Experts urge governments to invest in cycling infrastructure and scrap bicycle levies

The push to eliminate bicycle taxation has received backing from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Bicycle Relief to help the country increase its active mobility.

During a high-profile discussion on active mobility, experts urged governments to remove levies on bicycles and channel more investments towards supporting infrastructure to encourage wider adoption.

UNEP team lead for active mobility Carly Gilbert-Patrick said that the lack of prioritisation by the government has seen little allocation towards the sector despite transport emerging as one of the highest earners from the exchequer.

"The challenge is that walking and cycling don’t generate direct revenue like buses or cars do. However, their long-term benefits in health, economic productivity, and environmental sustainability far outweigh the costs of investment," said Gilbert-Patrick.

The advocates argued that the government needs to treat walking and cycling as public goods that warrant significant investments.

She pointed out that the country currently lacks a national policy for walking and cycling, which should act as a reference point.

“Kenya does not have a national strategy or policy for walking and cycling; some of the cities, so Nairobi, have an active mobility policy, and Kisumu and other cities have sustainable urban mobility plans that prioritize active mobility, but at the national level it's not really clear that it's a priority,” said Carly.

She added that the first step should be putting in place that national commitment to investing and prioritising walking and cycling and “then the other steps can follow.”

“Because until you have the policy and then don’t see the investment, you don't see the infrastructure on the ground, so the policy is needed.”

The discussion, organised by the Active Mobility Programme, featured speakers from international organizations, governments, and advocacy groups working to promote non-motorized transport across Africa.

World Bicycle Relief executive director of programs Sean Granville-Ross, raised the issue of the dire need for safer infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.

Many urban areas lack dedicated cycling lanes and pedestrian pathways, leading to frequent accidents and fatalities.

The experts noted that in many African countries, active mobility accounts for 50 per cent to 70 per cent of transport trips, yet it receives only a fraction of transportation funding.

“I think as we understand the impact bicycles can have on people accessing education, on people accessing improved health care, and on people being able to earn an income and to have a job, then we really want to engage with the government to think about how they can reduce duties,” said Granville-Ross.

According to data from WBR, with a population of 54 million, 71 per cent of whom live in rural areas, Kenya remains a focal point for the Mobilized Communities initiative.

The firm says currently 38,316 students now reach school on bicycles, 19,407 healthcare workers use bicycles to treat patients, and 19,487 farmers transport their goods with two-wheelers.

WBR regional Director for East Africa Maureen Kolenyo said that the Pan-African Action Plan, launched at the World Urban Forum, is a crucial step toward improving conditions for non-motorised transport.

Coordinated by international organizations, the plan outlines priority actions for African governments over the next decade, including road safety, financing options, and infrastructure development.

The players also called for stronger collaboration between governments, financial institutions, and civil society to push for cycling-friendly policies.