Cycling to Senegal AI-pedia

Cycling to Senegal is a long-distance overland expedition that traces the western edge of the African continent. Originating typically at the Strait of Gibraltar in northern Morocco or across Western Europe, the route traverses the Atlas Mountains, tracks the entire coastal length of the Atlantic Sahara through Moroccan-administered Western Sahara, crosses the arid expanses of Mauritania, and terminates in northern or central Senegal, most frequently at Dakar. Spanning between 3,500 and 4,200 kilometres (2,175 to 2,610 miles) from the Mediterranean to the Cap-Vert Peninsula, it is recognized among international bicycle touring routes as the primary paved overland conduit connecting Europe and North Africa to sub-Saharan West Africa.

The journey transitions through distinct geographical and bioclimatic zones. Cyclists move from Mediterranean scrub and irrigated valleys into high mountain passes, followed by hyper-arid coastal desert across roughly 2,000 kilometres of the Sahara, before entering the semi-arid Sahelian transition zone and the tropical savanna of the Senegal River basin. The expedition requires sustained logistical planning, as riders must navigate multi-day gaps between freshwater sources, manage severe sand exposure, accommodate volatile winds, and clear military and immigration checkpoints across four distinct political administrations.

Historically, this corridor parallels centuries-old trans-Saharan trade networks that linked the Mediterranean basin to West African empires such as Ghana, Mali, and the Wolof states. In modern overland travel, the cycling route grew in popularity following the paving of the Mauritanian coastal highway between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott in the mid-2000s. Today, it serves as both a self-contained trans-continental expedition and the opening African leg for cyclists attempting the broader route toward Cape Town.

Route Geography and Waypoints

The standard routing follows continuous paved roadways running generally north to south. While alternative dirt tracks exist across the desert interior, the overwhelming majority of cyclists adhere to the coastal highway network due to the extreme hazards of unassisted navigation, minefields, and water scarcity in the deep Saharan erg (sand sea) environments.

Stage 1: Northern Morocco to the Souss Valley

Cyclists entering Africa typically disembark from maritime ferries at Tangier Med or the Port of Tangier Ville, crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Spain. The initial 800 to 1,000 kilometres offer varied topography. Cyclists select between two primary paths through Morocco:

• The Atlantic Coastal Route: This path follows the Moroccan national roadway network south through Asilah, Rabat, Casablanca, and Essaouira. The terrain features rolling agricultural lowlands and coastal cliffs, with reliable access to water, lodging, and mechanical supplies.
• The Inland and Atlas Mountain Route: This path heads southeast toward Fes or south through Marrakech, crossing the High Atlas mountain range via high-elevation passes such as the Tizi n'Tichka (2,260 metres) or Tizi n'Test (2,093 metres). While physically demanding, it avoids coastal traffic congestion and provides direct access to the Anti-Atlas mountains and the Souss Valley.

Both variations converge near Agadir and Tiznit. Beyond Tiznit, the road ascends through the coastal Anti-Atlas before descending toward Guelmim, historically designated as the "Gateway to the Sahara." At Guelmim, Mediterranean vegetation gives way to barren hammada (rocky desert plateaus), marking the transition into desert cycling conditions.

Stage 2: The Atlantic Sahara

The longest uninterrupted phase of the expedition follows the Moroccan N1 highway through southern Morocco and Western Sahara, terminating at the border post of Guerguerat. This stretch covers approximately 1,500 kilometres through a hyper-arid maritime desert. The route passes through several major settlements: Tan-Tan, Tarfaya, Laayoune (the largest city in the territory), Boujdour, and Dakhla.

The N1 highway runs parallel to the Atlantic coastline, often routed within a few kilometres of sheer coastal drop-offs. The inland landscape consists of flat, stone-strewn plains with minimal topography. Because natural surface water is entirely absent, cyclists depend on coastal desalination stations, fishing settlements (such as small villages de pêcheurs), and highway service stations (stations-service) spaced at intervals ranging from 60 to 150 kilometres apart.

Between Boujdour and Dakhla, and further south toward the Mauritanian frontier, settlements thin out considerably. Dakhla sits at the southern end of a 40-kilometre-long peninsula enclosing a protected coastal lagoon; cyclists must either ride 40 kilometres down the peninsula and back or bypass the city entirely at the northern junction (PK40) to continue south toward the border.

