Bicycles merchants in the country may soon be smiling to the bank as the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, has restated its plan to promote the use of bicycles as an alternative means of transportation.
Luka Kinya, FRSC zonal commander, Osun, Ondo and Oyo States, revealed this at the launch of the Commission’s annual ‘National Bicycle Week’ in Osogbo Osun State.
Kinya said the bicycle initiative was part of the Commission’s efforts to decongest the roads.
While highlighting some of the advantages of using bicycles as an alternative means of transportation, Kinya told the audience that riding a bicycle for 30 minutes every week would give a person the chance of living 10 years longer than some that do not ride a bicycle.
He said bicycle riders also fall sick 25 per cent less than those who did not ride bicycles and save more money compared to those buying fuel to drive a car. Akinyinka Esho, permanent secretary, Osun State ministry of youths, sports and special needs, said the state government was glad to partner with the FRSC in keeping the people and roads safe.
In the same vein, Esho, who was represented by Lai Adeshinyan, a director in the ministry, said the campaign for the people to embrace the use of bicycles would be beneficial to the public in the long run.
He said apart from decongesting the roads and reducing road traffic crashes, it would equally help the government to map out bicycle lanes in their road construction and rehabilitation projects.
He advised indigenes and residents of the state to embrace the bicycle riding culture, saying it was a cheap and cost effective mode of transportation.
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