Why I dread the boda boda

The fear I have for boda bodas is legendary. First, I cannot jump onto one in any part of the city or in any busy trading centre. If however circumstances force me to get onto one (which happens like once in two years), I only do so on a road that hardly has traffic, preferably in a village setting.

I shall stress to the rider the need for him to ride as slowly as he possibly can. Thereafter, I shall debate on where to put my feet if I am sitting astride the seat or where to hold if I am going to sit like a “lady” (as I curse why I did not wear a pair of trousers or jeans). Then as he rides off, I shall cling on for dear life, saying many silent prayers and trying not to think of which part of my body I shall land on should we have an accident.

As he goes over the slopes and takes sharp corners, I find myself wincing and reminding him to ride slower. Usually, they tend to tell me not to fear, almost in a berating tone. But I keep reminding them should they forget and think they are in some sort of world championship race.

My fear is such that I prefer to walk long distances, or take about three taxis to connect from one place to another, or try and get a ride with a friend going to a similar destination – but not take a boda.

So when I heard and read about the fuss boda users are going through, wondering what to do with their hair because they now have to wear helmets, I sighed sympathetically and wondered what it would feel like to put one on.

I sighed too soon. Turns out these circumstances that force me to use a boda might start happening more often that I had hoped. I have found myself, looking at all kinds of bodas, wondering what the best position is to sit and figuring out how much I should pay for the distance travelled. I now even have to get the number of one of those that work near my home seeing that the frequency with which I use these things is going to increase.

And now I have to worry about the helmet! It is all scary and annoying. I now have to eat my words about never using the things and instead figure out the nearest place to get one from. The tide has changed indeed and I am not liking it one bit.