Critical Mass Nairobi Abbreviated as (CMN) is a registered organization under the operating name Critical Mass Africa.We are a non profit organization that has taken up the challenge of transforming our cities into safe, accessible and liveable cities by using bicycles. We are driven by a desire to have cities where people with different abilities can access, move and thrive with ease.We have been fortunate enough to create an enabling environment that encourages more people to start riding bicycles.This has captured the attention of various Governmental offices as well local and international organizations.Critical Mass Nairobi is an association for cyclists that organizes monthly rides with the goal of getting more people back on bicycles and advocate for safer cities and streets.Our belief is, if more people embrace bicycles, we shall have less traffic jams, less road crashes,, less pollution, less congestion, happier and healthier people and we shall have a city more people will wish to visit, live and invest in.
OUR VISION
To have cities that are friendly to cyclists and a society that is understanding and accommodating to bicycles/cyclists.
OUR MISSION
To inspire people to cycle and transform the negative culture surrounding bicycles/cyclists.
OUR OBJECTIVES
1. To get more people back on bicycles and encourage the growth of cycling in Kenya.
2. To change how people, view, experience and interact with bicycles.
3. To promote Non-motorized transport system in Kenya.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future. At its heart are the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries - developed and developing - in a global partnership.They recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth – all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests.
Critical Mass Nairobi has been able to identify 6 Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals SDG’S that align with its mission, goals and objective statement.
The 6 Sustainable Development Goals are as follows;
1. Good Health and well-being
2. Affordable and clean energy
3. Industry , innovation and infrastructure
4. Sustainable cities and communities
5. Climate Action
6. Life on Land
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals of SDG3 Regarding good health and wellbeing is one of the main SDG , The targets of SDG 3 cover and focus on various aspects of healthy life and healthy lifestyle. Progress towards the targets is measured using twenty-one indicators. SDG 3 has 13 targets and 28 indicators to measure progress toward targets. The first nine targets are "outcome targets"
"outcome targets" and specifically those that critical mass Nairobi has been able to tackle.
1. Reduce Maternal Mortality.
2. Death under five years of Age.
3. Communicable Diseases,
4. Reduction of mortality from non-communicable diseases and Promote mental health.
5. Prevent and treat substance abuse.
6. Reduce road injuries and deaths.
7. Grant universal access to sexual and reproductive care, Family planning and education;
8. Achieve universal health coverage;
9. Reduce illnesses and deaths from hazardous chemicals and pollution.
Target 3: Fight communicable diseases
In partnership with Fit & Healthy Generation Kenya. We were able to successfully help organize an event on Non Communicable Diseases Awareness Campaign 3rd December 2022 at Thomas Barnados Home off Langata Road Reducing Non Communicable Disease burden through provision of equitable, diversified, all inclusive wellness & health programs. Non-communicable Diseases(NCDs) are diseases that cannot be transmitted from one person to another. They are of long duration and slow in progression. NCDs are collectively responsible for over 70% of all deaths globally each year. Of these, 75% of occur in low and middle income countries. The rise of NCDs has been driven by primarily 4 major risk factors; unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and harmful use of alcohol. High rates of NCDs perpetuate poverty, strain economic development and burden fragile health systems, making countries less resilient.
Target 4: Reduce mortality from non-communicable diseases and promote mental health
Mental health needs a great deal of attention.The positive attributes of Cycling & it's impact on mental health can be seen through various lenses, Cycling helps improves your mood, Promotes positive mental health, Helps you sleep better, Improves your memory, Improves creative thinking and promotes new thought patterns and so on. While virtually all Exercise is beneficial for general, ‘whole body’ health, there are some forms of exercise such as cycling that are especially great for positive mental health. Several studies have found that the combination of exercise and exposure to the outdoors is a bit of a magic combination for emotional and mental health. Cycling is now considered to be a key therapeutic component of any strategy to combat depression, anxiety, and stress. “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”
Target 6: Reduce road injuries and deaths
Road traffic safety refers to the methods and measures used to prevent road users from being killed or seriously injured. Typical road users include pedestrians and cyclists.The need for improvements in safer infrastructure and government regulation continues to be one of the main critical focal point of focus for critical mass Nairobi. Pedestrians and Pedal cyclist being one of the main vulnerable road users in Kenya. Our goal has always been to reduce the number of road traffic causalities. One of the ways we are able to do this is by sensitizing cyclists on road usage, road safety tips such as following traffic rules, safety equipment’s such as use of helmets, bike lights and obeying traffic lights. In 2022 alone we were able to see a reduction in road casualties facing pedal cyclists in a recent report released by the office of the inspector general National police service Nairobi –Kenya. The report showed are reduction in casualties by a record 22.22% in the year 2022 vs 2021.
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
In 2015, the UN General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include a dedicated and stand-alone goal on energy, SDG 7, calling to “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all". Energy lies at the heart of both the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all will open a new world of opportunities for billions of people through new economic opportunities and jobs, empowered women, children and youth, better education and health, more sustainable, equitable and inclusive communities, and greater protections from, and resilience to, climate change.
Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
As an Organization, Critical Mass Nairobi is committed to the United Nations Pact and its 17 Sustainable development goals. All our projects and services should be in accordance with these Un Goals. In all our events, we reduce waste through re-usable and recycled materials, we promotes use of green energy and stimulate the use of public transportation through commuter cycling. We help promote rehabilitation of Non-motorized transportation such as cycling lanes and cycling parks. All our cycling banners used during our events are recyclable and we also avoid use of plastic packaging.
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Targets and Indicators
Target
1. By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums
2. By 2030, provide access to safe, affordable, accessible and sustainable transport systems for all, improving road safety, notably by expanding public transport, with special attention to the needs of those in vulnerable situations, women, children, persons with disabilities and older persons. proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
3. By 2030, enhance inclusive and sustainable urbanization and capacity for participatory, integrated and sustainable human settlement planning and management in all countries. Proportion of cities with a direct participation structure of civil society in urban planning and management that operate regularly and democratically
4. Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
5. By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters, including water-related disasters, with a focus on protecting the poor and people in vulnerable situations
6. By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management
7. By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons and persons with disabilities
11.a. Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning
11.b. By 2020, substantially increase the number of cities and human settlements adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion, resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, resilience to disasters, and develop and implement, in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, holistic disaster risk management at all levels
11.c. Support least developed countries, including through financial and technical assistance, in building sustainable and resilient buildings utilizing local materials.
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Target
13.1. Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
Target
13.2. Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning
Target
13.3. Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Target
13.a. Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities.
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
Target
15.1. By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
Target
15.2.By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
Target
15.3.By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
Target
15.4.By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.
Target
15.5.Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
