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Botswana: Riding to Beat the Fuel Hikes
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The Voice (Francistown)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Archie Mokoka
Francistown
Fuel costs are high and keep going higher and are now going to go up every month and people are finding alternatives to make a saving.
Gwere Hamufari, 32, Editor of Mining Mirror, said that the idea to use a bicycle dawned on him when one day he had to deliver some magazines on foot to his clients in the Commerce Park vicinity because the car was not available for the whole day.
"I thought 'It would be easier if I had a bicycle'. Then I went ahead and bought myself this Hamba," he said. "I have found that I make a big saving because I drive to work and then the bicycle takes over."
Hamufari says for the past three weeks he has been cycling and he has grown used to it. He has also motivated others to follow suit. "Boipuso Kirby, the Managing Director of Africa Creations liked the idea and it seems he is going to adopt the idea. He has already bought a bicycle similar to mine and plans to get more for his staff."
His interest in bicycles dates back as far as he can remember. In fact, his father has been riding every school day for seven kilometers to the school where he teaches. "My dad's bike is a Hamba too... Like father like son."
It seems bicycles are not just for the ordinary folk.
According to Hamufari, "President Ian Khama is also a big motivation. I used to see him ride past, especially on Wednesdays, when he was still Vice President. I don't know whether he did it for fun or for exercise. I thought if a man of his stature can ride this humble mode of transport, common with night watchman back at home in Zim, why can't I ride too and save money."
Bicycles, according to Hamufari, are not only money savers. "They are time saving, especially if you are going nearby because you can avoid traffic jams by taking shortcuts where a car would have to go around. It is also good exercise, so I encourage my colleagues, especially those who stay nearby to cycle to work.
"If you have to pick up a cheque in the neighbourhood, a bicycle is a better choice than a car, especially in these hard days. Yes, I know it's funny to be seen riding to work, but soon more and more people will join the club. Countries like China, Korea, Japan and so forth have a lot of cars, but they use bicycles a lot.
"People laugh at me sometimes because they are not used to seeing someone using a bicycle when a car is available. But a bicycle is cheap to maintain and it is very cheap to buy. I got mine for about P499, but it is a Hamba. You can get some Chinese mountain bikes even cheaper," he said.
Gontse Gareibine, 27, said that though petrol is too expensive and rising every month, she wouldn't think of using a bicycle because she stays far away from work. "I could take combis to save money, but they drive around with you looking for other customers. Sometimes they park at a bus stop and wait for people coming from very far," she said.
Kabo Lemphorwana, a photographer who has to dash to assignments all day long, said that he uses more fuel when he is around town than when he has to go out of town for an assignment.
But he would go for a scooter because he lives too far from work to cycle. "Combis are not convenient for what I do. Regular service is a good fuel saver too."
Oten Logolo is a frequent traveler between Gaborone and Francistown and says it is a nightmare. "I know of a fuel saving device which can be connected to High Tension (HT) cable to regulate the spark. It costs about P400."
Businessman Solo B Monyame owns both a car and a motorbike. He says he has been riding a bike ever since he was nine years old and has seen mindsets change from bikers being dubbed mad to the days when enterprising business people started using them for deliveries.
"Because of the fuel cost, I ride more often. A full five liter-tank in my bike lasts the whole week and my car, which has a 55 litre tank, lasts the same time with a full tank for the same trips, so the choice is quiet clear," said Monyame.
He added that he could save 20 minutes if he uses a bike as opposed to the car. "Our roads are so poorly designed they contribute to inefficiency. They don't contribute to the president's four D's.
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"Eventually bikes will be a real alternative. Look at big cities like Rome and Paris; everybody is riding."
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