Cycling in Africa: Commuting, transporting, racing and more | DW News

Bicycles have a long history in Africa, especially as a means of transport. But in the big cities today, not very many people use a bicycle to commute. And there are good reasons for that. Saftey being a major one. According to international standards, there are only 4,200 kilometers of road networks that are considered safe for commuter cycling in all of Africa. Most of those roads are in just three countries: Uganda, Tanzania, and South Africa.

Lagos, Africa's most populous city, is known to be very congested. People can spend up to three hours a day stuck in traffic, which adds up to significant amount of time in lost productivity. So could using a bicycle help? DW's Flourish Ubanyi and Olisa Chukwumah put it to the test.

Meanwhile, walking and cycling are the most popular means of transport in Uganda, but they are also the most unsafe. Now there is a concerted effort to make the country's roads safer for people cycling.

The government has developed a non-motorized transport policy, or NMT. And an initiative in Uganda is working to promote cycling as a sustainable way to get around.

And in Kenya, the bicycle has long been a mode of transport and also a means to earn a living for many people. DW correspondent Felix Maringa met one proud bicycle owner who says he doesn't plan on giving up his two-wheeler any time soon.

Professional cycling in Africa historically doesn't have as solid a foundation as other sports. But that's changing. Over the past decade, a number of organizations have focused on bridging the gap between African youth and the sport of professional cycling.

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