The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has cautioned motorcycle riders against using footbridges, reminding them that the structures are built exclusively for pedestrians and should not be treated as shortcuts for motorcycles.
In a public safety advisory, the authority emphasized that footbridges exist to protect people on foot and must remain safe and accessible for their intended use. Using the phrase “Footbridge si ya nduthi!” — meaning footbridges are not for motorcycles — NTSA urged riders to steer clear of these pedestrian facilities.
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The advisory comes as the authority ramps up enforcement and public awareness campaigns aimed at improving road safety and curbing risky behavior on Kenyan roads. NTSA reiterated that footbridges are meant solely for pedestrians and appealed to riders to respect their intended function, stressing the importance of keeping these structures safe for everyone on foot.
This latest message builds on an ongoing crackdown targeting unsafe road use in Nairobi and beyond. In recent weeks, NTSA — working alongside the National Police Service — has stepped up operations against pedestrians who bypass designated footbridges and cross busy roads at unauthorized points, as part of a wider push to improve compliance with traffic rules and reduce crashes involving vulnerable road users.
The authority maintains that proper footbridge use plays a key role in protecting pedestrians, who account for a significant share of road traffic deaths in Kenya. NTSA has previously reported that pedestrians make up nearly 38 percent of all road traffic fatalities in the country, with many deaths occurring when people cross highways at undesignated points despite footbridges being available nearby.
Even as enforcement intensifies, NTSA has acknowledged that some pedestrians avoid using footbridges due to concerns over poor maintenance, insecurity, encroachment by hawkers, and the long distances required to reach some crossing points. Despite these challenges, the authority insists that designated crossing facilities remain the safest way to navigate busy roads.
By extending its safety messaging to motorcycle riders, NTSA aims to ensure footbridges continue serving their intended purpose without putting pedestrians at additional risk. The authority has called on all road users to play their part in promoting safety by respecting traffic regulations and using road infrastructure as designed.
