Pat Emeordi, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in Plateau said encouraging Nigerians to patronise bicycles as means of transportation was one of the surest ways minimising traffic congestion on the highways.
Emeordi said during a road show organised to mark the 2018 United Nations World Bicycle Day on Monday in Jos, with the theme: “Cycling for Fitness”, that apart from reducing congestion, bicycle riding would ensure accident-free highways.
She said that this was in addition to the health and other numerous benefits derivable from cycling.
She said: “Cycling helps in keeping people fit, and also make our body system develop resistance to common illnesses.
“With more people riding bicycles than cars, the less polluted the environment will be, because there will be minimal emissions.
“When we have more bicycles and fewer vehicles on our roads, then the highways will be free; we shall have less crashes and traffic congestion.
“In countries like Sweden for instance, 90 per cent of its citizens, including government officials, uses bicycle. This is why we are also using this day to urge Nigerians to go cycling.”
The sector commander called on cyclists in state to always obey traffic rules and regulations, as those rules were binding on all road users.
She called on governments at all levels to consider creating lanes for cyclists when constructing roads.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that as part of activities to mark the day, officers and men of the command, alongside members of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria in Plateau, visited the Jos Network Centre of the Nigerian Television Authority to create awareness.
