By Ibironke Ariyo
The President, of Africa Urban Cycling Organisation, Mr Emmanuel John, has advocated for cycling in Africa as the affordable, reliant, and environment-friendly mode of transportation.
John made the call during a media briefing to mark the celebration of the 6th World Bicycle Day on Monday in Abuja.
He said that world leaders recognised the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle which he said had been in use for two centuries.
He also said that the theme of the observance — “Cycling as a tool for Urban Freedom” — would be a way to call for change in mindset.
“What we are saying as regards this year’s theme is that we need freedom from congestion.
“Freedom from delays and man-hour losses in traffic, which health and socio-economic losses are estimated to be more than three percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in developing countries.
“We need freedom from road accidents that claim lives, damage property, and render families helpless with its costs estimated at 3.5 percent of GDP in developing countries.
“We need freedom from the car-centric mindset that has forced all road infrastructure budgets into building and expansion of wide roads for speeding cars instead of sustainable mobility systems,” he said.
John said that there ought to be freedom from emissions that “pollute the air, damage human health and environment and put the human future existence in danger.
“Cycling emits nothing because it burns nothing other than calories, achieving this freedom means that all hands must be on deck.
“We need all stakeholders to go to work, the press should champion the mindset change, and we need government at all levels to take steps towards the change we need’.”
John called on FCT Minister Nyesom Wike to provide the lead by recovering bicycle lanes on all arterials and higher road corridors in Abuja as provided for in the master plan.
He also urged the FCT minister to include cycling in the light rails and other public transport development.
He called for the provision of bicycle parking facilities in all rail and bus terminals, public buildings, markets, and office premises.
Earlier, the Corps Marshal of, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Malam Shehu Mohammed, said that many might wonder why the international safety bodies, FRSC, and key stakeholders attached so much relevance to a simple age-long non-motorised machinery such as the bicycle.
“The answer is not far-fetched as the bicycle is not only simple and reliable but it is also an environmentally fit and sustainable means of transportation that has a positive impact on the climate.
“FRSC is dedicated to creating a safer and more supportive environment for cyclists throughout Nigeria”, he said.
Earlier, the Director General, of Nigeria Building and Road Research Institute (NIBRRI), Prof. Samson Duna, said that the agency would provide technical support.
He commended the FRSC for championing the course of cyclists to enhance the transportation system in the country.
Highlights of the event included the FRSC Corps Marshal riding a bicycle with pupils of a private primary school in Abuja to symbolise the beginning of the activities to mark this year’s World Bicycle Day.
