In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa, massive infrastructural development is taking place. There are more link bridges, wider roads and public transport system is being revolutionised by technology. More attention is paid to building more roads while less attention is given to creating more commuter walk ways in cities.
To be sure, walking is one of the easiest cardio exercises for people across various ages. As long as you can move your feet, walking should be part of your daily routine. Walking is more beneficial than living a sedentary lifestyle.
Most white-collar jobs offer more time behind the computer screens, wheels and swivel chairs. In Africa, where the climate is usually warm, walking is associated with poverty.
In the green ecosystem, walking is key to reducing carbon footprint. In developed cities of the world, governments are investing in weatherproof walkways to provide safety for pedestrians. Africa is in dire need of pedestrian-friendly cities.
Walking is much easier in Johannesburg than it is in Lagos. The latter has a huge population that relies mostly on public transport system and personal vehicles. Walking and cycling are less desirable in the populous city because of the reckless driving by commercial motorcyclists, tricyclists and other commercial drivers many of whom are often driving under the influence.
When people walk more, the air gets cleaner. Research shows that choosing to walk a short journey instead of travelling in a car can have significant advantages for the environment over a year. It has been calculated that completing five trips of 2km a week on foot instead of a car can decrease the amount of emissions by 86kg a year.
World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that physical inactivity causes one million deaths per year in the European Region. Further studies show that walking for 30 minutes or cycling for 20 minutes on most days reduces mortality risk by at least 10%; active commuting is associated with about a 10% decrease in risk for cardiovascular disease and a 30% decrease in type 2 diabetes risk; and cancer-related mortality is 30% lower among bike commuters.
Despite the huge benefit associated with walking, many people living in big cities like Accra, Lagos and Port Harcourt are dependent on cars to commute. The truth remains that car dependency cannot be removed where there is poor urban planning.
Having heaps of smelly debris from open drainage along the sidewalks of major streets in Lagos is unsightly and makes it a daily torture for most commuters.
Government needs to be proactive and people-sensitive when building roads. Africa needs more pedestrian-friendly cities to make a simple daily routine like walking easy to adopt.
