Mombasa expands cycling, pedestrian facilities to boost road safety

By Joan Kinuthia (KNA)

Mombasa County is rolling out cycling lanes, pedestrian walkways and stricter speed controls to protect vulnerable road users and improve road safety across the city.

A key initiative is the newly completed four-kilometre cycling lane along Links Road in Nyali, developed through a partnership between the county government and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Bloomberg Philanthropies Communications Officer Kevin Ismael said the facility was established as a pilot project to encourage cycling, improve road safety, ease traffic congestion and reduce environmental pollution.

“Together with the County Government of Mombasa, we have completed the Nyali Links Road Cycling Lane, and we are happy with how cyclists have adopted the idea,” said Ismael.

He said the partners plan to extend the lane to eight kilometres and eventually connect it to Mombasa town centre.

Ismael said authorities are working with traffic police to ensure the facility remained exclusively for cyclists, warning that use of the lane by boda boda operators could compromise cyclists’ safety.

Mombasa Deputy Governor Francis Thoya said cycling is increasingly becoming part of residents’ lifestyles and supported the county’s vision of promoting environmentally friendly transport.

“We are already putting up infrastructure to inculcate a cycling culture in Mombasa and make cycling a preferred mode of transport, just like in major cities around the world,”  Thoya said.

He said the county is encouraging residents to embrace green transport to help combat climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

The county has also improved pedestrian infrastructure by paving walkways with cabro blocks to make them more accessible and encourage walking, he said.

Thoya said the improvements were intended to encourage residents to leave their vehicles behind and walk or cycle when travelling to and from work.

Local cyclist Charles Mngenyi welcomed the cycling lane but called for similar facilities on other roads across the county.

“I am happy that the County Government of Mombasa took the initiative to put up the cycling lane on Links Road, but it will be better if the exercise is extended to other roads for our safety,” he said.

The county has also introduced road signs, road markings and speed-slowing features in accident-prone areas.

Chief Officer for Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works Ali Shariff said the measures are being implemented particularly along major roads near schools.

“For all our major roads with many schools, we have installed road signages, painted road markings and increased the number of speed bumps,” said Shariff.

He said the programme had started along Kisauni Road, Koinange Road in Tudor and other roads identified as requiring additional safety measures.

Shariff said the county was also planning to enforce a 30-kilometre-per-hour speed limit within the town area.

“A difference of 30 kilometres per hour can significantly reduce the severity of accidents, and within this year’s campaign, we will enforce a speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour within the town area,” he said.

The measures come amid continuing road-safety concerns in Kenya, where pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists remain among the most vulnerable road users.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) identifies loss of vehicle control, excessive speeding and improper overtaking among factors associated with road crashes.

Pedestrians and motorcyclists, particularly boda boda riders, continue to face significant risks, with young adults aged between 15 and 44 years accounting for a substantial proportion of road-crash casualties.