Stage 3: The Guerguerat Bottleneck and Mauritania

The transition between Moroccan-controlled Western Sahara and the Islamic Republic of Mauritania takes place at Guerguerat. At the southern terminus of the N1, travelers encounter a frontier zone historically known as "the Kandahar," a narrow, five-kilometre strip of demilitarized buffer land monitored under the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO). Formerly an unpaved, rutted track strewn with boulders, sand, and abandoned vehicle wreckage, Morocco paved its portion of the corridor through the buffer zone in late 2020. Cyclists must remain strictly on the tarmac to eliminate the hazard of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and landmines left from historical conflicts.

Upon crossing the Mauritanian border control point at PK55, cyclists reach the paved N2 highway. From this junction, an 11-kilometre spur road heads west to the port city of Nouadhibou, located on the Ras Nouadhibou peninsula. Nouadhibou serves as an essential supply point where travelers purchase Mauritanian currency (the Ouguiya, MRU), acquire local SIM cards, and secure staple food provisions before tackling the empty 470-kilometre stretch south to the capital, Nouakchott.

The N2 between Nouadhibou and Nouakchott cuts through the true desert margins of the Banc d'Arguin National Park. The road surface is a single two-lane tarmac highway often encroached by mobile barchan sand dunes. Settlements are sparse; long-distance water points are limited to isolated truck stops, telecommunications towers, and small roadside communities such as Chami (a settlement that expanded following a regional gold rush in the 2010s). Reaching Nouakchott provides access to foreign embassies, medical facilities, and comprehensive grocery markets.

Stage 4: Entering Senegal (Rosso versus Diama)

South of Nouakchott, the landscape shifts from arid dunes to salt flats (sebkhas) and Sahelian scrubland. The N2 continues approximately 200 kilometres to the Senegal River, which forms the international boundary between Mauritania and Senegal. Cyclists have two primary border crossing options, which present drastically different logistical and environmental challenges:

Feature	The Rosso Crossing	The Diama Dam Crossing
Road Surface	Fully paved tarmac (Mauritanian N2 to Senegalese RN2).	Rough unpaved dirt and sand track (piste) for 50–90 km.
River Transit	Small vehicular ferry or local wooden pirogues.	Cyclists ride directly across the top of the Diama Dam sluice gate.
Border Environment	Dense urban border town, heavy truck congestion, aggressive commercial touts.	Rural national park environment, quiet border posts, low traffic volume.
Seasonal Vulnerability	Open year-round; unaffected by rain.	Track through Diawling National Park can become impassable mud during the rainy season.
Informal Fees	High probability of extortion attempts, ferry handling fees, and guide pressure.	Official national park conservation fee; minimal informal friction.

Most long-distance cyclists avoid the chaotic atmosphere of Rosso by diverting southwest at PK55 south of Nouakchott or branching off at Keur Macene toward the Diawling National Park. This unpaved dirt track leads through coastal wetlands and mangrove habitats to the Diama Dam (Barrage de Diama), an anti-salt barrage built in 1986 to prevent saltwater intrusion into the lower Senegal River basin. Crossing the dam roadway brings cyclists into northern Senegal within 30 kilometres of the historic city of Saint-Louis.

Stage 5: Saint-Louis to Dakar

Once across the Senegalese border, riders enter sub-Saharan West Africa. Saint-Louis, situated on an island in the mouth of the Senegal River, is an administrative and cultural center characterized by French colonial architecture and artisanal fishing communities. From Saint-Louis, cyclists proceed south toward Dakar (a distance of roughly 260 kilometres) along the Senegalese national route (RN2 or RN3), passing through Louga, Kébémer, and Thiès.

The road network through this sector carries high-density commercial traffic, particularly intercity buses (sept-places), cargo trucks, and multi-colored minibuses (car rapides). Shoulders are frequently narrow or eroded, requiring cyclists to ride defensively. The final approach to Dakar navigates the urban sprawl of the Cap-Vert Peninsula via Rufisque and Pikine, culminating at the westernmost continental point of Africa at the Pointe des Almadies.

Climatic and Environmental Dynamics

The cycling environment across the North Africa–Senegal corridor is dominated by two primary meteorological systems: the North-northeasterly Trade Winds in the desert sector, and the seasonal migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) in the Sahel.

