[sustran] Motorbike ban - Kigali

Eric Britton eric.britton at ecoplan.org
Tue Aug 29 16:45:25 JST 2006


 

 

Motorbike ban long overdue 

By Oscar Kimanuka  

It is now official. No more commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as boda
boda or "motor," will be allowed in Kigali's city centre. 

The decision was arrived at after consultations between the City Council,
Ministry of Infrastructure, and Local Government and the police. The decision
has been welcomed by many Kigali residents, who for some time have viewed the
motorcyclists as a nuisance. 

The cyclists have been blamed for the increasing number of thefts in a city that
has a reputation for being one of the safest in the region. 

It is hoped that the directive from city authorities will be sustainable and not
one of those episodic, knee-jerk responses that are soon ignored. 

One of the major reasons advanced by the Kigali city fathers for the ban was the
sharp rise in accidents, thefts, harassment and other related petty crimes.
Motorcycles are only allowed in designated areas outside the city. 

The motor cycle sector in Kigali has provided employment to many young people
who have found it easy to operate owing to the reasonably low cost of
investment. A secondhand motorcycle, for example, cost $1,000 or less. 

However, the operator of the motorcycle is not usually the owner. He acquires
the motorcycle on a loan and raises the money through daily collections to pay
back pay off the debt. 

The original owner buys another bike, and through this reproductive system, the
population of "motors" on Kigali streets has grown phenomenally. Incidentally,
this practice is not confined to Kigali. 

This is common in many African cities, including Kampala, where there are
thousands of boda bodas that have become a convenient mode of transport for
passengers who are tired of the traffic jams on many of the city roads. 

These boda bodas, however, have neither regard for traffic rules nor respect for
other people. I am not sure of anyone, particularly a car owner who has ever
encountered a disciplined or polite motorcyclist. 

Now what is remaining is the enforcement of this new regulation for the safety
of residents of Kigali. 

To begin with a "motor" regulatory task-force should be established to oversee
enforcement of this regulation. 

Oscar Kimanuka is a commentator on social and economic issues based in Kigali.


Email: oscar_kim2000 at yahoo.co.uk 

 Source:
http://www.nationmedia.com/eastafrican/current/Opinion/Opinion2808064.htm

 

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