Role of commercial bicyclists in road traffic injuries in Kisumu city Kenya

Abstract

Background: Commercial bicycling has become a popular mode of transportation in Kenya, in both rural and urban areas since early 1990’s. In Kisumu city, however, its related injuries cause significant morbidity and mortality. Many road users have viewed their presence in the roads as the cause of congestion, confusion, fear, and decreased safety in the roads in the road system. Bicyclists are at high risk of road traffic accidents and the attendant injuries, but are greatly neglected and few community-based studies have investigated the problem in Kenya. Objectives: The primary objectives were; to determine demographic characteristics of the commercial bicyclists, factors associated with road traffic injuries and crashes involving commercial bicyclists. Other objectives were to determine the perception surrounding commercial bicycling, and to determine preferred road safety interventions for commercial bicyclists. Study design and Methods: Population based, cross-sectional study involving Four hundred and twenty commercial bicyclists, five key informants, victims of road traffic crashes and injuries involving commercial bicyclists Cluster, systematic and simple random sampling methods were used to select bicyclists at sites. Questionnaires were administered to the commercial bicyclists; Interviews were also carried out with key informants. Results: The majority of the respondent attained primary education (55.3%), 40.7% completed secondary level of education. The ages of the respondents were grouped as 21-25 years which accounted for 51%, 26-30 years (21.3%),. People prefer using bicycles because they are flexible (39%), and not time consuming (28.9%). Inadequate signals that cannot be understood easily by other users (28.9%) and, riders losing control (19.1%) are the major risk factors. There was significant relationship between drug taking, length of time at work and occurrence of crashes. (χ2 =7.745, p=0.001). A significant association between injury occurrence and condition of roads was also found, (χ2=10.226, p=0.001). Road signs were inadequate (74.5%) and those available were misunderstood. There was significant relationship between inadequate road signs (signals), their misunderstanding within the road and subsequent occurrence of accidents (χ2= 14.305; p= 0.002). Training for bicyclists (36.4%) and bicycle helmets were suggested as road safety intervention measures that could be adopted (34.5%). Conclusion: Commercial bicyclists are men aged below 40years; they are highly exposed to crashes and injuries due to their interaction in the traffic system, since bicyclists riding in, traffic mix feel unsafe and fearful. Therefore, it is very dangerous to ride in a mixed system because there is increased risk of crashes or accident. There are poor traffic law enforcement mechanisms in Kenya. There is need to integrate this economic activity in the road system while minimizing risks to crashes and injuries.