Douala City Council moves to professionalise commercial motorbike sector.

The initiative, launched on September 27, at the Bessèkè Square in the Douala I Subdivision, marks the second phase of a campaign aimed at improving safety and organisation within this increasingly popular mode of transportation.

The distribution of the vests, designed by the Douala City Council, follows the initial phase of the campaign that began in July 2024, which focused on awareness raising and registration across all Subdivisions of Douala. 

The initiative aims to provide a formal structure to the commercial motorbike sector, which has faced challenges related to safety and regulation.

Douala City Mayor, Dr Roger Mbassa Ndine, emphasised the importance of this programme during the ceremony. He urged passengers to only use motorbikes that display the new identification vests, warning that non-compliant operators would have their motorbikes confiscated. 

“Those using unregistered commercial motorbikes do so at their own detriment,” he stated.

To further enforce the new regulations, the City Mayor announced that approximately 50 designated entry points across the city would be monitored by law enforcement officers. 

Only motorbike riders wearing the City Council vests will be permitted access to these areas, which is expected to improve traffic regulation and enhance safety for passengers. 

Each vest includes a QR code, allowing passengers to verify the identity of the driver by scanning the code.

Aboubakary Haman Tchiouto, Secretary General at the Littoral Governor’s Office, representing the Governor at the event, praised the initiative, calling on bikers to adhere to the new regulations. 

He acknowledged the City Council’s efforts to improve on urban transport and expressed confidence that the programme would lead to more responsible and professional commercial motorbike drivers in Douala.

On his part, the representative of the commercial motorbike riders union, Willy Kengne, praised the authorities in their common quest in regulating the sector.

Meanwhile, a representative from the Ministry of Transport said the initiative aligns with government policies aimed at combating insecurity and traffic congestion.

“This initiative to identify commercial motorbike riders is crucial in transitioning the sector from informality to professionalism,” the ministry representative said, adding that “it is not about banning them, but rather integrating them into a transport system that meets urban needs”.

As Douala strives to manage its urban transport more effectively, the distribution of these identification vests is seen as a pivotal step towards creating a safer and more organised environment for both riders and passengers. 

With ongoing efforts to professionalise the sector, Douala City Council officials hope to address longstanding issues of traffic and safety while enhancing the overall quality of urban transportation. As of 2021, reports held that, approximately 70,000 commercial motorbike riders were found in Douala alone. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3247 of Wednesday October 02, 2024