How gracious of you and your family Pa Pierre. I think your story here is even more reason for African governments to include a trail along all roads for Pedestrians and bicycles. At least for any new roads and all roads within city, town, and village limits. One of the reasons very clearly is that even if this driver was not drunk or distracted on a mobile phone, motorized vehicles should not share the same space with unmotorized vehicles simply because of the speed and weight differences. If a bicycle hits a pedestrian (which could happen), the pedestrian will most certainly not die. The severest injuries that can be sustained from such collision are not lethal, plus the bike rider's life can also be spared for the ability to take evasive measures or go off the trail unburdened by damage to the bike or injury to passengers. High speed and cargo reduce the prospect for evasive reaction to almost nil when the driver is sober. God forbid the driver is tipsy or on a mobile phone.
I encourage the government and the transportation and infrastructure ministry to begin by allocating 6 feet of right-of-way along one side of the Brikama-Gunjur Road Five-miles long as a pilot project of a Bike and Pedestrain Trail (No Motorcycles). The 6 ft ROW already assumes another 6 ft. emergency shoulder already along the road which would provide buffer for the Trail ROW. The Gomez family and any other family who has lost a loved one in a similar manner can coordinate the surfacing of this trail.&n
bsp;The ministry can build guard rails along this 5-mile stretch of road to afford drivers added opportunity for reaction to evade ploughing onto the trail.
Pa Pierre this was the idea I wanted to share with you and it is both doable and will save many more lives to come. The surfacing of such a trail will be of minimal cost and much of the labour will come from volunteer youth (perhaps paid with donations to the Gomez Trails Fund which your family can coordinate with other similarly-bereaved families). An enterprising Youth group can be employed this way to raise starting capital for a Trails Surfacing Company, to be duplicated along all roads inside city, town, and village limits.
I hope you'll consider the idea. With government's assistance, already demonstrated, the infrastructure ministry can do this with your support and zeal.
Haruna.
-----Original Message-----
From: paPIERRE GOMEZ <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Sat, Jun 13, 2009 11:15 am
Subject: Re: OBITUARY
Folks,
Fews hours ago, I responded to frantic calls from Gambia. The news was very
somber and tragic.
Yes, as old as he was, my dad was riding his bike to visit a relative who
had lost a loved20one, but never made it back. He was ran over in the dark by
a "ghele-ghele" My mortally wounder dad was rushed to hospital. He did not
make it. He died there today.
paPierre
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