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Have you ever thought of a bike to replace your car?
In advanced cities in Africa such as Cape Town, there are bicycle lanes that are seperate from the roads used by cars. COURTESY PHOTO
The traffic jam in Kampala is getting worse every day. Some believe it is simply the indiscipline of the driver and impatience thrown in there. Some swear by the fact that the number of cars has exponentially superseded the city set up and how it was envisioned.
Either way, we often get stuck in traffic jam and the only guys moving are the guys on bicycles or motorbikes and pedestrians.
Perhaps, it has crossed your mind too. Whether a bike would end all these inconveniencies.
During times when it takes over 30 minutes to cross from 7th Street to Garden City, I wonder whether it is not more logical on a bicycle. The same journey on a bike would be five to 10 minutes plus or minus.
But one thing though, there is no way I can ever think of moving around Kampala on a motorbike or bicycle. Here is why.
I am just a car guy. But here’s my run down.
Roads have been around for thousands of years. And for much of that time, they have carried a wide variety of things: Pedestrains, carts, horses, wagons, streetcars, buses, bikes and cars.
It is only in the last six or seven decades that we decided cars should get priority. The roads do not control us, we control them.
We can design them to carry whatever type of traffic we feel is useful, and provide for safe and convenient passage of those different modes.
Bikes are simply harder to move with in the rain and on a very hot day. No matter how much the wind is blowing against you, it is not any fun. Do not get me wrong, a little sun will not keep you from jumping on the bike, especially if you have somewhere you need to be.
About the rain I will not say a thing, just have a glance at fuel stations when it is raining, you shall get the picture.
You will probably live longer in a car. As a rider even if you do not make mistakes, other people will. People say that you ride long enough, and you will crash. I know there are riders who do not believe this. But then no matter how skilled you are, you simply cannot control for every variable, and sooner or later the dice will not come up in your favour.
It is always good to dress right for a crash, regardless of temperatures outside starting with the helmet. Every once in a while when I use a boda boda and the guy is not wearing a helmet, I ask about it and get reasons such as, it gives me a headache, I cannot hear when I have it on, it is election time, it gets hot et cetera. All these reasons are simply because helmets are a pain to wear.
Cars forgive mistakes that motorbikes do not. You know what they say, There are two types of motorcycle riders, those that have had a crash, and those that have not had a crash yet.
Motorbike riding requires a lot of discipline and experience, two factors that are in choric deficiency for many road users in Kampala.
On a more subtle note, cars can be an investment that bikes usually are not. With very few notable exceptions, bikes do not hold their value the way that cars do. Investing in a bike is almost always a losing proposition. Investing in a car is no guarantee either but at least you have got a broader market to sell to when you need the funds.
Cars equal convenience, well with a particular definition of convenience.
Whatever the weather, you can jump into your car and in about 10 seconds you have air conditioner on, music pumping into your ears and you do not have the inconvenience of a helmet.
Sure the bike might get you around faster but the frustrations inherent in riding one at least in Kampala can never make up for choosing it over a car.
Finally and, I believe, most important is the fact that in Kampala no one pays attention to motor bikes.
While a motor-cycle has evasion options not available to a car, the laws of physics trump the right-of-way belief.
Even if you have the right-of-way as a motorcyclist, you cannot avoid injury standing up to a motorist who does not see you or is unwilling to let you through.
Defensive riding is the best way to stay out of accidents. It takes over three times the mental effort to drive a motorcycle and remain safe. So, think again when riding one.
If you must have a bike, then buy safety gear. While it might not be convenient or make you feel cool, it is also the stuff that keeps you from harm or lessens the effect after an accident. That makes safety gear incredibly important.
I know better than to believe that everybody who rides wears a full safety suit, but do you know why MotoGP riders get up from wrecks looking more disappointed than dead?
It is not because the track is made out of cushions. It is because they are wearing full head-to-toe safety gear.
At the minimum, you should wear a full-face helmet, a motorcycle jacket, and gloves every time you ride. If you wreck while wearing nothing but a T-shirt, it is going to hurt a lot worse than it needs to.
Why bike is better than car
You never get stuck in traffic and always have a great parking spot. If you ride in a city and bike during commuting hours you will love being able to cruise past long lines of vehicles held up at red lights (be sure to watch carefully for right-turning traffic who might not see you).
While drivers breathe exhaust (studies have shown that cyclists breathe less exhaust), and honk at each other, you feel the breeze and enjoy the sights off the roadside. Not to mention that you always get a great parking spot and often even beat your coworkers who drive to work.
Bicycling is a Fountain of Youth: It is an amazing thing. You feel younger and actually get more years out of your muscles, joints and organs simply by using your highly capable self to pedal around instead of sitting statue-like behind that steering wheel. In fact, cycling might just be the closest thing you can find to a genuine Fountain of Youth.
