The Mayor of Windhoek, Ndeshihafela Larandja, has urged motorists to be more considerate of cyclists and pedestrians when using the roads. 

Her remarks came after alarming statistics from the MVA Fund revealed that 77 cyclists were involved in vehicle collisions, resulting in 72 injuries since January of this year.

Larandja said the city has conducted several campaigns to create awareness of non-motorised transport toward carbon emissions, but such efforts did not yield positive results.

"Our drivers have a very negative mindset towards cyclists and pedestrians. They do not recognise them as road users. They do not respect them on the road. Is that not where we should start? Before we can reach this point as institutions, we need to secure buy-in from vehicle users. Failure to do that. This is a lost fight."

Ruben Uupindi, Senior Manager of Accident and Injury Prevention at the MVA Fund, urged cyclists to ensure that they make use of safety gear at all times.

"If it's raining, if it's cold or if you have any other health conditions, those will help you. Additionally, it's crucial to adhere to the law. It's important to note that it is required by law, especially in many regions, in Namibia too, for cyclists to wear helmets. It's essential for us to note that safety gear is not only to ensure compliance but also to ensure your safety. We were talking about statistics here. Statistics from our office show that 32% of all crashes are pedestrian-related."