Bike riders play an important role in the transportation of persons and goods in the Bamenda I Council area that is largely semi urban.
With very bad roads in the rainy season and dusty roads in the dry season, these bikes navigate through them to ease the movement of persons.
While the sector is largely known to be one that employs a good number of young people, many who indulge in the bike riding sector are either not trained nor do they possess a driver's license.
Deviances such as overloading of passengers, which at times goes up to five people on a bike initially made for two, the non possession of helmets, wrong overtaking and the non-respect of traffic rules constitute some of the deviances in the bike riding sector.
While many people complain of the recklessness in this sector, the bike riders themselves are not equipped with road usage and safety measures.
Bike riders assemble for training
It is for this reason that the Mayor of Bamenda I council, Mbigha Njah Felix decided to organize a one day sensitization meeting on road safety.
While opening the meeting Monday 21st October 2024, the Mayor thanked the bike riders who supported the council's vision of stopping terrorism acts in the subdivision as well as being law abiding.
"These bike rides have contributed a lot to the peace we enjoy in Bamenda I today. We are very grateful because they have been obedient and we think it is time to train them with these road safety tips. First to protect them and secondly to protect the passengers they carry." Mayor Mbigha said.
The regular maintenance of bikes, looking neat and polite, respecting speed limits, riding with shoes, no riding after drinking or consumption of drugs, respecting the specification of customers and the protection of roads are some of the tips handed to them by one of the facilitators, Muma Jude.
Jude further explained that the wrong solidarity in the bike riding sector has led to impunity. Impunity because "bike riders think they can do anything and go away with it. When there is an incident involving them, their colleagues just jump on the matter without even knowing about it nor understating the root cause. This has led to some of them paying dearly for things they didn't even know. "We urge them to be in solidarity but for the right reasons." Muma Jude said.
Fon Forchesirri III appreciates efforts to train bike riders
Most of the bikes on the streets of Bamenda I are not registered. The Divisional Delegate of Transport, explained that the documents to acquire a bike registration certificate are four, obtained at the sales points where the bikes are bought. It further explained that when this is done, the sum of 12500 is paid and the document is issued.
On the issue of driver's licenses, just a certified copy of their ID cards and two passport size photographs are needed. But licenses can only be obtained after a formal training.
A training which the Mayor and the Regional President of the Cameroon National Youth Council, Mekon Samuel, promised to actualize in the days ahead.
On spot, the Mayor promised that the first 20 names that will be sent to the council will have their licenses free of charge.
This to the applause of the bike riders who promised to put the knowledge gained into effective use going forward.
The sensitization of the bike riders was witnessed amongst others by the Fon of Bamendakwe, His Majesty Fon Forchesirri III who like the Mayor called on the bike riders to be law abiding and respectful to state institutions.
Some 30 helmets were given to the bike riders on the spot with an additional 20 from the Cameroon National Youth Council which will be handed on October 22.
By
Ndi Tsembom Elvis
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