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Senegal's urban cycling pattern offers possibility to improve green transport

Medical professional Philip Moreira's commute to health center on an electric bike is a hazardous, smoginfused weave through the disorderly traffic of Senegal's capital Dakar.

Moreira, 58, is part of a little however budding community of city bicyclists that have ended up being a more common sight in current years, zipping around Dakar's gridlock for exercise and fun, signalling a shift in the city's transport characteristics.

Biking groups have actually never ever had numerous members, and state authorities are not doing enough to turn the growing interest in bicycles into strategies to minimize blockage and carbon emissions.

Moreira's club Velo Passion saw its memberships double to over 500 in the last 5 years.

Yet a number of Dakar's cyclists still venture out only on weekends when traffic is lighter, due to issues about poor facilities and careless driving.

Between cars and trucks that cut in front of you and those who honk at you non-stop, it can be very tough, stated Moreira, remembering a close call with a bus.

As African leaders promote more financing for environment options ahead of COP29 next week, advocates in Senegal say enhancing roadway security and government-led biking projects would get more people to change away from cars - a cost-efficient way to meet emission targets.

You might not have the ability to persuade individuals utilized to blasting AC in their SUVs, stated campaigner Baye Cheikh Sow. But you can target the brand-new generation.

According to a 2022 United Nations Environment Programme report, Africa has the greatest international average of walking and cycling at 56 minutes per individual each day, compared to the worldwide average of 43.9 minutes.

But this is not being maintained as cities and earnings grow, since city transport and status are prejudiced towards motorised cars.

The rapid and typically unregulated expansion of African cities has likewise turned the continent into the deadliest for bicyclists and pedestrians, according to UNEP.

In the African context we have a modal share of active mobility that countries in Europe would enjoy to have ... because people don't have a choice, said Carly Gilbert-Patrick, who leads the UNEP team for active mobility.

MORE BIKING LANES

In an effort to fulfill the growing demand for sustainable city mobility, Senegal is among a couple of African nations that have bundled cycling into their strategies.

Dakar's city transport firm CETUD aims to build a. 175-kilometer integrated cycling lane network by 2035. However,. the opening of the first 12-kilometer section has actually been delayed. for a number of months, raising scepticism among the cycling. neighborhood.

CETUD acknowledged by means of e-mail that existing biking. infrastructure was insufficient, which the federal government still had. no policy to encourage urban cycling.

On a scorching Sunday, visibly irritated drivers were. stopped to make way for bicyclists racing in a loop on a highway. outside Dakar.

Guisse Mohammed, a 39-year-old pharmacist who hardly ever misses. Sunday trips on his sports bike, still drives to work for. security reasons.

I have actually been considering purchasing a city bike, he stated. Having more biking lanes might be a motivation.

(source: Reuters)