The Sunday News
Judith Phiri, Sunday News Reporter
BULAWAYO has joined Harare in calling on cyclists to obtain licences for their bicycles or risk having them impounded by municipal police who will conduct random checks on the city’s major roads.
Responding to questions from Sunday News, the council senior public relations officer, Mrs Nesisa Mpofu said cyclists must pay $10 to get licences but many have not been complying with the by-law.
“Bulawayo City Council has been issuing bicycle licences to its clients for a long time since the 1960s. As a council, we never ceased to issue bicycle licences and they are issued at Revenue Hall, Licensing Section. The requirements are an identity card for the user, serial number of the bicycle and a chargeable amount of $10,” said Mrs Mpofu.
She added that failure to provide a valid cycle licence would attract a $5 fine and bicycles confiscated would be released after producing a valid licence as bicycles and push carts are classed as un-propelled vehicles.
“According to Statutory Instrument 63 of 2015 in the City Of Bulawayo Traffic By Laws a fine of $5 is required for failure to display a valid cycle licence. The combined operations featuring Bulawayo City Council Traffic Unit and Security Unit are conducted by barricading major roads and instant checks on roads especially during peak hours.
“Cycles are impounded and await to be released after production of valid metal licence discs accompanied by receipts bearing name, identity card and frame or serial number, hence production of disc without support receipt is unaccepted. Bicycles and push carts are classed as un-propelled vehicle,” she said.
Mrs Mpofu also said the local authority would upgrade cycle tracks if funds become available.
“In terms of the plans of the City, cycle tracks should be provided along major roads for the convenience of the cyclists. The existing cycle tracks especially along the old major roads are in a fair to good condition and should funds become available these cycle tracks will be upgraded and maintained as appropriate. In the CBD there are facilities for parking bicycles,” she said.
Statutory Instrument 108 of 2016 (Cycling Licensing) By-laws it states: “No person shall use any road within the council area without paying the required fees and any cycle which is ordinarily kept within the area will be considered illegal unless it has been licensed in terms of these by-laws.”
In Harare, the council has also warned cyclists to license their bicycles or risk being arrested. Some people have of late resorted to cycling to work due to increase in transport costs. Experts have also stated that cycling 10 kilometres each day to work could save 1 500 kilogrammes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.
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