The Federal Road Safety
Commission (FRSC) on Monday in Abuja inaugurated riding of bicycles as means of
transportation to reduce traffic on roads.
The Corps Marshal of FRSC, Mr Osita
Chidoka, said the inauguration was part of Africa Road Safety Day 2013 and
World Day of Remembring Road Traffic Crash Victims.
Chidoka added that it was to raise
awareness on the need for people to make the best use of bicycles.
Chidoka, who was represented by
Danjuma Garba, Deputy Corps Marshal in charge of Motor Vehicle Administration,
said the campaign was to show that “riding of bicycles is a healthy physical
exercise.
“Physically, people live longer when
they use bicycles and the campaign is aimed at getting every road user in this
country to embrace the use of bicycles.
“This is necessary so that we have
safer roads. In terms of environment, riding bicycles would also reduce
pollution and traffic congestion’’, he added.
He appealed to Government to provide
road infrastructure tailored toward accommodating the rights of bicycle riders
on high ways.
The corps marshal also urged bicycle
riders to ride safely using their helmets and be in the right frame of mind.
The Chairman, Governing Board of
FRSC, Mr Felix Chukwu, said the inauguration was symbolic because it drew
people’s attention to the wisdom in riding bicycles.
Chukwu, who explained that the event
was also to remember victims of road accident, called for conscious effort to
encourage the use of bicycles in the country.
“When you ride bicycle, you are
exercising yourself and this habit of going from one little point to another in
a car should be discouraged.
“With the bicycle, anybody can get
to anywhere he wants easily, you are reducing pollution and also helping
yourself”, he said.
The chairman expressed the
commitment of FRSC to ensuring that the roads were safe and accidents reduced
to the barest minimum.
The day, declared by the United
Nations General Assembly in 2004, is aimed at remembering victims of road
crashes.
It is also to create public
awareness on the plight of the families of the victims of road accidents and
the need for the safety of road users.(NAN)
