Introduction 

With the emergence of motorcycles as a means of transportation which is commonly known as “okada “in most English speaking west African countries, this business is now becoming popular among people. Bikeriders can access every corner in a community at a faster pace, motorcycles remain the only means of transportation for people living in remote localities to access their homes, these riders can troll on footpaths, bumpy hillside roads where cars cannot reach. 

The impacts it causes and continues to cause to our youths and development is nothing to write home about. 

• Economically 

Youths that are capable of farming abandoned villages for big towns to engage in motorcycles riding as a means of livelihood. Lands that are fertile lay with no able-bodied men to cultivate. A surge of increase in prices of local goods especially vegetables is becoming unbearable in local markets. This increase of price in such commodities hit hard on low income earners because few reach the market and attract high prices which few people are able to afford. 

• Health 

The rate at which bike riding business kills our youths is alarming, those engaged into it have no formal training and precautions interims of riding gears for eventualities. Some youths are left unable to walk after being involved in accidents, those with severe bone problems are either amputated or forever remain with crutches when discharged from hospitals. This has handicapped lot of youths in Sierra Leone, the passengers they carry are also at high risk, lot of people died instantly when such accidents occur. 

• school dropouts and security concerns 

The fast cash flow that is in this transportation business lured school going pupils especially boys to abandon schooling and engage in it. Some immediately after high school examinations will never continue their education, this has encouraged the high rate of school dropouts among youths which has an adverse effect on development. 

There is also a growing security concern among communities where these Bikeriders operate, some often rob passengers violently during late hours of valuable possessions which has added to increased security patrols for the police. 

Conclusion 

The development of a country like Sierra leone depends on a healthy and skilled youth population, if agriculture is to flourish youths’ contribution is vital. It’s important that the government look into this bike riding business through the line ministry to save the Sierra Leone youth population from this menace.