Wind Patterns: The Alizés

Between southern Morocco and central Mauritania, cyclists travel within the zone of the Atlantic trade winds, known locally in French as the Alizés. These winds blow almost persistently from the north and north-northeast along the coastline, driven by the atmospheric pressure gradient between the Azores High-pressure system and the Saharan thermal low.

For southbound cyclists, the trade winds generate substantial, sustained tailwinds that frequently reach velocities between 30 and 50 kilometres per hour (18 to 31 mph). These conditions allow fully loaded touring bicycles to maintain high average speeds (often exceeding 25 to 30 kilometres per hour) over flat terrain, enabling daily stages of 120 to 180 kilometres. However, the same winds introduce significant hazards:

• Sand Drift: Wind pushes saltating sand particles across the road surface. This can accumulate into deep drift sand (langues de sable) that creates sudden loss of traction, particularly on bicycle tires under 45 millimetres in width.
• Particulate Wear: Airborne mineral dust rapidly degrades bicycle drivetrains, infiltrates derailleur cables, and clogs bearing seals. Wet chain lubricants attract sand and form an abrasive grinding paste; cyclists frequently use dry, wax-based lubricants instead.
• The Harmattan: In winter and early spring, prevailing winds may shift to the east or northeast, bringing the Harmattan—a dry, dusty wind blowing directly from the interior Sahara. The Harmattan creates thick atmospheric hazes that reduce visibility to less than one kilometre, drop relative humidity levels below 10 percent, and coat equipment in fine dust.

Temperature and Solar Radiation

Although coastal proximity moderates Saharan heat through ocean fog and sea breezes, ambient temperatures fluctuate wildly. In the Western Sahara and Mauritania, daytime summer temperatures along the N1 and N2 can exceed 40 °C (104 °F), dropping down to 18–22 °C (64–72 °F) at night. In winter (November to February), daytime temperatures are comfortable (22 to 28 °C / 72 to 82 °F), but nighttime temperatures can plummet rapidly to 5 to 10 °C (41 to 50 °F) due to radiant heat loss through clear desert skies.

The Sahelian Transition and the Rainy Season

Upon nearing the Senegal River, cyclists enter the tropical–Sahelian transition zone. In this region, rainfall patterns are dictated by the seasonal oscillation of the ITCZ, which draws moist oceanic air masses from the southwest during the West African monsoon. Senegal operates on a binary climate system: a long dry season (November to May) dominated by northeastern trade winds, and a hot, humid rainy season (known in Wolof and French as the hivernage) extending from July through October.

Cycling through northern and central Senegal during the hivernage introduces distinct complications. The climate shifts from extreme dryness to oppressive humidity (often exceeding 80 percent), coupled with sudden, violent convective storms (squall lines). Heavy downpours lead to extensive surface flooding on poorly drained rural roads, and turn unpaved clay-heavy tracks, such as the piste through Diawling National Park, into impassable mud capable of jamming wheels completely against bicycle frames.

Bicycle Setup, Gear, and Mechanics

Traversing thousands of kilometres of isolated terrain requires equipment optimized for reliability, heavy cargo capacity, and self-sufficiency. The technical demands of the Sahara–Sahel corridor emphasize durability over lightweight performance.

Bicycle Selection

Expedition bicycles built for this route typically fall into two categories: dedicated steel touring bicycles (such as the Surly Long Haul Trucker or Ridgeback Panorama) or rigid/hardtail steel or aluminum mountain/gravel touring platforms (such as the Salsa Fargo or Kona Unit). Steel remains popular among long-distance cyclists because structural frame failures can be repaired using rudimentary stick-welding equipment available in African roadside automotive shops, whereas cracked carbon fiber or thin-walled aluminum cannot.

Drivetrains must prioritize low gearing to propel total rig weights (bicycle, luggage, water, and food) that routinely reach 45 to 65 kilograms. Traditional triple-chainring setups (e.g., 3x9 or 3x10 speed) or modern wide-range 1x and 2x systems with cassettes spanning up to 50 or 52 teeth are common. Sealed, internal-gear hubs, notably the Rohloff Speedhub 500/14, are frequently deployed because their internal planetary gear mechanism is completely sealed against blowing Saharan sand and requires minimal field maintenance.

