Tshwane officials choose pedal power
GREEN MOBILITY FRIDAYS: RELIEVING TRAFFIC PROBLEMS
Not only environmentally friendly, but you also get to know people around you.
As part of the Green Mobility Fridays and a healthier lifestyle, City of Tshwane officials yesterday traded their vehicles for bicycles as a more environmentally friendly mode of transport.
Together with Executive Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga and MMC for roads and transport Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge, they left from Tshwane House for a 5km trip around the city.
Green Mobility Fridays is an alternative to private motorised transport and can also contribute to a greener Tshwane and a healthier lifestyle.
At the same time, the city created a car-free zone in Hatfield by closing Burnett Street, between Festival and Grosvenor streets, to all privately owned vehicles from 5am to 5.30pm.
These streets will again be closed next Friday.
This initiative is not only part of the city’s transport month activities under the theme “Together we move the capital city forward”, but it is also aimed at building awareness that cycling can assist in decongesting traffic.
Senkubuge said the exercise will be repeated in a bid to encourage motorists to be less dependent on their cars and try alternative transport, such as the Tshwane bus service, A Re Yeng, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxis.
“This initiative is all about stepping out of our comfort zone and getting into our buses and taxis and on bicycles, or doing a bit of footwork on both Fridays,” said Senkubuge.
“One understands that using public transport might not be as enjoyable as commuting in your own vehicle, but it does ease congestion, reduces emissions and gives you plenty of quality time to get to know your neighbours or people working around your workplace.”
Wrapping up the Transport Month activities will be the annual 30km Tshwane Green Ride on Sunday, October 29, at the Hammanskraal Sports Complex from 6.30am.
Senkubuge said this initiative also connected communities that historically were spatially and socially divided and served as a social connector.
“It is also of great significance to educate our communities about the considerable economic, social and environmental benefits of clean mobility,” Senkubuge added. –