Bicycle No Be Gist, E Fit Save Naija

My people, make we yarn about bicycle wey don dey gather dust since 2001. Una remember Chief Ojo Maduekwe? Na him be the Minister of Transport wey one time carry bicycle go meeting for Abuja. E wan make we dey cycle, say make we no dey suffer traffic anymore. But wahala come dey when bus waka and knock am into gutter. Na so the bicycle gist sour, and the campaign die.

Fast forward to this week, fresh research from Nature Cities come show why the bicycle matter no fit work well for Naija. Them study how cycling dey operate for countries wey no get plenty money, like Nigeria, India, and Ghana. Dem talk say wahala dey when we dey copy wetin dem dey do for Denmark, wetin no fit jam with our roads and environment. Na so dem abandon bicycle plan since Maduekwe time.

The research show say cycling dey vital for our people, but e dey invisible. E no be for fun oh, but na for survival, like how street vendors and cleaners dey use am to hustle reach work. Women and elderly people no dey ride because of safety matter, and our roads no dey consider bicycle at all. Na only fast cars dem dey see.

The authors of the study gather feedback from over 550 cyclists, talk say the roads wey we get no dey support bicycle use. Even when we get bike lanes, dem dey block, poorly maintained, or na big wahala like vendors wey dey pack everywhere. The cycling culture wey exist na just grassroots level; e dey under-the-table, no support from government.

Research also show say cycling fit help us clear air pollution wey dey choke us. The dirty emissions from motor vehicles fit reduce if more people dey cycle for short journeys. Cycling no just dey cool for climate, e dey help our health too. So, why we no go push for bicycle revival to fit tackle these wahala for Naija?

To make am better, government suppose focus on building safe, connected bike lanes wey go link residential areas with schools and workplaces. Policymakers for local, state, and federal level need to plan well, and make sure say dem no just build the lanes but keep am clean from rubbish and obstructions.

We no go fit put bicycle matter for back burner again. Let’s gather around bicycle campaign, involve the citizens, and support local bike mechanics. If Nigeria sabi tackle transportation wahala like this, e go surely ease off the stress wey dey for our major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. Women, children, and everybody fit benefit. We need say yes to bicycle, my people!