The National Transport Safety Authority is using the UN road safety week that runs 15 – 21 May to push for a more sustainable use of the Kenyan transport system by encouraging people to use mass transport, walk, or cycle to work.
The question however is whether the push is feasible in most of the Kenyan urban centres – a big focus being on Nairobi.
The authority is asking wananchi to use transport modes that are environmentally friendly, healthy and economical.
Non-motorised commuting is one way of reducing carbon gases in the effort to combat climate change.
Nairobi is among the world’s most congested cities when it comes to road traffic. Most of the vehicles that get stuck and create traffic jams are personal cars that ferry one or two persons.
Drive less. Live more.?
Drive less. Live more. Is an apt adage by the authority as it aims to slay two dragons with one swing of the sword: road carnage that claims hundreds of lives on the go and climate change which endangers present and future generations.
The sensitization is taking place both on social media and on the ground, in various major towns. This is one initiative that should actually be ongoing every day.
However, the challenge remains as to whether reduced number of vehicles or adoption of mass transport on the roads will encourage people to walk or cycle.
Nairobi has tried before, severally, to initiate a car free week but failed. The main reason for this is because most of the Kenyan roads are designed with neither the cyclist nor the pedestrian in mind.
It is only recently in the last two years that Kenya Urban Roads Authority has constructed hundreds of kilometres of pedestrian footpaths around the city, a step in the right direction. The action followed an act of parliament which requires all road constructions to have pedestrian paths.
As averred by NTSA, choosing bikes or walking for short distances reduces carbon emissions and keeps you fit. But where are the cycling paths?
One of the most storied matatu industry is singly to blame for the destruction of the few walking paths, as they tend to push pedestrians off the paths in their quest to overlap.
Cyclists have shared stories of how dangerous it is to share roads with indifferent drivers. Many opt to do adventure cycling outside the city rather than risk their lives.
Way forward
To get more Kenyans onto the Drive Less. Live More bandwagon, the following have to be achieved:
First, NTSA cannot do this successfully independent of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA). A sneak peak of the social media handles of both KURA and KeNHA shows the two authorities have no idea it is UN road safety week. It is business as usual for them, constructing more roads for more cars.
Second, NTSA should walk the talk. Uniformed officers walking or cycling the busy streets of Nairobi and other towns is likely to make their messaging more impactful than them driving to talk to groups of boda boda riders in pockets of the cities.
Third, NTSA, KenHA and KURA must work together to maintain navigability of pedestrian paths which if not invaded by roadside traders and private car parkers, are used by matatu drivers to overlap. Pedestrians have never felt safe to use the current footpaths designed for them.
Fourth, all these efforts will not bear fruit if the county governments are not involved. Just like the road construction authorities, none of the ministries of roads in the counties have any idea about NTSA’s initiative. This is especially embarrassing for Nairobi which has failed to actualize a viable plan for rapid bus transport system as well as car free weeks or areas.
Lastly, the central government and county governments must re-evaluate their car capacity policies. You cannot ask people to walk to work to save the environment while you drive in a five or more vehicles motorcade of 4,000cc Land Cruisers Prado every day.
Feature photo/ NTSA Twitter