Motorcycle taxis, known widely as boda bodas, have become one of the most common ways to get around Kenyan towns and rural roads alike. They are quick, cheap and can reach where other transport cannot. They are also involved in a disproportionate share of road traffic injuries, which makes a few basic precautions worth repeating.
Before you climb on
- Ask for a helmet, and wear it properly fastened rather than balanced on your head.
- Check that the rider has a valid licence and that the motorcycle displays its number plate and reflective markings.
- Avoid overloaded bikes carrying more passengers or cargo than is safe to balance.
For riders themselves
Regular riders benefit from routine checks on brakes, tyre tread and lights, since mechanical failure at speed leaves little room to react. Riding within the mechanical limits of the bike, rather than pushing it to carry more weight or speed than it is built for, prevents many of the crashes that make headlines.
Visibility matters as much as mechanics. Reflective vests, working headlights and predictable lane positioning make a rider easier for car and lorry drivers to see, particularly at dusk when many crashes occur.
A shared responsibility
Sacco associations that organise boda boda riders in many towns have started enforcing helmet rules and basic training as a condition of membership. Where those associations are active, injury rates tend to be lower. For passengers, choosing a rider who is part of an organised, identifiable group is a simple way to raise the odds that the ride ends safely.
