A Yaounde – Kigali Experience Sharing for Harmonious City Biking Culture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Salvaging motorbike calamities and urban chaos would not only safeguard lives but achieve urban tranquility in Yaounde and Cameroon. The disorder in this transport sector observed in Yaounde can be uncurled and riders called to order as solution to the chaos accrued. This article exposes the shortcomings of biking transport as inadequate training and reckless riding have led to the urban chaos and calamities observed. If it does not occur from high speed, perhaps it would be a mentality problem. Some 140 questionnaires were administered to motor bike riders, clients, and transport authorities in Yaounde. Field observation and interview sessions were organized to have first-hand information on calamities in the city. Hotbed neighbourhoods of accidents were captured through a GPS and transformed into maps and tables. An in-depth documentary research at the Ministry of Transport and its delegations as well as the national institute of statistics was done to have data for analysis. Findings adhere to the fact that total identification of riders, mandatory use of helmets for rider and passenger as well as stringent speed limits with unadorned sanctions can be used to address the situation. This paper advocates that the Kigali experience in the management and control of motor bike transport be shared in Yaounde so as to reduce, if not curb urban mayhem and wanton accidents.