Mobility induced city air pollution is evident in the metropolis where governments annual budgets emphasized road transportation and car ownership at the detriment of ferry, rapid and light rail transit systems. Alternative mobility frame work advocates for circulatory facilities including sidewalks, walkways, paths and bike lanes. These facilities minimally impact cityscape, rely on renewable energy, use less urban space, reduce traffic congestion, improve physical fitness and are cheaper. This paper explores conceptual framework for bicycle as an eco friendly transportation system in Lagos. The study identified the fear of accident and the absence of 'changing rooms' in most public destinations as major constrains to the acceptance of bicycle as transportation mode. The later reason is due to the fact that Lagos is a hot and humid tropical city. Leisure cycling was however accepted as a recreational undertaking. An off road bicycle route system was conceptualized using satellite imagery, geographic information system and AutoCAD as design tools and Lagos State physical planning development control standards. 52 kilometers 'off road' bicycle route case study between Ikeja as point of departure and Bariga/Yaba as destination was undertaken. The route falls within setback of Ogbe and Iyaalaro rivers flood plain refered to as tertiary sytem 1 and 2 and railway setback. It is apparent that acceptability of bicycle as effective transportation mode in the city will be triggered by sustained interest in leisure cycling. The Paper recommends that LAMATA (Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority) should embark on categorization of bicycle policies as general policies, facility policies and issue-based policies that will provide a practical guide to sustainable non-motorized transportation mode.
展开▼
