Pedestrian bridges are common feature in cities
across the world. These bridges are constructed to reduce risk of
accident, save time that pedestrians waste by waiting for vehicles to
speed past and equally offer beautiful sights in the environment.
The importance of these bridges which are designed for foot traffic as opposed to vehicle traffic, cannot be undervalued which is why they are capital intensive projects gulping millions of naira.As population grows, human and vehicular traffic becomes heavy hence the need to construct more of them across the nation.
Apparently, in Nigeria today there are more bridges than what obtained in the past – albeit, the ones we have now do not match the population of the country. While awarding contracts for renovation and construction of different road constructions, government should endeavor to equally award contracts to build bridges in different parts of the country.
This will prevent the cases of death on the highways suffered in the hands of ‘hit and run’ drivers.
Pedestrian crossings are meant to provide safe means for crossing the expressways and prevent obstruction of free traffic flow but despite the importance of these bridges, many citizens detest using them, even when they are aware that some drivers are very reckless.
When researched, many were of the opinions that some bridges are dilapidated and insecure in terms of structure. Some of the complaints also bordered on the fact that these bridges are steep and dangerous especially for aged persons and children.
Despite the punitive measures government put in place to deal with persons who flout the rules of crossing the roads, there seem not to be any considerable increase in number of people that ply the bridge.
At Oshodi/Apapa expressway, a pedestrian, Karaole Dawodu, claimed that many people have reasons for not using the bridges, saying some bridges pose more dangers than crossing the expressway.
Ronke Ayantubo, 22, a hawker, claimed that why most people prefer to make use of the highway is because they cannot afford to pay for the rent on some of the bridges.
For Muyiwa Odunsi, 37, a Marketer, he believes dashing across the road usually saves him some few minutes when he is behind schedule.
According to Sola Samson, a Lagos resident who works at the Computer Village, in Ikeja, climbing pedestrian bridges is a waste of precious time and energy.
He says, “Crossing the road is shorter and faster. I cross the road especially when I have appointments to keep, as I can’t afford to waste time.
Kamil Akin, yet another Lagos resident, who is a Mechanic at Ilasamaja, believes that most Lagosians are in the habit of rushing even when there is no need to do so.
Experts say there should be routine checks on the bridges to ensure there have no structural defects and are safe adding that, due to the pressure on the bridges; many of them have started vibrating, giving serious concern about the safety of pedestrians. This alone, is a put-off for an average “pedestrian crosser”
So many issues discourage people from using these bridges, issues such as beggars begging alms, traders displaying all manner of wares and in some cases human feces littering the bridges.
If the bridges are kept clean, I am sure they will be regularly used.
Even though the new bridges especially in Lagos have concrete culverts and durable aluminum with staircases that are not so steep yet the old ones which many complain of should be taken care of.
Unlike the old ones, the new bridges have sun shields and good lighting system to illuminate them at nights which is in the best interest of the people. With the new bridges, traffic will be reduced and road accidents will also reduce drastically.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers and Civil Society Organizations should serve as watch dogs to ensure that safety and quality are not compromised in service delivery to the people when constructing and maintaining the bridges.
But even in the face of these observations and criticisms, there is a general consensus that the bridges are not enough for the growing Nigerian population.
For example, it has been observed that these footbridges are built very far from each other, thereby forcing pedestrians to either trek long distances to from the residences or bus stops in order to cross them such that there is no alternative but to dash across the express road thereby putting their lives in danger, as motorists have no patience to wait for people to cross.
In such circumstance, the pedestrians are tempted to risk crossing the ever busy highways despite the dangers inherent in this. There is therefore a call for government to look into this with a view to constructing more of the bridges at very strategic locations.
It will be recalled that tragedy struck on Saturday night at Palmgrove Bus-stop, Somolu after a young lady simply identified as Oluchi was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
The importance of these bridges which are designed for foot traffic as opposed to vehicle traffic, cannot be undervalued which is why they are capital intensive projects gulping millions of naira.As population grows, human and vehicular traffic becomes heavy hence the need to construct more of them across the nation.
Apparently, in Nigeria today there are more bridges than what obtained in the past – albeit, the ones we have now do not match the population of the country. While awarding contracts for renovation and construction of different road constructions, government should endeavor to equally award contracts to build bridges in different parts of the country.
This will prevent the cases of death on the highways suffered in the hands of ‘hit and run’ drivers.
Pedestrian crossings are meant to provide safe means for crossing the expressways and prevent obstruction of free traffic flow but despite the importance of these bridges, many citizens detest using them, even when they are aware that some drivers are very reckless.
When researched, many were of the opinions that some bridges are dilapidated and insecure in terms of structure. Some of the complaints also bordered on the fact that these bridges are steep and dangerous especially for aged persons and children.
Despite the punitive measures government put in place to deal with persons who flout the rules of crossing the roads, there seem not to be any considerable increase in number of people that ply the bridge.
At Oshodi/Apapa expressway, a pedestrian, Karaole Dawodu, claimed that many people have reasons for not using the bridges, saying some bridges pose more dangers than crossing the expressway.
Ronke Ayantubo, 22, a hawker, claimed that why most people prefer to make use of the highway is because they cannot afford to pay for the rent on some of the bridges.
For Muyiwa Odunsi, 37, a Marketer, he believes dashing across the road usually saves him some few minutes when he is behind schedule.
According to Sola Samson, a Lagos resident who works at the Computer Village, in Ikeja, climbing pedestrian bridges is a waste of precious time and energy.
He says, “Crossing the road is shorter and faster. I cross the road especially when I have appointments to keep, as I can’t afford to waste time.
Kamil Akin, yet another Lagos resident, who is a Mechanic at Ilasamaja, believes that most Lagosians are in the habit of rushing even when there is no need to do so.
Experts say there should be routine checks on the bridges to ensure there have no structural defects and are safe adding that, due to the pressure on the bridges; many of them have started vibrating, giving serious concern about the safety of pedestrians. This alone, is a put-off for an average “pedestrian crosser”
So many issues discourage people from using these bridges, issues such as beggars begging alms, traders displaying all manner of wares and in some cases human feces littering the bridges.
If the bridges are kept clean, I am sure they will be regularly used.
Even though the new bridges especially in Lagos have concrete culverts and durable aluminum with staircases that are not so steep yet the old ones which many complain of should be taken care of.
Unlike the old ones, the new bridges have sun shields and good lighting system to illuminate them at nights which is in the best interest of the people. With the new bridges, traffic will be reduced and road accidents will also reduce drastically.
The Nigerian Society of Engineers and Civil Society Organizations should serve as watch dogs to ensure that safety and quality are not compromised in service delivery to the people when constructing and maintaining the bridges.
But even in the face of these observations and criticisms, there is a general consensus that the bridges are not enough for the growing Nigerian population.
For example, it has been observed that these footbridges are built very far from each other, thereby forcing pedestrians to either trek long distances to from the residences or bus stops in order to cross them such that there is no alternative but to dash across the express road thereby putting their lives in danger, as motorists have no patience to wait for people to cross.
In such circumstance, the pedestrians are tempted to risk crossing the ever busy highways despite the dangers inherent in this. There is therefore a call for government to look into this with a view to constructing more of the bridges at very strategic locations.
It will be recalled that tragedy struck on Saturday night at Palmgrove Bus-stop, Somolu after a young lady simply identified as Oluchi was killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Ironically, the deceased died while trying to cross the ever-busy
Ikorodu road, just a few inches away from a pedestrian bridge. The
incident was said to have occurred around 8pm.
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