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By Timfuchi Aaron
Some inhabitants of Bamenda, regional capital of Cameroon’s North West region have lambasted commercial bike riders in the metropolis for being dirty and messy all the time.
According to some city dwellers every time one boards a bike in Bamenda, he or she has to battle with offensive ondour either emanating from the mouth of bikers or the dirty dresses they put on.
From observation, most motorbike riders wear large jackets and boots regardless of the season. Many people complain that the stench emanating from the jackets indicates that they are hardly washed.
“When it concerns hygiene and sanitation, I have had many bad experiences with bike riders. Some of them smell and when you sit on their bike you can’t even breathe” said a denizen who said she uses motorbike often to engage her daily activities across town.
“They have this mentality that they should be clean only when they are going out on their personal affairs”, Mercy, another Bamenda resident said.
To avoid this odour, many people have settled for clean bikers.”I will climb only clean bikes, bike riders who wear clean dresses and keep their bikes neat”.
Others said with the growing trend, bikers’ union in Bamenda should start considering changing the narrative either by instituting sanctions or educating their members to respect basic hygiene.