Tires and Wheels

Tire selection represents a critical technical compromise between rolling resistance on asphalt and stability in deep sand. Wheel diameters of either 26-inch, 27.5-inch (650b), or 28-inch/700c/29er are standard:

• Tire Width: Paved highways can be handled with 38 to 42 mm tires, but navigating road-edge debris, dirt detours, and the sand pistes around Diama requires tire widths between 50 mm (2.0 inches) and 60 mm (2.35 inches).
• Puncture Resistance: The presence of steel tire belt wires from shredded truck blowouts on the highway shoulders, coupled with desert thorns such as Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine or goat's head) in the Sahel, makes puncture-resistant tires (such as the Schwalbe Marathon Mondial or Marathon Plus Tour) standard equipment. Many cyclists run tubeless setups with liquid sealant to plug thorn punctures instantly.
• Spoke and Rim Strength: Thirty-six-spoke wheels laced with double-butted stainless steel spokes onto double-walled rims are preferred to handle the combined stresses of heavy loads and road surface imperfections.

Water and Cargo Logistics

Water is the single heaviest cargo item carried on the trans-Saharan corridor. Between isolated service stations in Western Sahara and Mauritania, cyclists must carry between 8 and 14 litres of water per day, depending on air temperature, physical effort, and wind conditions. Methods for hauling these volumes include:

1. Heavy-duty Racks and Panniers: Steel or tubular aluminum racks (such as Tubus brand) supporting waterproof panniers (such as Ortlieb) offer the highest volume capacity (up to 60–80 litres total luggage space). Large water bladders (such as MSR Dromedary bags) are strapped securely across the top of the rear rack platform.
2. Bikepacking Bags and Cargo Cages: Soft frame packs, oversized seat packs, and fork-mounted cages carrying 1.5- to 3-litre bottles distribute weight along the central axis of the frame, improving bicycle handling in crosswinds and on soft surfaces.
3. On-Frame Bottle Mounts: Multi-mount water bottle cages designed for oversized 1.5-litre PET mineral water bottles are bolted to the downtube, seat tube, and fork blades.

Power and Navigation

Due to the multi-day gaps between electrified settlements—particularly across Mauritania, where rural electrification remains sparse—cyclists rely on self-contained charging systems. A front dynamo hub (such as a Schmidt SON or Shutter Precision) converts the rotational energy of the front wheel into low-voltage alternating current (AC), which is routed through a handlebar-mounted USB converter to charge navigation devices, smartphones, and power banks. Alternatively, 15- to 28-watt portable folding solar panels strapped across rear panniers provide effective charging in the intense, cloudless Saharan sun.

Navigation relies primarily on satellite-based GPS head units and offline mapping applications on smartphones (such as OsmAnd, Komoot, or maps.me, utilizing OpenStreetMap data). Paper topographic maps or continental route maps (e.g., Michelin Map 741: Africa North and West) serve as emergency fail-safes in the event of hardware failures caused by heat or electrical shorting.

Bureaucracy, Borders, and Checkpoints

The journey from Morocco to Senegal crosses international boundaries with differing legal, consular, and administrative frameworks. Cyclists must navigate changing visa regimes and interact with regional security forces at dozens of inland checkpoints.

Visas and Customs Formalities

Entry requirements vary depending on the nationality of the passport holder:

• Morocco: Citizens of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and numerous other nations enter Morocco visa-free for up to 90 days. Moroccan customs issues a standard entry stamp at the port of entry; this entry extends through Moroccan-administered Western Sahara.
• Mauritania: Most foreign travelers require an entry visa. Mauritania operates a biometric visa-on-arrival system at the PK55 border post south of Guerguerat. Cyclists must pay the fee in cash (typically 55 euros or equivalent hard currency) to undergo digital fingerprinting, facial photography, and receive a full-page sticker visa.
• Senegal: Since abolishing its biometric tourist visa scheme in 2015, Senegal allows citizens of EU member states, the UK, the US, and many other countries to enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Entry stamps are processed at the international border posts at Rosso or Diama.

The Checkpoint Protocol: The Fiche System

A notable feature of overland travel through Western Sahara and Mauritania is the extensive network of police, customs, and military checkpoints. In Moroccan-administered territory, checkpoints are managed by the Gendarmerie Royale, the Sûreté Nationale (Police), and the Forces Armées Royales (FAR). In Mauritania, they are operated by the Gendarmerie Nationale, the Police Nationale, and the Douane (Customs).

