Cycling For Fitness
Four years ago I bought a bicycle. I also bought all other paraphernalia for safe cycling such as the bicycle helmet for my own protection in the event of a possible road traffic crash. Osita Chidoka, the former Corps Marshal was calling the shots at the Federal Road Safety Corps as the Corps Marshal.As head of the Corps, my former boss was a bicycle freak who took after his mentor and boss, late Chief Ojo Maduekwe who himself was an advocate for the promotion of a bicycle riding culture in Nigeria. When the National Bicycle Policy and Strategy code named,’’ Ride to Live ‘’ came on board, yours truly thanks to Osita Chidoka rode along with some colleagues around the Federal Capital Territory on three different occasions. Four years down the line, my bicycle has become a sort of souvenir at home not because I hate riding bicycles which was my past time while growing up, but because of the absence of necessary infrastructures identified in the policy. Since I bought my bicycle in 2014, I have transversed Port Harcourt in Rivers State and Jos in Plateau State with my bicycle without even attempting to ride it even once because of the fear of the madness I see on the road daily and the absence of the appropriate infrastructure. However on June 3, 2018, I was almost tempted to join my colleagues on another ride as part of activities lined up by the Federal Road Safety Corps in marking June 3, 2018 as the World Bicycle Day as declared by The United Nations General Assembly in recognition of the need to strengthen and coordinate efforts to promote sustainable transportation and healthy hu- man development. According to experts, the “World Bicycle Day has been created with the unanimous support of UN Member States in an acknowledgement of the uniqueness, longevity, and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries …“Importantly, the declaration recognizes the contribution of the bicycle to community development, nurturing creativity and social engagement and strengthening our connection with the environment. ”The UN declaration also calls on Member States to improve road safety and is recognition that the creation of cycle-friendly streets is critical to sustainable transport infrastructure planning and design” .Experts also notes that the declaration is a call on all to play in road safety and ensuring that global transport systems promote public health and wellbeing. As I reflect on the June 3 2018 event, I am happy because I declined the invitation to join my colleagues to ride not because there are no benefits for riding but because of the testimony of a colleague who confessed how he over stretched himself while riding and almost passed out. The colleague I must confess here is not on the young side is he is almost due for his exit from government service. The colleague I guess had like me kept his bike on his bicycle rack for a long time before being compelled to ride long distance. His testimony is a lesson to ensure you know your limit while riding in our clime where the appropriate cycling routes are absent. However, despite my reservation which I have since overcome, I must confess that it was exciting to read media reports on promises made by government especially the FCT Administration (FCTA) which promised to establish bicycle parks in the territory to encourage more people to see bicycle as a means of transportation. The FCT Minister, Muhammed Bello, while receiving participants made up the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) urged Nigerians to see cycling as a safer means of transportation to ensure environmental safety .“Promoting the use of bicycle as a mode of transportation is a welcome development. We are all aware that the globally accepted means of transportation started with horses, advanced to bicycles and later to motor bikes and cars. “We appreciate this because it has multiple benefits. It is affordable, and promotes the health and well-being of the users. “The FCT will recognise this effort and ensure that the issue of establishing bicycle parks, particularly in the offices, markets and other public places, will be taken into consideration,’’ He also promised the provision of dedicated lanes for bicycles. A similar promise was made at the Ministry of Health which promised to include the use of bicycle in the ministry’s policy implementation noting that the use of bicycles help in the prevention of non-communicable diseases. This was in addition to the promise to ensure the establishment of bicycle parks in the ministry. During the event, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Boboye Oyeyemi, said the theme “Cycling for fitness ’’ was marked“all over the country to create awareness on the benefits of cycling’. ’He urged all stakeholders and the general public to accept and take up cycling as a means of commuting within reasonable distance of their residence to work and other places of endeavor to reduce traffic congestion. “Cycling will also help to reduce pollution and urban noise, improve health and reduce the cost of transportation. He urged decision-makers to make cycling safe and reliable and network it with public transport to enable users from long distances combine cycling with public transport. Let me bring you back again to the 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly adopted by a consensus of 193 member states. The declaration invites all Member States and relevant stakeholders to celebrate and promote awareness of the bicycle.It also acknowledges the “uniqueness, longevity and versatility of the bicycle, which has been in use for two centuries, and that it is a simple, affordable, reliable, clean and environmentally fit sustainable means of transportation, fostering environmental stewardship and health .” It also recognised that “the bicycle and the user fosters creativity and social engagement and gives the user an immediate awareness of the local environment” and that “the bicycle can serve as a tool for development and as a means not just of transportation but also of access to education, health care and sport.”