President of the Africa Urban Cycling Organisation and vice president of the World Cycling Alliance, Engr Emmanuel John, has called on the minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, to recover bicycle lanes on all arterials and higher road corridors in Abuja.
The president of the organisation, in his message titled, “The 6th World Bicycle Day, 2024, and the imperative for urban freedom” to commemorate, 2024 World Bicycle Day, usually marked on June 3, noted that all stakeholders need to work towards ensuring freedom and easier access for cyclists.
He called on the FCT minister “to provide the lead by recovering bicycle lanes on all arterials and higher road corridors in Abuja as provided in the Master plan.” He also noted that “we can no longer wait for a certain future to get this done, as has been repeatedly stated by previous administrations.”
His other demands include calling on the minister “to urgently include cycling in the light rails and other public transport developments and provide cycle parking facilities in all rail and bus terminals, public buildings, markets, and office premises.
“The Presidential CNG Initiative, whose core component is the procurement of CNG buses for public transport, should include cycling as a component. This conforms to the 76th UN General Assembly resolution on integrating cycling into public transport, which was adopted by the National Council on Transport Nigeria. Integrating cycling means providing last-mile connectivity for public transport, creating the opportunity for a national cycling investment kickoff and proving Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable development.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Works to, as a matter of urgency, develop a national urban roads design manual. This is different from the National Highway Design Manual and cannot replace the Highway Design Manual. It will specify mandatory provision of walking and cycling lanes and complementary facilities for all urban roads exceeding 30km per hour.”
John also noted that a National Stakeholder’s Awareness Workshop/National Cycling draft Policy Validation would hold on June 13, 2024, as part of the events to mark this year’s World Bicycle Day.
Also, there would be a National Cycling Mass Rally and 3rd Capital City Cycling Championship, holding on June 15, 2024.
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