{"id":53031,"date":"2024-10-21T15:23:42","date_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/?p=53031"},"modified":"2024-10-21T15:23:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T13:23:42","slug":"cycling-a-cheaper-more-eco-friendly-and-healthier-means-of-transport","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/cycling-a-cheaper-more-eco-friendly-and-healthier-means-of-transport\/","title":{"rendered":"Cycling: A cheaper, more eco-friendly and healthier means of transport"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gone are the days of \u2018men-only\u2019 cyclists \u2013 now women of all ages are riding high, getting physically and mentally fit and helping to save the planet by cutting greenhouse gas emissions.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the price of fuel continues to soar in Nigeria, more people are parking their cars, hanging up their keys, and turning to cycling \u2013 a cheaper, more eco-friendly and healthier means of transport.<\/p>\n

In the Damboa district of Borno State, women have been riding bicycles for more than 50 years \u2013 long before climate change became a major concern. They ride their bikes to get to their farms, travel to neighbouring villages and communities, buy groceries and visit friends and relatives.
\nFalmata Buba, a farmer from the Damboa Local Government Area of Borno State, said she uses her bike every day to go to her land in the forest on the outskirts of the town.<\/p>\n

\u201cBicycles are an important means of transport for us here in Damboa and we have been using bikes for decades.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn many other places in Nigeria, it\u2019s usually only men and boys who ride bikes. Some people even look down on women who ride bikes. But I could not live without my bike. I \u2013 as with many other women here in Damboa \u2013 use my bike to get to my farm, fetch wood, buy and sell groceries and to visit friends and relatives. I use my bike every day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fanna Bukar told RNI that she cycles everywhere because it is cheap.
\n\u201cTricycles, motorbikes and cars need fuel to run. With the increase in the price of fuel, it is just too expensive these days. The soaring price of fuel has made other means of transport \u2013 such as taxis and tricycles \u2013 extremely expensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe price of fuel has leapt from \u20a6200 a litre in May last year to more than \u20a61,000 \u2013 at some outlets the cost is \u20a61,250. In the city, such as Maiduguri, you can ride the bus for \u20a650. But we don\u2019t have that service here. The cost of a keke napep [a tricycle] is \u20a6200.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt all adds up. But if I ride my bicycle, I don\u2019t have to buy fuel and I don\u2019t pay a penny to get to my destination. All I need is strength and the ability to ride a bike. It helps to keep me fit and healthy. And it makes me independent because I don\u2019t have to rely on others. If I need something, I just hop on my bike.\u201d<\/p>\n

Malama Karu, an elderly woman, scoffed at the notion that she might be too old to ride a bicycle.<\/p>\n

\u201cTraditionally, women in Damboa are known for riding bicycles. Young or old, married or single, women \u2013 even elderly women like me \u2013 have been riding bikes in Damboa town for the past 50 years, or maybe even longer. It has now become the norm. In past times, it was not always acceptable culturally. But now lots of women ride bikes.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn fact, here in Damboa town, it has become a tradition that when a young woman is getting married, her parents buy a new bicycle as a wedding gift, so that she can use it for farming activities, visiting and other purposes.<\/p>\n

\u201cEven though I am old, I have a bicycle. I learnt how to ride when I was in primary school. Now I\u2019m older and I\u2019m still riding my bike to conduct my daily business activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen people from other places visit Damboa, they are sometimes surprised to see a woman riding a bicycle. But it is the norm here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mustapha Adam Kolo, a senior lecturer in the department of geography at the University of Maiduguri, said that apart from the obvious health benefits, cycling was good for the planet because it cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.<\/p>\n

\u201cBicycles don\u2019t use fossil fuels and it is a pollution-free mode of transport. The use of bicycles is a cheaper and more eco-friendly way of commuting.<\/p>\n

\u201cBicycles don\u2019t release harmful emissions that pollute the atmosphere, nor any carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change. Unlike vehicles, tricycles and motorbikes, they don\u2019t need gas or fuel.<\/p>\n

\u201cApart from not emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, bicycles do not require a road. You can ride a bike on all kinds of surfaces. You do not have to cut down trees as they do for road construction.<\/p>\n

\u201cResearch conducted by climate experts indicates that if you cycle just three miles a week instead of driving your car, you\u2019ll save almost 50kg of polluting, lung-destroying gases a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine the difference you could make \u2013 and you will also get fit and healthy and have fun,\u201d Kolo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA typical fossil fuel-powered car emits almost five metric tons of carbon dioxide a year. So, choosing a bicycle over a car just once a day reduces the average person\u2019s carbon emissions by 67%.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe loss of trees and other vegetation can cause climate change, deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, fewer crops, flooding and increased greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe impact of climate change is real and ranges from disrupted weather patterns, rising sea levels, global warming, wildfires, extreme droughts and excessive flooding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kolo said governments needed to encourage the use of bicycles and reduce the number of cars to address the issues of climate change and save the planet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you\u2019re commuting to work, going to buy groceries or just stopping by to see a friend, choosing to ride a bike instead of driving will not only provide the mental and physical benefits of getting outside and being active, but it will also help to make the planet a cleaner, healthier, more liveable place.<\/p>\n

In March 2022, 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution supporting bicycles as a tool for combating climate change.<\/p>\n

The resolution noted that increased cycling would help to achieve \u201csustainable development, including the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cBicycles, apart from their zero emissions, are known to promote healthy lifestyles as the body is exercised while riders are peddling.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cycling, they said, was a viable alternative because of its cost-effectiveness, low carbon footprint and health risk-mitigating potential. Bicycles had zero fuel costs and required minimal maintenance.<\/p>\n

Bike riding provided benefits, including improved brain health, enhanced core strength, lowered stress levels, decreased risks of heart disease, strokes and diabetes, it lowered blood pressure and helped control weight.<\/p>\n

The UN said: \u201cCycling is good for the environment and people\u2019s health.\u201d
\nA UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report said: \u201cThe move away from cars and minibuses, many of which are ageing and are heavy pollutants, would help to reduce other types of airborne contaminants. Many of these vehicles emit 10 times what they should.\u201d<\/p>\n

SHETTIMA LAWAN MONGUNO<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gone are the days of \u2018men-only\u2019 cyclists \u2013 now women of all ages are riding high, getting physically and mentally fit and helping to save the planet by cutting greenhouse […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":53032,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[85],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-53031","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-society"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53031"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=53031"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":53033,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/53031\/revisions\/53033"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53032"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=53031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=53031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ndarason.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=53031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}