The Lagos State Government on Sunday said it has included bicycle parking terminals in some of the road infrastructures it is carrying out in a bid to encourage a Non-Motorized Transport Plan (NMT).
A statement by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlola, Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Transportation said that the construction of terminals for bicycles would ensure the seamless implementation of NMT by the State Government.
The statement hinted that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu made this known at the maiden edition of ‘Car Free Day’, held on Sunday in Lagos.
The governor she said also emphasised that his administration was making tremendous efforts to make transportation in the state more effective, efficient and sustainable through its several infrastructural, policy, and institutional reforms to curb the looming dangers of the climate change.
Sanwo-Olu who was represented at the occasion by Dr Frederic Oladeinde Commissioner for Transportation, Lagos State, stated that the Car Free Day was an avenue for a city like Lagos to appraise the state of its road network and create an innovative way of making non-motorised transportation equitable, effective and sustainable in the State.
He reassured that the celebration of the Car Free Day in the state would create a paradigm shift in the culture needed for the transformation of the city of Lagos.
The governor said that the infrastructure to support non-motorised transport would be put in place to ensure seamless movement for the commuting public and stressed that the decision was important as transportation was the biggest culprit of carbon emissions affecting the environment negatively.
Oladeinde also reaffirmed that bicycle lanes would be created for cyclists on the road to encourage the use of bicycles, which would benefit the public by ensuring pollution-free environments, road safety and improved health for every individual regardless of their age.
He explained that the Ministry of Transportation was working with physical planning to pilot the non-motorised transport policy and sustain it.
Also, Osa Konyeha of the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), pointed out that the agency had concluded the first phase of implementation of the Lagos Sidewalk Pilot Project on Catholic Mission Street/Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), which had enhanced walking access to St. Nicholas Hospital, Kings College, Lagos High Court, Federal Court of Appeal, Tafawa Balewa Square.
He assured that plans were underway to implement a cycling pilot project that would traverse Eti-Osa Local Government and Ikoyi-Obalende Local Council Development Area, adding that the Design Review Sub-Committee had conducted site visits and prepared a preliminary design, which would be discussed extensively with all key stakeholders at the next quarterly meeting.
The LAMATA representative also affirmed the commitment of the agency to implementing a network of walking and cycling routes to implement a transport system that improves the lifestyle of the people and improves the economic competitiveness of Lagos.
Also speaking, Yinka Jones, who represented the Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI) maintained that the level of pollution in Lagos was increasing due to motorized activities.
He encouraged all the role players to play their part in reducing pollution in the State by embracing non-motorised transportation.
Temitope George, representing Cycology, one of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) that collaborated with the government to organise the event said that the essence of ‘Car Free Day’ was to awaken the consciousness of residents to the fact that there are other alternative modes of transportation.
She explained that the “Share the road” campaign was aimed at sensitising the motorised road users that the road furniture is for everyone while calling on the State Government to continue its inclusive infrastructure that would ensure cyclists, bikers, skaters and other Non-Motorised road users co-habit safely.
