Why Rotimi Amaechi’s bicycle policy may not work – FRSC

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has said that the proposed bicycle transport policy of the Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, will be difficult to implement unless some infrastructural adjustments are made.

The Corps’ Public Education Officer, Bisi Kazeem, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent announcement of the proposed bicycle policy by Amaechi during the 15thmeeting of the National Council on Transportation (NCT) in Sokoto, Kazeem said the plan also required amendment of the National Road Safety Regulations to include provisions for the safety of cyclists.

“As a pilot scheme, if Abuja is taken, there is need for restructuring of some intersections before we can kick start it successfully.

“FRSC studied all the road networks in Abuja, and we have identified the gaps and recommended measures to address the.

“During the study, which we carried out with officials of the FCTA (Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), we found out that all roads and streets have provisions for bicycle lanes in the design, but at the point of construction the lanes were either ignored, merged with pedestrian walkways, making the walkways too wide, or were turned into green areas.

“I think it is only on Yakubu Gowon Way in Asokoro that the lane is being implemented. So, a key concern is the need for re-engineering of intersections and traffic lights to provide for cyclists,’’ he said.