Recently there was an exhilarating buzz around Gigiri as Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachael Ruto made her way to the UNEP headquarters. On a usual day her duty or such arrival would have been filled with a lot of activity mainly to do with protocol and a dozen vehicles making their way to escort her mainly for security purposes.
What was special and especially ahead of the World Environment Day 2023 is that the First Lady arrived on a bicycle, accompanied by thirty other cyclists. They were all welcomed to the Gigiri office by non less than the members of the Global Alliance of Cities for Road Safety.
It got me thinking especially amidst the current challenges of climate change where erratic weather has been the norm in the recent past and the effects of global warming continue to be a menace and challenge for all humanity. What can be done? The move by the Kenyan First Lady to cycle is a great example of how we can achieve clean climate. This is because the future depends on it fully. But will bicycles change anything for the status quo on climate change?
Because we cannot live without locomotion, it is necessary to look into ways in which we can support efforts to mitigate climate change related to transportation. With transportation being one of the leading causes of an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, cars are the culprit of producing that warming effect fueling extreme events.
Together with the thousands of people keen on making a change, riding a bike is a legitimate climate solution. Similarly, the harmful particles, chemicals, and gases are released into the air from the tailpipes of vehicles, contributing to air pollution. This affects our health and the health of the planet.
The clamor cars make creates noise pollution. These disturbing sounds have an environmental impact, affecting ecosystems and causing health problems for people. Replacing noisy vehicles with quiet bikes results in less engine noise and traffic congestion, which both support a healthier environment.
Finally the effects of climate change, wildfires, droughts, and more severe happenings, pose risks in the present and for future generations. With transportation one of the leading causes of an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere producing that warming effect fueling these extreme events, riding a bike is a legitimate climate solution.
As I said earlier, a moderate increase in bicycling each year could save 6 to 14 million tons of carbon dioxide. Rising concentrations of this chemical compound at unsustainable levels result in increased warming, harming the planet and affecting how humans live.
And with the information on the benefits, it is a powerful thing to note that riding a bike is the greener alternative but it is also much better for your health and of course it is more affordable.
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