This year’s world bicycle celebration in Bauchi state was colourful as participants from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Immigration service, Nigerian Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigeria correctional service (NCS), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) state fire service as well as students joined the celebration.
The celebrants led by the zonal commanding officer of road safety Mr Rotimi Adeleye rode on the Ahmadu Bello way in the Bauchi state capital and proceeded to the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) where they addressed journalists.
Rotimi Adeleye explained that the world bicycle day was designated by the United Nations stating that riding bicycle apart from being safer than cars and motorcycles also has health benefits.
“It was unanimously agreed that 3rd of june every year would be celebrated as world bicycle day. Why world bicycle day? You will agree with me that riding bicycle reduces emission and increases health.
“It has been observed that if you ride bicycle for 30 minutes, it is equivalent to any exercise you are going to do for one week”. He noted.
The road safety boss said riding bicycles creates space at parking spaces ‘as 10 bicycles can be parked where one car can occupy adding that inhaling of emission drastically reduces if people ride bicycles.
He said the commission will create awarenesses on non motorised transportation urging bicycles riders to also obey traffic rules like other road users.
Rotimi Adeleye said the commission had plan to make layers for bicycles adding that riders are not supposed to be plying same roads used by motorists.
In his remarks, the Bauchi state NUJ chairman Comrade Umar Sa’idu advised road safety commission to restore licences for bicycles riders saying in 1970s, bicyclists were asked to obtain licences.
According to him, such registration will enable the commission to have authentic data and statistics on the number of people that have bicycles.
The NUJ chairman while commending the road safety for ensuring that accidents are mitigated on Bauchi roads promised that the union would continue to support them.
