Road crash analyst calls for dedicated cycle lanes  

Mr Tony Dickson Afriford, a Road Crash and Injury Prevention Analyst, called for urgent reforms in the country’s road engineering system to incorporate dedicated cycle lanes on both highways and urban roads. 

Mr Afriford made this call in the wake of increasing road crashes involving cyclists, many of whom are forced to compete for space with fast-moving vehicles. 

Speaking with the GNA he emphasised that the growing number of cyclists’ injuries and fatalities were a clear indication that Ghana’s current road designs were not cyclist-friendly, noting that cyclists were among the most vulnerable road users, yet they were often neglected in road planning and infrastructure. 

“As the population is growing, we have to expand our roads and make sure that cyclists have their lanes, pedestrians have their lanes, and vehicles have their way,” he stated. 

He proposed that all new road construction projects, as well as ongoing upgrades, must include designated cycle lanes that are physically separated from motor vehicle traffic, adding that such infrastructure would not only protect cyclists, but also encourage more people to adopt cycling as a healthy, affordable, and environmentally friendly mode of transport. 

Mr Afriford said cycling had become a major part of the transport system in some countries due to the presence of safe and well-maintained cycling infrastructure, expressing the belief that Ghana could achieve similar success if there was the political will and investment to support such change. 

The analyst urged city planners, engineers, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to prioritise the safety of non-motorised road users in their planning frameworks and appealed to local assemblies to invest in road markings, signage, and public awareness campaigns on cyclist safety. 

He added that there must be strict enforcement of road regulations to help reduce road crashes and fatalities in the country. 

Source: GNA