By Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Sekondi, Oct. 14, GNA –The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) is stepping up efforts to promote cycling and active mobility through partnerships, school campaigns, safer road crossings.
The Assembly has plans to establish its first dedicated bicycle lane.
The initiative seeks to improve upon road safety, encourage cycling as a viable means of transport and protect vulnerable road users, particularly children, pedestrians and traders to promote sustainable urban mobility and improve upon road safety in Sekondi-Takoradi.
Madam Vivian Aborah, the Metropolitan Transport Head, announced new transport improvement initiative in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the sidelines of a workshop on Ghana ACTIVE Mobility Training for key stakeholders, held in Sekondi .
The training is being organised in partnership with the UN Environment Programme, UN-Habitat the Alliance for Cycling Towards Vitality and Empowerment, (ACTIVE) and Go-bility partners.
The Head of Transport noted that the STMA had a strong foundation for promoting cycling, given its existing road network, which could support the development of safe bicycle lanes adding, “we need to ride or walk in dignity”.
The programme also seeks to improve upon safety around schools and markets, where pedestrians and other vulnerable road users faced risks while crossing roads.
Cycling was not yet widely recognised as a serious transport option and that the absence of dedicated bicycle lanes on the roads posed challenges to its adoption.
The vision was to create a city where children could walk safely to school, traders could crossroads safely to markets, and cycling would become an accessible and dignified transport option for all, the Head of Transport added.
Mr. Gorris Teije, a University Lecturer and one of the Facilitators from the Netherlands said in designing, engineers must give more considerations to roundabouts rather than intersections which were safer and promoted enhanced safety all road users.
Mr. Daniel Munene, Urban Mobility Consultant for the UN Environment programme spoke about the Pan African Action Plan for Active Mobility aimed at prioritising the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and other non-motorised transport users.
The action plan recognised the importance of investing in walking and cycling and other non-motorised transport modes for the environment, air quality, health, road safety, social equity while, ensuring no one was left behind.
Ms. Lennie Siesling, Manager, Movares Smart Urban Engineering said continuity in the design thinking was critical to avoid friction while, ensuring that there were opportunities for all in a safe space.
Mr. Jelle Bakker, from the Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and the Coordinator of the ACTIVE Africa noted how he started riding at an early age of four, and his current role in the ensuring that cycling and walking became more acceptable among Africans.
Mr. Faustinus Faidoo, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, said strategic investment in the people was key as about 40 percent of the people either walked or cycled.
He praised the UNEP and ACTIVE team for choosing the Sekondi-Takoradi as a learning hub.
She said: “We believe this opportunity will translate joint proposals to pursue active mobility agenda.”
GNA
Edited by Justina Hilda Paaga/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Mildred Siabi-Mensah
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]