27 months

On a decidedly non-techie bent, I thought I’d amplify an outstanding guest post on one of my favorite cycling blogs, Bikejuju. I haven’t blogged about bikes in quite awhile. This post from a Nigerian cyclist named Tolu provided me with the inspiration I needed. He’s built up a sweet fixed gear bike (which I’m sure are a rarity in Lagos) and described in words and photos what it’s like to ride in his city, the second largest in Africa.

The city of Lagos is home to 8 million inhabitants and is infamous for “go slows” (traffic jams) that can last anywhere from hours to days. In Tolu’s words:

For anyone who doesn’t know its reputation, traffic and general congestion in Lagos can be unreal. We’re talking gridlock. One-hour-to-move-20-meters kind of gridlock. Driving in Nigeria, as I mentioned earlier, is also a bit of a hit and miss affair. More than anything drivers here are aggressive. Fiercely territorial and unforgiving with the space immediately around them. All this is coupled with the stifling heat and humidity, the “Okadas” (scooter taxis) bearing no mind to their situation and those immediately around them, and pedestrians darting across the road at any given time.

Tolu’s strategy is to cycle in the early morning hours, where routes like Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge, the longest bridge in Africa at around 12km, are relatively traffic free. Read the full story on Bikejuju.com.

If you enjoyed this post from Bikejuju, you may also be interested in the beautiful photography and story, Bicycles of Ethiopia.