Africa-Press – Botswana. Botswana Cycling Association (BCA), affiliates, partners and the cycling community on Saturday celebrated World Cycling Day at Three Dikgosi Monument. clad in their colourful club and cycling kits.
The day was filled with activities of 20km ride around Gaborone and 5km fun ride around Central Business District (CBD). Riders also experienced for the first time a party bike as they rode around the CBD as clubs and categories against each other for the best time recorded.
Assistant commissioner of police, director traffic, Pilane Sebigi commended cyclists on their well behaviour on road use. Delivering a road safety message before participating in the 20km ride with his Police cycling team, he said with the many road crashes statistics, it was very rare to have cyclists involved.
He applauding cyclists for their good conduct on the roads despite challenges they face daily on the road.
Further, Sebigi encouraged cyclists to always adhere to safe cycling habits, which included putting on helmets, wearing of reflectors and ensuring their bicycles had lights particularly during their sunset’s trainings. He implored the cycling community to advocate for recognition of cyclists on the roads, saying motorists do not respect and give cyclists the recognition of road use.
“Motorists should be aware that cyclists are also permitted to use the roads, and therefore the traffic laws should be followed in that regard by both motorists and cyclists,” Sebigi said.
Advocating for better and safer roads, representative from Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, Thatayaone Mokakangwe said they wish to see more people riding bikes to work and schools.
“In that way we will be able to raise awareness especially to motorists for them to understand that the road also belongs to cyclists,” he said.
Mokakangwe said cycling was not only healthy, but also safe and promoted a clean environment. He appealed to authorities for better infrastructure for cycling and walking paths for safety of cyclists and pedestrians on the roads.
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