The Riksha served well... Is it now the turn of the bicycle?

By: Amin Mohammed Al-Jak Amer. During our morning session on the street, breathing in the morning air and sipping beautiful Madani coffee, which emerged from the furnace of the cursed war that destroyed everything in its path, I witnessed a scene today that caught my attention. Madani, which emerged from the war stronger and, God willing, more resilient through its people, saw its streets appear more active than usual at dawn. Men and women, young and old, and even some people with physical disabilities, were walking on the street branching from the Madani Sunni Dome towards the south, heading to the industrial area and the new market. As I sipped my morning coffee, which our friend Marwan prepares for us every day with unending generosity, I asked him: "Marwan, what is going on? Where are these people going so early?" He told me that the eastern transport lines drop off workers heading to the industrial area, as well as students and business owners in the Dome and Um Suweigo districts. However, with the rising cost of transport and the lack of a direct route, many people have preferred to cover the distance on foot—a distance that can reach five or six kilometers. A Riksha trip that once cost two thousand pounds has now become ten thousand, and the Amjad taxi costs two thousand five hundred to the market, and the same from the market to the industrial area. Thus, walking has become kinder to the pocket than riding! I said to my friend: "We must bring this to the attention of the local authorities. We need a direct transport line that connects the north of the city to the south, shortens the distance for workers, students, and business owners, and eases the burden of transport costs and physical exertion." The truth is that the Riksha itself was once one of the most important transport solutions in Madani. It came to replace the red taxi that was a distinct symbol of the city, only for a large part of it to disappear and head to the countryside. The Riksha was a successful business project for many young people and an additional source of income for many families. It also contributed to solving the problem of transporting students to schools and kindergartens, and it has undeniable merits for the city's residents. However, with rising fuel prices and operating costs, the Riksha itself is becoming a luxury that many people cannot afford. As we bid farewell to the Riksha, which served us well, perhaps the time has come to welcome electric bicycles as a low-cost individual mode of transport that could be a practical solution for workers, employees, students, and even some business owners and traders. In the past, I used to admire that beautiful morning scene in Atbara; workers heading out early to their jobs on bicycles with full energy and vigor. Back then, the railways had served well and were truly the lifeline connecting the cities of Sudan and its people. Today, perhaps we do not need to wait for the grand solution for life to move forward. Sometimes the beginning is simple: a safe path for bicycles, a direct transport line, and an electric bicycle within people's reach. Madani, which has returned from the war, deserves to move again... not for its people to walk five or six kilometers in search of transport. aminoo.1961@gmail.com The post The Riksha served well... Is it now the turn of the bicycle? appeared first on Sudanaile.