African Cyclists Try to Make the Continent More Bike-Friendly
2020-10-11
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1Wearing bright colors, Andy Costa rides his bicycle in the streets of Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast.
2He carefully makes his way through the city, trying to avoid cars and trucks.
3Africa's many crowded cities make it the world's deadliest continent for people who walk and for cyclists - those riding bicycles.
4That information comes from the World Health Organization.
5Many African cities have bad roads and no special lanes for bikes.
6That may soon change.
7The COVID-19 health crisis has, in some ways, helped African cycling activists.
8The need to avoid crowded public transportation systems has made government officials more willing to listen to these activists.
9Last month, Ivorian officials told Andy Costa he could help plan bike lanes in part of Abidjan.
10Costa had spent around 10 years campaigning for such lanes.
11"They [cyclists] are part of the solution," said Jacques Gabriel Ehouo, mayor of the central business district of Plateau.
12He spoke to the Reuters news agency after meeting with the cycling activist.
13"Cycling can contribute to the fight against COVID-19 because social distancing is naturally respected," he said.
14Costa has high hopes.
15"The goal is to make Africa and the continent cyclable," he said.
16A lack of bike lanes and good roads is not the only problem.
17Kenya's capital Nairobi, for example, began expanding bicycle lanes five years ago.
18Several more are being built in the heart of Nairobi's business district.
19But cars often drive into the lanes.
20And work crews do not always make necessary repairs.
21Cycling is still dangerous, said Cyprine Odada, an organizer for the Nairobi office of Critical Mass.
22Critical Mass is an international alliance of cycling organizations that campaign for better road safety.
23Recently, Odada and hundreds of others cycled slowly through Nairobi's streets.
24They did the ride in memory of a friend who was killed while cycling.
25Odada is asking Kenya's parliament to improve legal protections for cyclists.
26The COVID-19 pandemic might help.
27The disease has fueled people's interest in cycling, Odada said, partly because of a government decision about public minibuses.
28The government ordered minibus operators to leave some seats open for social distancing.
29But the buses, usually very crowded, are the only kind of transportation that many Kenyans can afford.
30Odada noted that "With COVID, we've had a lot of beginners reaching out, people who want to know about how safe it is to cycle in Nairobi."
31In Cape Town, South Africa, cycling activist Lebogang Mokwena used to get two or three questions a week about teaching people to ride.
32Since the pandemic arrived, she receives them almost every day.
33Mokwena has taught about 200 women to ride bicycles in the past three years, she said.
34Some of the women do not have bikes.
35Some belong to cultures where women do not traditionally ride.
36Many of the women believe biking is a sport, not a form of transportation, Mokwena said.
37"Black women tend not to be cyclists, not because they don't want to, but because they've never had the opportunity to learn," she said.
38She only learned to cycle at the age of 30 after moving to New York.
39Mokwena is Cape Town's "Bicycle Mayor," a name given by the cycling advocacy group Bycs.
40The group also has "mayors" in Nairobi, the Ugandan capital Kampala, and Gaberone in Botswana.
41These "mayors" build cycling communities and work with local governments.
42Ivorian activist Costa says his main aim is to change the idea that cycling is for the rural poor.
43His organization, 'MyDream for Africa,' makes videos with famous people such as football star Didier Drogba.
44The videos advocate for cycling.
45"The bicycle is the transport of the future," Costa said.
46I'm John Russell.
1Wearing bright colors, Andy Costa rides his bicycle in the streets of Abidjan, the capital of the Ivory Coast. He carefully makes his way through the city, trying to avoid cars and trucks. 2Africa's many crowded cities make it the world's deadliest continent for people who walk and for cyclists - those riding bicycles. That information comes from the World Health Organization. 3Many African cities have bad roads and no special lanes for bikes. 4That may soon change. 5The COVID-19 health crisis has, in some ways, helped African cycling activists. The need to avoid crowded public transportation systems has made government officials more willing to listen to these activists. 6Last month, Ivorian officials told Andy Costa he could help plan bike lanes in part of Abidjan. Costa had spent around 10 years campaigning for such lanes. 7"They [cyclists] are part of the solution," said Jacques Gabriel Ehouo, mayor of the central business district of Plateau. He spoke to the Reuters news agency after meeting with the cycling activist. 8"Cycling can contribute to the fight against COVID-19 because social distancing is naturally respected," he said. 9Costa has high hopes. 10"The goal is to make Africa and the continent cyclable," he said. 11A lack of bike lanes and good roads is not the only problem. Kenya's capital Nairobi, for example, began expanding bicycle lanes five years ago. Several more are being built in the heart of Nairobi's business district. 12But cars often drive into the lanes. And work crews do not always make necessary repairs. 13Cycling is still dangerous, said Cyprine Odada, an organizer for the Nairobi office of Critical Mass. Critical Mass is an international alliance of cycling organizations that campaign for better road safety. 14Recently, Odada and hundreds of others cycled slowly through Nairobi's streets. They did the ride in memory of a friend who was killed while cycling. Odada is asking Kenya's parliament to improve legal protections for cyclists. 15Pandemic's effect on cycling 16The COVID-19 pandemic might help. The disease has fueled people's interest in cycling, Odada said, partly because of a government decision about public minibuses. The government ordered minibus operators to leave some seats open for social distancing. But the buses, usually very crowded, are the only kind of transportation that many Kenyans can afford. 17Odada noted that "With COVID, we've had a lot of beginners reaching out, people who want to know about how safe it is to cycle in Nairobi." 18In Cape Town, South Africa, cycling activist Lebogang Mokwena used to get two or three questions a week about teaching people to ride. Since the pandemic arrived, she receives them almost every day. 19Mokwena has taught about 200 women to ride bicycles in the past three years, she said. Some of the women do not have bikes. Some belong to cultures where women do not traditionally ride. Many of the women believe biking is a sport, not a form of transportation, Mokwena said. 20"Black women tend not to be cyclists, not because they don't want to, but because they've never had the opportunity to learn," she said. She only learned to cycle at the age of 30 after moving to New York. 21Mokwena is Cape Town's "Bicycle Mayor," a name given by the cycling advocacy group Bycs. The group also has "mayors" in Nairobi, the Ugandan capital Kampala, and Gaberone in Botswana. These "mayors" build cycling communities and work with local governments. 22Ivorian activist Costa says his main aim is to change the idea that cycling is for the rural poor. His organization, 'MyDream for Africa,' makes videos with famous people such as football star Didier Drogba. The videos advocate for cycling. 23"The bicycle is the transport of the future," Costa said. 24I'm John Russell. 25Loucoumane Coulibaly reported on this story for Reuters news agency. John Russell adapted the story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. 26____________________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28bicycle - n. a 2-wheeled vehicle that a person rides by pushing on foot pedals 29lane - n. a part of road that is marked by painted lines and that is for a single line of vehicles 30mayor - n. an official elected or appointed as chief of a city or town 31district - n. part of a country, city, or town; an area established by a government for official government business 32contribute - v. to give or provide something 33afford - v. being able to pay the cost of something 34tend - v. used to describe what often happens or what someone often does or is likely to do - followed by to + verb 35advocacy - n. the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal; the act or process of showing support for something 36We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.