Abuja – The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Thursday in Abuja called for the construction of cyclist lanes on the country’s intra-city roads.

Mr Osita Chidoka, the Corps Marshal, FRSC made the call when he led a cycling team to the Federal Ministry of Works to solicit the ministry’s support for its pro-bicycle campaign.

Chidoka advocated safe lanes for cyclists, adding that the nation’s roads would be fully utilised when other road users, other than motorists had access to them.

“This campaign is about expanding the mobility of Nigerians. This is to explain that FRSC is not just for vehicles, it’s for pedestrians, for cyclist and other road users.

“Over the years, the emphasis has been on vehicles but now we are saying that the entire mobility sources should be made safe.

“So, FRSC is advocating that we need the infrastructure for bicycle riders. We need bicycle lanes and markings on our roads to tell road users that our roads are for all.

“Over the last three years, we formed a committee to campaign to the three tiers of government to include bicycle lanes on all our roads because it has enormous benefits,’’ Chidoka said.

According to Chidoka, cycling has lots of benefits over the other modes of transportation.

He said that one of the advantages of riding bicycle include personal benefits to health through regular exercise while riding.

He said that it could also reduce cost of transportation as cycling cost nothing other than the bicycle itself.

“And it’s a quicker means of accessing congestion prone communities.’’

Other benefits, according to him, include reduced air pollution and reduction in national fuel consumption, among others.

Chidoka said that the FRSC was partnering with government agencies such as the Federal Ministries of Transport, Works, Health and Environment in its pro-cycling campaign.

He said that the commission was also in partnership with NGOs, Cycling Federation of Nigeria, professional bodies and bicycle manufacturers to drive home this campaign.

He said that FRSC had produced the first draft of the National Bicycle Policy and Strategy (2014-2017), which he said was undergoing pre-approval processes.

The Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, commended the FRSC for producing the cycling policy and for its efforts to restore cycling culture in the country.

Onolememen, who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary, Mr Bala Danshehu said that the ministry was in support of the initiative, especially in the area of cycling infrastructure.

“For the initiative to be successful, we need to have cycling infrastructure that will be in line with world’s best practices. This includes well marked out bicycle routes and signs.

“As a show of support for the initiative the ministry is willing to buy some bicycles from the forum,’’ he said. (NAN)