1 April 2014
Cycling and walking are being promoted by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport as a viable alternative to motorised transport, helping to reduce congestion and create cleaner and sustainable cities.
The Gauteng Transport Commission hosted a cycling indaba in Boksburg on Monday to discuss non-motorised transport infrastructure in the province’s municipalities.
There are plans to distribute 3 000 bicycles to scholar transport and to create 5km of cycle lanes in Vosloorus (east of Johannesburg) and 10km in Kaalfontein (north of Johannesburg), Octavia Mamabolo, spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport, said in a statement. This would help learners get to school safely and in reduced time.
Mamabolo said the creation of a “dedicated network of high-quality pedestrian and cycling routes will promote social integration among city residents. Integrating cycling at public transport nodes by making cycling cool through awareness and mind-set change [would also help to promote integration].
Integration
“Amending relevant technical roads standards and planning requirements will also reduce road deaths, amounting to 40% of road fatalities, which occur at intersections and cost the public health system, police, traffic departments and third party claims to escalate.”
The City of Joburg’s infrastructure roll-out programme includes the township of Alexandra in the north of Johannesburg by integrating walking, cycling and public transport.
The plan is expected to improve the township’s pavements, and there will also be dedicated cycle paths and safe links to Rea Vaya Bus Rapid Transport system.
Mamabolo said the department acknowledged the need to shift to “a new paradigm and policy approach for making non-motorised transport a mode of choice for short distances as well as for recreation.”
SAinfo reporter and SAnews.gov
