The government has been urged by three diplomats to develop policies to promote and influence the citizenry’s choice of cycling as a sustainable form of transport and mobility.
The three diplomats were the Ambassadors of the European Union (EU) to Ghana, Mr Ichard Razaaly, France, Mr Jules Armand Aniambossou and the Netherlands to Ghana, Mr Jeroen Verheul.
According to them, the policies must be developed based on five criteria, namely, convenience, environment, health, safety and security, and status.
They noted that the criteria was important because cycling improves the well-being of individuals, promotes environmental sustainability as it did not require the use of fossil fuel, was more convenient, and did not determine one’s status in society.
The diplomats also said these at the end of a cycling event held over the weekend, which was aimed at promoting cycling as a form of transportation and means to exercise.
Dubbed; ‘Ride with Team Europe-cycling and sustainability event, ‘it was a collaboration between the European Union (EU) delegation in Ghana, the Embassies of the Netherlands and France in Ghana.
Over 100 cyclists, including the diplomats participated.
The cyclists started at 6 am from the Black Star Square, through some principal streets of Accra; made a stop at the Dutch Embassy before ending at the Alliance Française d’Accra.
Mr Verheul stressed that among the five criteria, the safety and security of cyclists remained a challenge that needed to be addressed by the government when developing the policies that promoted and influenced the citizens’ choice of cycling as a sustainable form of transport and mobility.
“I think safety and security of cyclists is the biggest problem in Accra and around Ghana because it is not safe to cycle. What I heard from you with your experience coming here is that it was dangerous despite the fact that you were riding with police protection”, Mr Verheul explained.
He further entreated the citizenry to change their perception about cyclists or individual who ride bicycles as they were perceived to belong to the lower class in society.
Moreover, Mr Aniambossou said France was committed to financing initiatives and programmes that ensured sustainability in Africa, including Ghana, such as the cycling marathon.
For his part, Mr Razaaly underscored the need for city developers to consider a human centred approach when designing the cities to make them cycling friendly, which required a lot of engagement.
Additionally, he noted that designing cities to make them cycling friendly would improve the stamina of cyclists and offer them the opportunity to tell their stories to others.
BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY
