In a bid to raise awareness for the need for more sustainable modes of transportation like walking, cycling, and sustainable public transportation, a group of stakeholders have come together to organise the Sustainable Transport Festival 2023.
The Let’s Get Lagos Moving Campaign group started its advocacy for Non-Motorised Transportation (NMT) modes in the state by celebrating World Bicycle Day in 2021. It was well attended and covered with verifiable impacts and led the group to organise the first Car Free Day in Lagos in 2022 together with the Ministry of Transportation and the Lagos Metroplitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA).
Olasumbo Olaniyi from Urban better said they are looking to inspire and aspire change as well as encourage enviromental advocacy. “Lagos is heavily motorised and about 70 percent of all we do depends largely on movement and vehicles, which are mostly aged and emit a lot of noxious gasses, affecting the air quality. People spend a lot of time on the road and encouraging NMTs can help reduce this time and even help the state economically.”
Agbo Francis of FT Cycle Care bemoaned the poor level of acceptance for NMTs, adding that cycling can provide a means of livelihood for many Nigerians and act as a simple means of transport for short distances. He regretted that asides the obvious dearth of infrastructure to encourage NMTs, many public spaces do not provide accomodation for them.
Representative from Simba Planet, Chris Nze revealed that NMTs are another way to make money away from traditional cars and buses. Adding that many people are struggling to afford cars these days because of the deplorable economic situation of the country, he said more people are looking at NMTs as a way to reduce fueling costs.
Captian, Cycology Cycling Club, Temitope George, said that in order for cycling to become a sustanable means of transportation, the Non-Motorised Transport Policy must be passsed, implemented and government must become involved via proper road infrastructure. “Roads are being re-constructed without bicycle lanes, what is the point of having a NMT policy then? Cyclers have lost their lives while trying to move from one point to the other because of a lack of dedicated lanes. Strong political will is needed to ensure that with the right infrastructure, cycling can become a sustainable means of transport. Employers also need to put provision in place to encourage their staff embrace cycling and other NMT methods.”
She urged the government to go beyond lip-service to facilitate and provide the structure for NMTs to thrive.
The 2023 Sustainable Transport Festival is a four day festival that kicks off today and will run till the 23rd of September 2023. The festival will open up with a series of live online discussions followed by a walkability assessment on the 21st of September to assess the walkability, accessibility and air quality of streets in Ikeja. The group will host an Open Mic and documentary screening on the 22nd of September focused on equity, gender and public transport. On the final day, the festival will close with a bike ride. It has been curated to advocate for sustainable transportation that anyone can benefit from.
