Bicycles for our roads?

Bicycles, according to studies, are the fastest growing and predominant mode of access to express public transportation services in many Western communities and some parts of Asia.

In fact, they have become a part of everyday life in most Asian countries. Apart from transportation, bicycles are also a popular form of recreation, and have been adapted for such uses as children’s toys, adult fitness, racing, postal and courier services.

As nations become wealthier, their use of bicycles declined due to the increasing affordability of cars and motorcycles. But recently, several major cities around the world are encouraging people to take up the two wheels by adopting cycling as an integral part of the planned transportation system.

For those who grew up in the village, they can testify that the use of bicycles in the countryside contrasts sharply with what happens in the cities, especially the South Eastern Nigeria; the bicycle is still a part of life and it has been so for decades.

People still go to their farm lands, market and stream on bicycles, and almost every house you has a bicycle. In fact, there are as many female as there are males riding bicycles in our country homes and villages.

However, it is a very risky practice to attempt riding a bicycle on the ever-busy Lagos roads and streets where the latest brands of cars compete for right of way on the highways.

Without the provision of dedicated bicycle lanes on the busy roads in towns and cities, cycling portends great danger and risk of accident.

In a bid to give Nigeria’s most populous city an effective transport system, the state government has also announced plans to introduce bicycle lanes on major roads across the city of Lagos.

For Emmanuel Akachi who sells bicycles of different types at Apapa, Lagos, “I started by repairing bicycles and this has been so for the past five years, and then two years later I started selling children’s bicycles; now I have added bigger bicycles for adults.

“It is not an all-new bicycle market but imported used bicycles, and so far sales have really been good since I started with high patronage in the sale of used bicycles. Only a few customers ask for new ones.

“I sell an average of 10 bicycles in a week, sometimes less than that but recently sales have really increased and per bicycle the rate differs, depending on how new and strong it is. Sometimes, the price is also determined by the type of bicycle. For instance, we have Front Shock, Raleigh, Chevrolet, among others.”

Tunmise Kuku, a radio presenter, believes that Nigerian road are not safe for bicycles. He adds: “Most vehicles on Nigerian roads do not meet the globally acceptable standards, as they emit too much carbon monoxide. But then, real road education will also be needed, especially in the areas of wearing the appropriate gears and helmets. People must understand that it has to be safe!

For Obiwanne Okezue, a banker, “bicycle transportation is a no-no in Nigeria.” He explains his reasons: “First, the value system of the people; the average Nigerian believes that the bicycle is for the down-trodden. Even the down-trodden believe he can do better than a bicycle. So, most people will rather spend all their savings getting a fourth-hand car than buying a bicycle. Secondly, there are no infrastructure in place to encourage the use of bicycles as means of transportation.

“Bicycles are designed for good and smooth roads, which makes the effort of the rider reduced to the barest minimum. However, our roads are very bad and not ideal for cars, not to talk of bicycles. Have you ever wondered what a cyclist would look like when he’s caught up in one of those flooded areas in Lagos, for instance?

“Besides that, the construction of our roads did not make provisions for bicycles. Ojo Maduekwe, one-time minister of transport, who tried to preach about the use of bicycle as a means of transport was knocked down on one of the occasions, when he was trying to practise what he preached, and that automatically ended the campaign for bicycles.

“How many expressways in Nigeria have provisions for walkways? For a growing population like Nigeria’s, what we need are means that can convey large number of people at the same time, to avoid overcrowding the inadequate road network, and this is where good train network comes in.

Other people like Afolabi Gambari also agree with the sentiment that Nigerians roads are unsafe for bicycle riders. He opined: “I feel the environment doesn’t guarantee safety for bicycle riders. They will need their own pathways on the roads because of their nature, as it obtains abroad and I also observed during my stay in Zimbabwe. I wish we had started the culture from years back. But as it is now, bicycle riders are at their peril for lack of protection from the system.”

Ben Ezeamalu, on his own, said: “I think the article should be titled ‘Riding to their death.’ Bicycle as an alternative mode of transportation in Lagos, while it is good for climate change, is suicidal and should not be encouraged.

“How do you ride a bicycle on the same road alongside mentally challenged ‘danfo’ drivers and their counterpart truck drivers? Secondly, how do you convince the populace to roll out bicycles on the death trap-network of roads?

Unless the government goes back to the basics and build dedicated lanes for the bicycles as do other cities where they want to copy the idea from. Again, there has to be massive sensitisation to encourage people to ride the bicycles.

For Derin Ajao however, bicycle riding is good. He explains: “Yes, it is a good thing, to a large extent. People are fit and can beat traffic, depending on how fast they ride. However, I’ve seen a number of them – young and old, riding against traffic and pulling certain stunts even when they’re on a busy road. As with any kind of road activity, safety should be emphasised.

Oge Eke, in her opinion, stated: “One thing that readily comes to my mind is that it is definitely a green form of transportation. It is healthier for the climate. It should be encouraged, but it is really about how people accept it in Nigeria. For instance, the weather and rigours that come with riding, and the fact that the culture in Nigeria is really that of “I own a car and it is a sign of high status.

“Then, there is the problem of infrastructure. We do not even have walkways in Nigeria, talk less of bicycle ways. It is too risky to ride a bicycle on the road a car, lorry, trucks of great sizes ply. So, how can you encourage people to ride bicycles on roads that will prove to be death traps for bicycle users?”

For Ken Ochonogor, bicycles should stay away from the roads just like motocycles (Okada). He said: “The motorcycles were thrown off the streets for safety reasons. I think they are even safer than bicycles, unless it is to be used for health reasons at recreation parks and quiet environs with minimum vehicular traffic.”

Emeka Ezeugo, former Super Eagles player, bicycles “can be used as a vehicle to promote healthy lifestyle, recreation, and as a socio-cultural programme to speed up productivity. But we lack the infrastructure to sustain this project’s longevity. We don’t have bicycle tracks and motorists are just going to hack down cyclists frequently.”

“It should be encouraged only in safe areas, and definitely not on major roads. I have seen quite a few accidents in the past few weeks. Bicycles are way more tricky to handle than motorcycles and are more prone to accidents. Our roads and motoring will have to be restructured to encourage their survival,” Afi Omoluabi-Ogosi said.

Anne Agbaje