Turning Wheels into Peace: Bike Riders Transform Communities in Sierra Leone

^{Bike Rider peace ambassadors awareness raising.?}

October 2025

Over 3,880 cases resolved, 600 riders trained, and violent confrontations reduced – youth bike riders are proving that mobility can be a powerful force for peace.

In Sierra Leone, where young people under 35 make up nearly 80% of the population,?no group is more visible than the country’s commercial motorbike riders. Estimated at more than 1.2 million nationwide, or nearly one-fifth of the population, they crisscross every district, ferrying passengers, carrying goods, and shaping the pulse of daily life. For years, however, they carried another reputation: unruly, politically manipulated, and often clashing with the police and road safety officials.

That image is beginning to change. With $1.9 million in funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF), the project "Empowering Youth Bike Riders as Sustainable Agents of Peace in Sierra Leone" is championing the agency of youth as key stakeholders in prevention, through collaborative approaches. Working together with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and implemented by UNDP and UNCDF, the initiative has empowered youth bike riders to take up peace roles in Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural, Makeni, Bo and Kenema districts. The project commenced as Sierra Leone was gearing up to general elections in 2023, an environment characterized with heightened tensions, political competition, communal violence, riots and protests.

Bike riders, often seen as a source of unrest, are now emerging as unexpected champions of peace.? The project engages youth bike riders and state authorities through various initiatives, aimed at reaching a total of 6,000 individuals across all activities.

^{Handover of Helmets and Umbrellas to peace ambassadors.}

From mistrust to cooperation

For decades, the relationship between riders and authorities was defined by confrontation. Riders were accused of unsafe practices and political agitation; officials were seen as heavy-handed and dismissive.

“We were seen as troublemakers,” recalls Patrick Kpaka, 35, Secretary-General of the Bike Riders’ Union. “There were always confrontations, specifically with the Sierra Leone Police and the Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority.”

The breakthrough came with the signing of the National Agreement?in October 2024 between the Sierra Leone Police, the Road Safety Authority, and the Bike Riders’ Union, a milestone supported by the project. The Agreement called for enhanced partnerships and dialogues between bike riders and the state authorities, outlining each other’s responsibilities to ensure road safety and contribution to peaceful coexistence in the roads and the community. For the first time, dialogue replaced street-level disputes. ?

The agreement didn’t remain on paper. Dialogue platforms at both national and district levels now bring riders and authorities together regularly to resolve grievances. A representative of the Sierra Leone Police noted that the youth bike riders are now more peaceful and law-abiding citizens, further noting that the dialogue platform has played a crucial role in improving the conduct of bike riders, who are now actively engaged in spreading peace messages within their communities. The dialogue platforms have allowed most grievances to be addressed collaboratively, reducing conflict and fostering mutual respect.

Peace Ambassadors on two wheels

Hundreds of bike riders have been trained as Peace Ambassadors, learning skills in conflict prevention, negotiation, and civic responsibility.?

For 20-year-old Yusif Tarawally, the transformation has been personal. Once known in his school and community for fighting and troublemaking, Yusif took up bike riding to pay for his education.?

In 2023, he was invited to train as a Peace Ambassador. “Back then, I was part of a clique at school. We clashed regularly with rival groups during sports and end-of-year festivals.”?

Yusif believes that being a Peace Ambassador has made him a positive role model for his fellow bike riders and peers in the community. He said, “it feels great to be an ambassador for peace in my community and the district. Whenever I put on my Peace Ambassador t-shirt, I feel proud, it makes me feel different and I do not want to engage in any activity that goes contrary to what is written on the t-shirt.”?

Rebecca M., a rider in Freetown with eight years of experience, has also embraced the role. As one of the few women in the profession, she had seen firsthand how politicians tried to exploit during times of tension. “As a Peace Ambassador and as a female bike rider, this project offered opportunities to talk with people in communities. I learned a lot from engaging with them and advocating for peace,” she emphasized.

Patrick, the Union Secretary-General, agrees, “Bike riders are now recognized as peaceful and law-abiding citizens, with community members acknowledging their shift towards non-violence and reduced political instrumentalization.”

Help desks for everyday challenges

Another innovation has been the creation of five help desks in Bike Riders’ Union offices across five districts. Staffed by trained assistance and equipped with computers and furniture, the desks provide practical support – from licensing information and accident referrals to legal aid and advice on domestic disputes.?

Since their launch, they have handled more than 3,800 cases. Nearly a thousand riders have received legal support, with some released on bail, others referred to alternative dispute resolution, and many advised on their rights and obligations. The desks have become a trusted bridge between riders and public institutions, reducing friction and showing riders that peaceful options are available.

Tackling gender-based violence

The project has also addressed sensitive but critical issues. In some communities, riders had been implicated in harassment and abuse of schoolgirls. The project introduced training on Sierra Leone’s Sexual Offences law and gender equality.

One rider from Kenema noted that the training on Sexual Offences Law equipped him with important knowledge regarding prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. He noted that after the training delivered by the project, he would not support these vices and would report to authorities if his friends commit sexual and gender-based violence. These prevention efforts are also being championed by the Bike Riders Union representatives.

Visible impact

The results are already tangible:

A National Agreement signed between riders, police, and road safety officials.
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Dialogue platforms operating at both national and district levels.
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Five help desks that have addressed thousands of cases.
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Over 600 riders trained on legal rights and traffic regulations.
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More than 3,700 riders trained in financial literacy and business management.
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Hundreds of Peace Ambassadors spreading messages of non-violence.

These outcomes go beyond statistics. Confrontations between riders and police have dropped. Communities now see riders not as agitators but as contributors to safety and peace. Authorities, too, have shifted their approach — engaging riders proactively and scaling up collaboration even beyond the project’s scope.

A cultural shift on the streets

The ripple effects are visible during major national events. During the 2023 elections, Peace Ambassadors supported public campaigns against violence. Riders have also joined anti-drug initiatives, carrying peace messages as they travel between towns and villages. Equipped with training on responsible social media use, some are now using their platforms to calm tensions before they escalate.

For the first time, bike riders are being recognized not as outsiders to peacebuilding, but as essential participants and contributors.
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