’s be honest: stepping out of a Danfo drenched in sweat and the discomforting odour of other passengers’ bodily fluids is far from desirable. Especially if you know you’ll run into that executive you’re trying to impress, a LinkedIn mutual, or that highfalutin Mummy UK.
Instead, many opt for a hybrid model. Take the danfo from Berger to Obalende, then order a Bolt to Ikoyi. Hop on a bus from Kubwa to AYA, then Uber your way to that gallery opening in Asokoro. Nobody knows how you got there. All they see is you stepping out of a tinted Corolla, and that’s all that matters.
The blend is mostly a matter of economics. With fuel prices climbing and ride-hailing fares often doubling during peak periods, most people can’t justify spending ₦10,000+ on a single round trip. But a Bolt ride from a midpoint? That’s far more manageable. You get the cost benefit of public transport and the polish of a private ride.
To many, it’s not about pretending. It’s about prioritising where to spend your energy and money. Saving some money on transport allows you to spend it where it really matters— at the event.
Of course, this mindset isn’t as prevalent abroad. In cities like London or Paris, nobody really cares how you arrive. Besides, their public transport systems are relatively clean, reliable, and often used by everyone from bankers to backpackers. Passengers might practice some savvy tricks like wearing coats over fancy dresses to prevent them from getting smeared with whatever dirt they may meet in their seats, or changing at the venue. Still, stepping out of the tube doesn’t necessarily say anything about your pocket or class. In Lagos? The car you come in sometimes speaks before you do; it takes the saying ‘dress how you want to be addressed’ to a whole new level.
There’s also the issue of the public transport experiences. Nigerian buses, while gritty and full of character, are hardly roadworthy. They rattle. They honk unnecessarily. They squeeze you between sweating strangers, without the benefit of air conditioning. So, more often than not, you leave them feeling utterly dishevelled rather than composed.
Consider it a kind of transport choreography. You time your routes, plan your switchovers, and sometimes even schedule your Bolt for when you’re five minutes from the transfer point. It’s a dance between dignity and practicality, and for many Lagosians, it’s second nature.
The real trick, though, lies in knowing your audience. If you’re going somewhere hyper-local, you might brave the entire trip in public transport. But when the destination is somewhere upscale—like a rooftop brunch, a networking event in Lekki, or even just a friend’s hangout in a gated estate—your entry matters. In many ways, how you arrive can affect how seriously you’re taken. The halfway method allows you to navigate these optics without blowing your budget.
And while it may seem performative, it’s also deeply practical. Nigeria’s transport network is fragmented. The distances are long. The heat is real. The roads are unpredictable. And most times, that danfo or keke is not dropping you right at the venue. Trekking Nigerians roads in heels? That’s far from ideal. So, yes blending options could easily be considered a necessity.
And for those who scoff at the idea? Honestly, it’s not that deep. Most people are just trying to make their lives a little easier without spending more than they have to.
So next time you see someone step out of a Bolt looking put together, know that they probably did the halfway method because they just didn’t want to deal with the madness of arriving somewhere important in a bus. And that’s okay.
Sometimes, blending transport is less about pretence and more about making it through the day in one piece.
