People walking along Ring Road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi. Photo/SALATON NJAU
By EVELYN SITUMA, esituma@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
- Many people, young and old, are keeping fit in their neighbourhoods where there are pavements for pedestrians and cyclists.
Every Saturday evening, Pauline Wangari and her
friend Lucy drive off to Jaffrey’s Sports Club on James Gichuru Road for
their fitness routine.
“We drive to Jaffrey’s on weekends in the late
afternoon and do several laps around the pitch sometimes walking
briskly, other times jogging,” says Pauline. The two have kept this for
two months although Pauline says for her it has to be a mix of exercise
routines.
“I get bored fast so I do different things to
remain motivated,” she explains. Last year, Pauline started walking and
jogging around her neighbourhood in Kilimani, a habit which she has kept
todate. She also goes swimming, to the gym and does yoga to keep it
interesting.
Ever since the link roads on Ring Road and
Kileleshwa were commissioned, Pauline says walking on the pathways is
sheer joy. She loves the relaxation she gets from walking without the
fear of falling in an open manhole or twisting her ankle on uneven
surfaces.
“I walk along the newly opened Kilimani Ring Road
to the roundabaout that connects it to Kileleshwa, sometimes I do Lenana
upto Dennis Pritt Road or Dennis Pritt all the way to James Gichuru
Road. This is a form of fitness I enjoy as I can listen to my music and
clear my head without worrying about injury or accident from tyhe
passing cars,” she says.
Pauline is not alone. Phillip Horrobin, a
93-year-old resident of Lavington also enjoys walking on these new roads
around his home. “At my age, I see no reason in living unless I am
healthy and fit,” he says as he walks up the new Ring Road with his
walking stick.
He walks daily for just under an hour. But also
adds that he maintains a fitness lifestyle at home by working on his
garden. In addition, Phillip plays golf once a week.
Phillip says he enjoys walking on the new roads
especially because they are clean and the demarcations conducive for
those who want to exercise.
This is the model UNEP is currently backing in its
road sharing campaign. According the environment agency of the UN,
construction of roads suitable for motorised transport, walking, cycling
and skating is necessary and ought to be encouraged.
Ring Road in Nairobi constructed in partnership
with the government of Japan is the first such infrastructure. The Aga
Khan Foundation also had plans of reconstructing the 5th Avenue on
Limuru Road to accommodate handcarts, pedestrians, cyclists and cars.
Its however not clear whether or not the project is still on course.
Who’s- who
Walking, cycling and jogging is quickly becoming a
favoured fitness routine for young and old Kenyans - especially those
living in the city.
Apart from the motivation to exercise which comes with good infrastructure, individuals are also spending less to keep fit.
Most people who walk or jog say they only have to
pay for their sporting gear while saving on money that would have
otherwise been spent on gym subscriptions which they, more often than
not, do not utilise. Another advantage is the social networking side of
this kind of exercise.
Fitness enthusiasts, who meet often on these roads
eventually become familiar with each other, get a chance to chat
thereby developing social or business relationships
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