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RIDE AND LIVE

Jonasagwu65@ yahoo. com

SMS + 234 8064774778 and a member of the Cycling Federation Board summed it thus; Traffic congestion and attendant consequences; our survey revealed that an average Nigerian living in cities like Abuja, Lagos and Kano spends an average of 4 hours in Traffic daily. The loss of man hour, additional fuel consumption, wear and tear on vehicle and stress on driver/ occupants can be reduced by cycling; Road Traffic crashes; Nigeria has a vision of having one of the safest roads by 2020 from its present 91st position. Our study of the 20 countries presently having the safest roads show that their urban transportation focus have shifted from motorised to cycling and walking which improved their urban traffic conditions; Health; people who ride bicycle 30mins every week have the chance of living 10 years longer and they fall sick 25% less than those who don’t. Cycling is an exercise you do without necessarily spending any time or money to go to the pitch or gym as you do it commuting; Economy; Our analysis has shown that 15% reduction of vehicles in use in Nigeria will drop down national fuel consumption on vehicles by the same percentage, amounting to over N700 million daily savings to the national treasury. Countries which reduce vehicles in use and divert urban movement to bicycles reduce their cost of road maintenance by about the same percentage that they have reduced vehicles. An average worker in Nigeria spends about 35% of his income on transportation, cycling cost nothing other than the bicycle and our energy needed to propel the cycle; Pollution; 50% of Nigeria’s carbon foot print comes from road transportation according to International Energy Agency, 2010 report. We can reduce this if we shift our focus to cycling. Nigeria is recently confronted with her own share of the global warming concerns in form of flood. Let us be determined to reduce our carbon foot print; Time, freedom, neighbourliness; cycling is fastest within 10 kilometre of a congested neighbourhood. It improves friendliness in communities and help children gain self- confidence of being able to move faster than they can walk.

He noted that while global attention has focused on Nigeria as of one of the countries in Africa with the best bicycle transportation initiatives, cycling advocates around the world now throng the FRSC with invitations to come to share with them our initiatives. This has as well generated public debate and commanded attention of decision makers some of whom have endorsed the bicycle transportation initiative and have directed relevant stakeholders to take necessary steps to provide for cycling lanes and other infrastructure that will encourage cycling. Such stakeholders and their resolutions include; 20th National Council on Works, Ilorin 2013;” that Council considered the importance of pedestrian walkways and cycling lanes in urban areas, and approve their provisions on roads in the various State capitals and FCT”; 12th National Council on Transport, Makurdi 2012” that road safety audits should be incorporated at the infrastructure design stages. In this regard, the relevant engineering designs should specifically provide for cyclists …, as well as complimentary road furniture such as bus- stops, lay- byes, information/ directional sign, etc”; 44th International Engineering Conference of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Cannan ( Calabar) 2011“The bicycle represents an affordable, effective and healthy mode of transportation, but Nigerian road layouts do not have such provisions as such, Nigerian roads should be re- designed to be bicycle and pedestrian user friendly”

Let me state here that there already exists a draft policy document which was recently ratified by stakeholders on the 20th of November, 2013. The document spells out details of all that needs to be done and is presently awaiting the National Assembly ratification. Part of the provisions of the document according to Chidoka in what he called a; A WAKE- UP CALL, we request that: Government at all levels should commit 15% transportation and road infrastructure budget as dedicated fund for provision of bicycle lanes, facilities and promotion; Each Nigerian chooses at least one day in a week not to use motorised vehicle instead to use a bicycle to commute within the city where he/ she resides; Parents should purchase bicycles and encourage their children to ride bicycles instead of being dropped off in their schools in a car or taxi, especially if the school is within 10km from their home; Employers, school authorities, managers of public premises should make investment on provision of bicycle policies, parks and facility to guarantee the safety and security of bicycles, beginning with what is available now; The Military, Police and estate owners that have enclosed premises should provide facilities to enable cycling; Civil society groups, NGOs, the Press and well- meaning Nigerians commit themselves to the promotion of this bicycle transportation initiative; City Planners and administrators should include bicycle transportation issues in all urban planning and implementation programmes including bicycle lanes in development of new layouts and adjustment in existing roads to accommodate cyclists.

He urged all Nigerians to aim not to use a motorised vehicle the last week of October which is proposed to be adopted as National Cycling week every year, but instead, ride a bicycle to their various places of endeavour to mark the annual bicycle week for Nigeria.