16 Nov 2017

From time immemorial, golf has always been a social networking sport where astute business people met and created business networks and contacts with other potential partners. 

 

Of recent, cycling has become the “new golf” attracting affluent businessmen and women who have adopted the sport as a hobby.

 

These are the sentiments of one Mpaphi Ndubo, founder and director of At Your Service (AYS) Cycling Solutions, an organisation behind the Cycling Project Botswana that calls for promotion of cycling as a basic mode of transportation.

 

The project stems from the non-motorized project by the Gaborone City Council which aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions in the urban transport sector.

 

The Cycling project which is billed for next year will bring together events that will serve not only to promote cycling but address many other vital areas of need for the general public, and it is focused on cycling because of its benefits that will come in handy for people. 

 

These series of events are expected to be held across the country at regional levels to make up the cycling extravaganza where participants will take part in cycling tours, stunts and fashion shows that will aim at grooming raw talents from potential cyclists. 

 

Afterwards, the nationals will be held in Gaborone where winners from the regional level will be competing amongst each other in the finals.

 

Ndubo said the platform will be a change catalyst for a lot that needs to be addressed to change for the society to move ahead toward Vision 2036 in as far as the fight against poverty, climate change, non-communicable diseases and drug abuse especially by the youth is concerned. 

 

He noted some of the benefits for cycling as being eco-friendly and hence contributing to the fight against global warming and climate change.

 

Tourism wise, he said cycling would be the most mode of transport to explore and tour giving the cyclist fresh air and a new look of the city or the country side.

 

From the health perspective, Ndubo pointed out that cycling was much healthier than driving as it helped fight non-communicable diseases prevalent in people.

 

 “Just like physical activity of any kind or ordinary exercising, cycling produces a lot of benefits that assist in the well-being of those who engage in the activity,” he added.

 

He however pointed out that having a car was important but there are those journeys that a car is not adding that much value to the driver because one can walk instead. 

 

 “On top of the benefits associated with cycling, the project intends to also shed some light over the myths and misconceptions that are normally attached with cycling in particular being that cycling is very dangerous and that there is a lack of cycling infrastructure.

 

“Cycling is not dangerous but the road is and this is because of some of the drivers who disregard road safety. We are concerned with bad driving and as part of public education we will be having public awareness campaigns to create road safety awareness for all road users,” Ndubo said.

 

He further said the project will create public awareness regarding road safety that will benefit drivers, cyclists and even bikers. In future, AYS Solutions would host the cycling awards which would recognise all the winners that participate in the events. Ndubo said on top of that, the organisation aspired to hold cycling seminars and exhibitions that would bring all cycling players to discuss various topical issues surrounding cycling in Botswana. BOPA