Advocating for Road Safety: Mobilising Policy Makers in Support of Road Safety

1. Presentation by UWABA to WHO Global Meeting of NGOs Advocating for Road Safety Mobilising policy makers in support of road safety Brussels 7th – 8th May 2009

2. Contents • Introduction to UWABA • Experiences in communicating with policy makers on road safety • What we advocate for • Tips and Advice for NGOs • Requests to policy makers when dealing with NGOs • Conclusion

3. Introduction to UWABA • Umma wa Wapanda Baisikeli Dar es Salaam • 219 members, 41 highly active • All members use cycles as everyday transport • Ordinary cycles, three wheeled goods transport cycles, arm-cycles for people with disabilities • Established January 2006

4. Introduction to UWABA Aims: • Work with the policy makers to achieve good and safe environment for cyclists in Dar es Salaam • Cyclists rights • Educating cyclists on safe cycling • Encouraging cycling as a means of transport

5. Experiences communicating with policy makers • Politicians (MPs, Councilors) • TANROADS (Tanzania National Roads Agency) • Ministry for Infrastructure • City Council and three city municipalities • Traffic Police • Others: Road Fund, SUMATRA (Regulatory Authority)

6. Experiences communicating with policy makers • Writing letters • Requesting meetings • Preparing presentations for meetings • Inviting to events (Cycle Caravan, cycle safety training) • Inviting to visit our office • Getting coverage in media which policy makers read eg UWABA is sponsoring musicians on composition of song concerning with bicycle and road safety which appeal to the policy makers. • Delivering petition • Now trying to set up regular monthly forum between various Government institutions and NGOs on non-motorized transport issues • Produced cycle safety video which we are distributing to policy makers and others

7. What we advocate for • Engineering • Major urban roads – separate lanes for cyclists, another for pedestrians, physical barriers separating • Minor urban roads – traffic calming measures e.g. ramps • Enforcement • Prevent vehicles using cycle lanes or pedestrian areas • Prevent vehicles parking on cycle lanes which forces cyclists onto main fast road • Prevent obstacles on cycling / pedestrian areas which force usage of fast road and block visability • Speeding regulations enforced • Crashes – investigations, justice, compensation for medical costs • Education • Cycle safety training is excellent way of teaching young people rules of the road – should be part of official school curriculum

8. Achievements • UWABA now known in some offices (TANROADS) • Government willing to meet with us • Get answers to our letters • Have good relationships with some individuals working in Government • TANROADS and traffic police representatives attended our training of trainers event on cycle safety • TANROADS have done minor road repairs on our request, which had been causing danger to cyclists

9. Challenges • UWABA not informed in advance of projects which affect us (e.g. road building), information not made public until late stage • After getting appointment, members attend, “come back tomorrow” • Cyclists not taken seriously as mode of transport • Getting answers to letters needs hand-delivery, frequent visits to office to follow-up, hand-collection • Some letters never answered • Communication by post or email not answered • Get promises, verbal and in letters, not implemented • Lack of easy availability of information which is officially public e.g. by-laws, council decisions • Government listens to funders more than stakeholders • “Per diem” culture – policy makers not willing to have stakeholder forum in Dar es Salaam without funder and per diems • Under-reporting of accidents involving cyclists, lack of data

10. Tips and Advice for NGOs • Get registered, get recognized • Include real grass roots stakeholders, not only transport sector profressionals • Build up contacts in Government, remember names • Build up contacts in media and get coverage for events. • Cooperate with other NGOs with similar aims • Give appreciation when policy makers do good things • Five E’s – Education, Environment, Encouragement, Enforcement (of law), Engineering • Persistence, don’t be discouraged, don’t give up

11. Requests to policy makers when dealing with NGOs • Make information available to public early • Request views of stakeholders and NGOs BEFORE project begins • Treat all stakeholders with respect, even poor or less-educated people – they have their own forms of expertise • Respond promptly and thoroughly to correspondence, letters • Keep appointments and be professional • Keep promises • LISTEN – NGOs and stakeholders are not for talking at but for listening to • Show that views have been considered, not just rubber-stamping

12. Conclusion • Questions? Comments? • Thanks to WHO for opportunity to exchange experiences • Hope to learn from others at this workshop • Please visit our website www.geocities.com/uwabadar (click on “English”)