On Saturday 3 June 2023 Namibia has “Celebrated the Bicycle” as its commitment towards Sustainable Mobility. The event initiated by the Namibia Road Safety Forum in partnership with the Namibian Cycling Federation and many more Road Safety stakeholders from government, private sector and civil society organizations attracted 85 Cyclists, including the Deputy Executive Director, Mr Jonas Sheelongo, of The Ministry of Works and Transport responsible for transport. The event aimed at making people aware of the positive impact created by bicycles. The Awareness Ride conquered the streets of Windhoek in a comfortable controlled manner under the watchful eye of the Windhoek City Traffic Police. The day was extended with approximately 200 people in attendance, with speeches by dignitaries and awesome lucky draws donated by CYMOT, O&L Leisure, Gondwana Collection, Craft Café and Buco for all those that participated in the Awareness Ride, at the upper parking level Super Spar entrance of the Grove Mall in Kleine Kuppe.
Under the guidance of Mr Jones Lutombi of the MVA-Fund of Namibia as the Master of Ceremony, all the speakers, Mr Tauko Shilongo from the Namibian Cycling Federation, Ms Gaby Ahrens from the Namibia National Olympics Committee, Mr Jonas Sheelongo from the Ministry of Works and Transport, and Ambassador Jerobeam Shaanika, the Deputy Executive Director of the Ministry of International Relations, who delivered the key-note speech on behalf of the Namibian Road Safety Patron Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Hon Nandi-Ndaitwah, echoed the same sentiment, “no Roads should be constructed without provision for safe walking and cycling”. Evidential evidence has determined globally that the safety of people walking and cycling can only be guaranteed if cyclists, walkers, and motorised vehicles are separated.
With the strong statements made on the day, in addition to the statement made by the Hon Minister of the Ministry of Works and Transport, Hon John Mutorwa, at the launch of the UN Global Road Safety Week on the 15th of May, and the statement done on the UN World Bicycle Day by the Deputy Executive Director responsible for transport at the Ministry of Works of Transport, Mr Jonas Sheelongo, the cycle community can count on a safer future. Safer walking and cycling routes will increase the number of cyclists on our Roads.