The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Gombe State on Wednesday advised residents of the state to desist from riding bicycles at night for their safety.

Felix Theman, sector commander, gave this advice in an interview in the Lafiyawo community, Akko Local Government Area of Gombe State.

Mr Theman said the chances of getting into a crash were higher at night, in view of the impact of poor visibility in causing accidents on major roads.

The commander said it was also challenging for vehicles, pedestrians and other road users to identify most bicycle users at night.

He said the solar street lights installed by the state government on most major roads in the metropolis should not be a reason for users to be on major roads at night.

According to him, riding bicycles at night exposes riders and residents to risks of crashes because most bicycles have poor lighting systems, unlike motorcycles and cars.

“The night should be completely avoided by bicycle riders, especially children; we are warning that parents should not allow their children to ride bicycles at night.

“If they must ride on street roads, they must put on bright clothes and ensure they use torchlight.

“But on major roads, please avoid it completely because the risk is far higher; hence we advise against riding bicycles at night on major roads,” he said.

The sector commander also cautioned bicycle users to avoid using the left-hand lane while riding to ensure their safety on the road.

Mr Theman said though bicycles were part of the traffic system and users had the same rights as any road users, “they have to be careful not to create conflicts on our roads.”

He said bicycles, motorcycles and tricycles should not use the left-hand lane, especially the extreme left lane.

The sector commander said the lane is for fast-moving vehicles while the right road is for traffic that paces more slowly.

(NAN)