“Kenyan University Introduces bike-sharing Scheme to Combat Traffic Congestion”

The University of Nairobi, in partnership with the United Nations Habitat, is set to pioneer Africa’s first bike-sharing scheme in an innovative bid to ease traffic congestion. According to AFK Insider, the breakthrough project, similar to bike-related services like Uber, will be centralized on the university’s campus in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city.

As part of the pilot phase of the project, students have been given access to use four bikes donated by Buffalo Bike, a reputable bicycle manufacturer in the U.S. This pioneering project aims to offer a sleek solution to the daily transportation woes encountered by numerous Nairobians journeying to and from Uhuru Park and the Upper Hill area. City planners have previously expressed concern that if Nairobi continues to experience its current vehicular growth without significant infrastructural changes, driving speeds will significantly decrease by 2030.

This initiative, guided by Professor Tonny Omwansa, is expected to significantly benefit Nairobi residents. “Every day, we see Nairobians walking through Uhuru Park to and from Upper Hill. For some it is out of choice, perhaps they want to keep fit, and others dread getting stuck in traffic”, Omwansa explained to Nairobi News.

The United Nations Habitat has backed this ground-breaking project with a financial contribution of 1 million shillings (approximately $10,000). This funding is a part of the organization’s continued efforts to promote sustainable mobility in cities around the world.

This bike-sharing scheme, as stated in C4DLab, is expected to aid at least 40 percent of Nairobi’s population who currently use bicycles as their main alternative mode of transport. The project will operate a setup where bikes will be stationed near public transport locations, enabling users to conveniently access them for short journeys and return it to designated stations.

Customers will be required to pay an annual subscription fee of Sh 1000 to utilize the services. Various measures have been implemented to curb bike theft, including the use of uniquely colored number plates, alarm systems with geo-tracking abilities, and a collaboration with Intel to install GPS tracking chips on the bikes.

The project also considers differently-abled individuals with an inclusive program to provide adequate training. Additionally, affordable helmets and solar-powered bikes for hilly terrains will also be made available.

With a background of sophisticated technological growth and innovation, Kenya, being a primary player in Africa’s tech landscape hosts mobile money giant Mpesa among many other promising startups. The country’s tech sector was projected to grow beyond 15 percent by the end of 2015, and is expected to hit almost 20 percent growth by the end of 2017 according to IT News Africa.

While the bike-sharing concept might be an innovative solution, it remains to be seen if it will be widely accepted by a public that often perceives bicycles as a mode of transport for those unable to afford cars. It will be interesting to monitor the progression of this scheme and the impact it will have on not only the University of Nairobi, but potentially other campuses nationwide. In a world increasingly pushing for more sustainable modes of transport, Nairobi’s bike-sharing scheme may well be a pioneer for similar ventures in future. .