Persons Living With Disabilities Decry Restriction On Motor Bikes.
By Raymond Dingana
“One of the problems we are already facing is the fact that, we are witnessing a hike in cost of transportation because cab drivers have increased transport fare per drop in Bamenda . It is double expenditure when a person with disability like me is forced to pay a cab to drop him at a certain location before boarding a bike in to the quarters. Where will the money come from , ? Bikes were dropping us at our door steeps or directly to our destination because of our disabilities."
These were the reactions of the General Coordinator of the Association of Persons with Disabilities, CUAP WD in the North West Region of Cameroon after a decision to restrict the circulation of bikes in the urban centers was signed by the authorities of the North West region. He further said, the challenges brought to bear on them by the restriction have further been compounded by a counter ban from those he says are other stake holders in the armed conflict rocking the two English speaking regions of the country.
He also suggested that, the
decision should be reconsidered and instead focuses more on registering the
bikes. He says if these and others are done, it will go a long way to root out
all those using the sector to commit crimes.
On the after effects, Nyingcho says, he is hosting nine persons and has
not been able to have a three square meal since the decision was arrived at because
of the counter ban that is making life difficult since the little they were
doing to provide Humaniterian supports to themselves have all been grounded.
They also indicate that, those taking drugs to survive on daily basis can no
more afford to pay for them because their economic activities have all been
paralyzed.
To Vitalis Tangue, a person with visual impairment, the restriction has confined him because without bikes, he cannot access some places in Bamenda.... “The restriction of motor bikes has actually come to add to a bad case given the fact that, I have a visual impairment and I am unable to access certain places in town. I depended on bikes and now they have forced them off the urban areas in town meaning they have finally decided to confine us persons with disabilities in our homes."
To Erick who has mobility impairment, thanks to the bikes he was able
to go about his daily activities since he could no more use his wheel chair....
“Because of other
challenges coupled with the hills in Bamenda, i could not continue using my
wheel chair. The bikes were really my best in terms of movement despite the
challenges the sector faces which no one can dispute. What are we going to do
in a situation where we need to be taken to the hospital in an emergency? ” Erick.
With the coming of the Bamenda City
Council buses,Persons with Disabilities still think their plights are not
being taking into consideration. To them, the buses are not inclusive, reason
why they believed the bikes were actually the best means of transportation
considering their physical impairments asking the question as to why they are always ignored by the administration of the NWR.
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| [Picture For Illustration]Persons With Disabilities |
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