Bicycle Lanes

I believe that recent upgrading road works along the Kings Road from the Nausori end side towards the Suva City has the first bicycle lanes in the country.

The three-kilometre stretch from the Nausori bridge up to Koronivia has bicycle lanes on both sides of the pedestrian walkway. The walkway is slightly raised about two inches higher than the bicycle lane which forms a separation.

Riding bikes helps control obesity, promotes physical fitness in the local population apart from the environment benefits.

The bicycle culture has disappeared mostly in the city and the town centres as the motor transport became more accessible, affordable and the commuters found it as a more convenient mode of movement.

The initiative of reviving the pedal power is an excellent concept to combat the ever increasing NCDs in the country and a vigorous dissemination of information is required by the authorities to encourage people to cycling more.

I believe that the Fiji Climate Champion Inia Seruiratu is the best person to promote this idea and seeing him on the bicycle track will trigger off positive vibes to the nation as this man has an abundance of bicycle riding experience gained with the professional cyclist during the COP23.

However, it is noted with great concern in the manner the bicycle lanes were planned and constructed.

The architects and the engineering has completely ignored the safety aspects of the project and in the process has created hazards to the cyclist and the pedestrians.

There are numerous electrical power line posts right in the middle of bicycle lanes with very little room to manouvre from either sides.

Anyone with inadequate light can collide with the posts.

The risk is very high and can cause an accident in the absence of any form of warning signage or device placed there for protection. The relevant authority must immediately eliminate or control such threats.