FIDA Cameroon is a women’s rights and human rights organisation with a mission to advocate, protect and promote women’s rights in Cameroon while contributing to the elimination of all forms of violence and discrimination. One way FIDA Cameroon pursues this mission is through comprehensive legal education and support for women as it helps them understand and exercise their rights and privileges as well as legally empower them to advocate for their interests. One such right that every person shares is the proper use of urban space. Have you ever wondered how motorcycles are parked in the city or town where you live? Understanding the regulations regarding motorcycle parking in Cameroon’s urban centres can help women and girls navigate these spaces without fear of being harassed or bullied by city officials or other riders. Motorcycle parking laws in Cameroon state that: All road users must respect the laws in place, including those regarding motor vehicle park. However, women and girls have been known to illegally park their motorcycles to avoid harassment from city agents. I have seen people being towed by the city authorities for doing that. It is unclear what these women and girls are afraid of is they parked legally in the designated spaces. Women can choose to take full advantage of knowing the law by calling out the illegal actions of the agents and the consequences that should befall them. They can also report the incident and seek recourse through the system. The knowledge of the existence of laws such as this – and others that give agency to individuals and community members – can go a long way in empowering women and girls to properly utilise open space in urban centres. I imagine that FIDA Cameroon has advocacy plans to engage in campaigns to sensitise and educate stakeholders in urban and roadway management on the need not to harass citizens for simple infractions. And such an action would be highly commendable. An understanding of our rights and privileges under the law can trigger even more exciting and empowering action such as the use of legal leverage to advocate for a change in the law. For example, I see nothing wrong with parking along the pathway as long as I am not obstructing traffic. Or better yet, the requirement could be that vehicles must park along the centre line of the street. Or there could be significantly more parking zones to accommodate popular demand and growth. In this regard, the motorcycle parking laws are clear and strict. The parking prohibition applies universally regardless of who owns or operates the motorcycle. The law also makes no distinction between someone who uses a motorcycle for work (taxi or delivery services) and someone who uses their motorcycle for personal transport. Women and girls using motorcycles to get around, and who understand the law may develop advocacy campaigns, platforms, and petitions to call on the city authorities to change the current motorcycle parking law and, perhaps, establish special motorcycle parking areas. Such activism can lead to tangible change in the policy and regulatory framework. More importantly, it gives women and girls a voice in decision-making. Although the issues surrounding the interplay between mobility rights and our roadways are complex, it is important to advocate for better solutions to the challenges that we face. The legal education and outreach initiatives of FIDA Cameroon can certainly facilitate those efforts.