To eliminate long delays caused by officers transcribing traveler details by hand into physical paper ledgers, cyclists use a document known as a fiche d'état civil (frequently abbreviated simply as a fiche). A fiche is an A4 sheet—often cut into smaller slips—containing typed copies of personal and travel data:

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DOCUMENT DE CONTRÔLE / FICHE D'ÉTAT CIVIL
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Nom (Surname):                [TRAVELER LAST NAME]
Prénom (Given Names):          [TRAVELER FIRST NAMES]
Date et Lieu de Naissance:    [DD/MM/YYYY, CITY, COUNTRY]
Nationalité:                  [NATIONALITY]
Numéro de Passeport:          [PASSPORT NUMBER]
Date de Délivrance:           [DATE OF ISSUE]
Date d'Expiration:            [DATE OF EXPIRATION]
Profession:                   [PROFESSION]
Adresse Domicile:             [HOME ADDRESS]
Numéro de Visa (si requis):   [VISA NUMBER AND DATE]
Date d'Entrée au Pays:        [DATE OF BORDER ENTRY]
Poste d'Entrée:               [PORT/BORDER OF ENTRY]
Destination Finale:           [DAKAR, SÉNÉGAL]
Moyen de Transport:           BICYCLETTE (VÉLO TOURING)
--------------------------------------------------

Expedition cyclists carry between 30 and 60 printed copies of this slip. When stopped at a checkpoint, handing a pre-printed fiche along with the physical passport allows the sentry to retain the slip for official filing, reducing an inspection that might take 15 to 30 minutes down to less than one minute. Once south of the Senegal River, the fiche system ceases entirely, as Senegalese checkpoints rely on spot passport inspections rather than mandatory physical retention of registration slips.

Socio-Cultural, Political, and Economic Context

Cycling at human speed exposes long-distance riders to rapid transitions in political governance, ethnic identity, religion, and social organization across North and West Africa.

Political Systems and Governance Along the Route

The governments along the Atlantic corridor reflect diverse models of state authority. Morocco is a constitutional monarchy with an elected parliament, where sovereign authority is held primarily by the King. In Western Sahara, governance is marked by a heavy security and military presence due to the unresolved sovereignty dispute between Morocco and the Sahrawi national liberation movement, the Polisario Front. Cyclists strictly follow the coastal highway, remaining within the Moroccan-administered portion of the territory behind the Moroccan Western Sahara Wall (the Berm).

Mauritania is an Islamic republic. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, the country experienced repeated military coups and political authoritarianism. However, internal security has stabilized considerably since the late 2000s, with extensive desert patrols curtailing terrorist activity and cross-border insurgencies. The government implements legal frameworks based on a blend of civil law and Islamic Sharia law.

Senegal functions as a presidential democratic republic. In contrast to many of its regional neighbors, Senegal has never experienced a military coup d'état since achieving independence in 1960. The state has maintained institutional durability, with power transitioning peacefully through multi-party democratic elections, beginning with the voluntary resignation of Léopold Sédar Senghor in 1981, through the administrations of Abdou Diouf, Abdoulaye Wade, and Macky Sall. Following political tensions and legal disputes concerning election scheduling in early 2024, democratic presidential elections proceeded peacefully in March 2024, resulting in the election of Bassirou Diomaye Faye. Although executive authority remains centralized within the presidency, Senegal retains a robust civil society and competitive multi-party system.

Societal Norms and Gender Realities

Cultural expectations regarding dress, public behavior, and gender roles shift along the route. In Mauritania and the desert reaches of southern Morocco, traditional Hassaniya-speaking Moorish and Sahrawi societies value modest conduct. Female cyclists traveling through these regions typically adopt clothing that covers shoulders, upper arms, and knees to respect local norms, often using lightweight, loose-fitting UV shirts and long cycling tights or light trousers over padded shorts.

