FRSC boss advocates more use of bicycle for sustainable development, healthy living

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi on Monday, advocated increased use of bicycle, describing it as a means of fostering sustainable development and healthy living.

Oyeyemi made the call at an event to mark the 2nd Edition of United Nations World Bicycle Day organised by FRSC in collaboration with Cycling Federation of Nigeria.

World Bicycle Day is celebrated June 3, each year as declared by United Nations 72nd General Assembly in 2018 with the aims of encouraging member-states to improve road safety and integrate it into sustainable mobility and transport infrastructure planning and design.

This, in particular is through policies and measures to actively protect and promote pedestrian safety and cycling mobility, for broader health outcomes, particularly the prevention of injuries.

The Corps Marshal,who was represented by Deputy Corps Marshal, Ojeme Erujakpor, said that the day was also celebrated in line with other United Nations Declarations, including Sustainable Development Goals and World Urban Agenda.

According to him, there was the need for government to provide mobility system’s that would make cycling safe and reliable as a means of transportation.

“The FRSC, since 2011, has worked with other stakeholders to promote the culture of cycling in Nigeria.

“In doing this, we had facilitated the setting up of a national stakeholders’ committee on bicycle transportation and produced the first draft National Cycling Policy and Strategy,” he said.

While calling on the public to take up cycling as a mode of transport, Oyeyemi urged decision makers to re-engineer urban roads to provide systems, including bicycle lanes and cycling facilities, at traffic intersections.

He also said that there was need to develop policies and regulations that were inclusive by providing for the safety and wellbeing of the cyclist as a member of the comity of road users.

“Decision makers should include budget for cycling in national, state and local government budgets to fund cycling activities like any other mode of transport.”

The President, Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Mr Giandomenico Masari, said that cycling was a form of sports that helped in ensuring a healthy life style.

He added that the promotion of cycling in the country would help to reduce traffic congestion, and called for the development of the sport at the grassroots.