The European Union (EU) Delegation to Ghana in partnership with the Netherlands and French Embassies have successfully organised the first event “Ride with Team Europe” cycling event in Accra last Saturday.
The 12.6km bike ride was aimed at promoting cycle as a means of transportation and lifestyle choice in the country.
Over 150 riders took part in this year’s event which at the Black Stars Square to the ministries, with a water break at the Netherlands Embassy.
After the water break, the cyclists moved the 37 road and then finished at the Alliance Française.
There was also a sustainable fashion show and art exhibition as well as a picnic and sustainable food market.
Mr. Jeroen Verheul Netherland Ambassador in his keynote addressed said, “it was good to ride bicycle because biking makes people healthy, friendly environment and convenient when packing”.
He said there were five ways by which a government would consider influencing the choice of individuals for bike mobility.
They included, “health, statue, environment, safety and security as well as convenient”.
He said cycling was healthy for the body, “I don’t understand why people pay money to a fitness shop to go and sit on a bike inside if you can go on your bike outside”.
He said riding a bike makes the environment clean as there was no fossil fuse, which is better for a greener environment.
He said safety and security were the biggest problems in Accra when riding a bike, it was not safe to ride, as there was no respect by the drivers for pedestrians and cyclists.
He said, “in Ghana if you are on the bike, you are considered a poor person, but in the Netherlands their Prime Minister go to work on bike”.
He said, “I want to state that riding a bike does not make you poor, but wise and sensible, let’s promote cycling in Accra and Ghana as a whole”.
He said, “in Netherlands a population of 18 million people with 24 million bikes is for the people.”
Mr. Jules Armand Aniambossou France Ambassador commended the riders who took part in the event and urged them to continue to ride as they serve as role models to some people.
Mr. Irchad Razaaly, Head of Delegation at the EU Embassy to Ghana said riding bicycles enlighten the individual about the importance of sustainability of the environment.
He said the event was challenging due to the number of vehicles on the roads, “if we want Accra to shift to cycling, it would take a lot of energy and engagement”.
He said, “today, we want to raise awareness on the possibility of envisaging more sustainable way of movement in the city, we have been encouraging people to use bicycles as a means of transport to their workplaces”.
Mr. Abdallai Abubakar Deputy Director at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said sustainability was the key to environmental protection, since cycling had zero emission.
He said, “if we can put all our vehicles at homes and go where we can go freely, it means that we are protecting our environment, individuals and our children’s future”.
He said riding on the road was dangerous, but we have to create awareness for people to understand.
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