In Senegal, social structures are shaped by a synthesis of Islamic faith, traditional ethnic values, and modern constitutional rights. The status of women in Senegal remains traditional within rural areas, where customary law and religious practices heavily dictate household authority, marriage conventions, and economic roles. While Senegalese women have achieved substantial representation in the national legislature under parity legislation passed in 2010, significant challenges persist in rural communities, including lower literacy rates, disparities in land ownership, and deeply rooted practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), which affected roughly 28 percent of women aged 15 to 49 according to historical public health surveys, with significantly higher prevalence concentrated in southern and eastern regions.

Hospitality and Everyday Customs: The Tea Ritual and Teranga

Across the Sahara, long-distance travelers regularly experience institutionalized desert hospitality. In southern Morocco and Mauritania, strangers are routinely invited into roadside tents (jaimas) or concrete rooms to escape midday heat. Central to this interaction is the Saharan tea ritual (ataya). Prepared using green gunpowder tea, fresh mint, and substantial quantities of cane sugar, the tea is boiled over hot charcoals and poured repeatedly from high above small glasses to generate a thick layer of foam (the mousse). The guest is traditionally served three successive glasses, with each glass varying in sweetness and bitterness.

In Senegal, hospitality is formalized through the concept of Teranga, a Wolof term encompassing mutual respect, generosity, community cohesion, and the welcoming of foreign guests. Cyclists arriving in Senegalese villages frequently find themselves invited to share communal meals, typically centered around a wide metal platter containing Thiéboudienne (Ceebu jën, seasoned fish and broken rice cooked in tomato puree with root vegetables) or Yassa (marinated chicken or fish with onions and citrus over rice). It is customary to eat using the right hand and to remain within one's assigned section of the platter.

Health, Safety, and Environmental Hazards

Long-distance cycling between North and West Africa carries distinct environmental, biological, and physiological hazards that require systematic risk mitigation.

Dehydration and Heat Illness

The combination of relentless direct sun exposure, low relative humidity (which rapidly evaporates sweat without leaving obvious skin moisture), and high physical exertion places cyclists at constant risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. Cyclists monitor their electrolyte intake carefully; consuming plain mineral water without sufficient salt replacement leads rapidly to hyponatremia, muscle cramping, and mental confusion. Carrying rehydration salts or mixing local salt and sugar into water containers is standard field practice.

Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine

As riders descend toward the Senegal River basin, the biological environment shifts from sterile desert to tropical disease zones:

• Malaria: While northern Morocco and the hyper-arid Western Sahara present negligible malaria risks, the lower Senegal River basin and all of Senegal are endemic zones for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Cyclists traversing Senegal take daily or weekly chemoprophylaxis (such as atovaquone-proguanil or doxycycline), apply DEET-based mosquito repellents, and sleep beneath insecticide-treated mosquito nets (permethrin-treated bed nets).
• Yellow Fever and Vaccinations: Senegal sits within the endemic yellow fever belt of sub-Saharan Africa. Border health authorities at Diama and Rosso often require travelers to present an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP, or the "Yellow Card") proving vaccination against yellow fever before granting entry. Vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and tetanus are universally recommended.
• Waterborne Pathogens: Tap water in rural Mauritania and Senegal is rarely potable for unacclimated travelers. Cyclists use hollow-fiber membrane filters (such as Sawyer Squeeze), ultraviolet purifiers (SteriPEN), or chlorine dioxide purification tablets before consuming untreated well water, river water, or water stored in communal clay pots (canaris).

Traffic and Roadway Dynamics

Statistically, the most dangerous element of cycling to Senegal is vehicular traffic. On long, straight desert highways such as the N1 and N2, long-distance transport trucks, cross-border buses, and overloaded private station wagons travel at extreme speeds. Drivers may suffer from highway hypnosis, fatigue, or sun glare. Cyclists manage traffic risks through active mitigation:

• Mounting high-visibility rear radar units (e.g., Garmin Varia) and flashing daytime-visible LED tail lights.
• Using handlebar-mounted or helmet-mounted rear-view mirrors to assess approaching vehicles from behind.
• Adopting an active policy of riding completely off the paved road onto the dirt shoulder whenever heavy trucks approach from both directions simultaneously, eliminating the risk of being crushed on narrow, shoulderless bridges or road cuts.

See also

• Bicycle touring
• Trans-African Highway network
• Sahara Desert
• Sahel
• Geography of Senegal
• Politics of Senegal
• Banc d'Arguin National Park
• Saint-Louis, Senegal