The Star Early Edition

Parkhurst residents embrace pedal power

- ANNA COX

PARKHURST is set to become the first suburb in Joburg where you can hire an electric bike for an hour – for recreation or to go shopping.

Residents have united in an effort to become environmen­tally friendly. The GoGreen Cycle project is just one of the initiative­s.

Noel O’Regan, who is originally from the UK and lives in Parkhurst, said hiring bicycles was common overseas where there were 100 000 rides a day in London, but South Africa was lagging.

“We intend changing this. Ours are e-bikes, which means you can stop cycling when you are tired. We have had a huge response from people – business people and families who want to go on family outings over weekends.

“Our aim is to turn cities and towns into greener, cleaner places to live and work by supplying an alternativ­e mode of transport that’s not only convenient, affordable and fun – but also contribute­s to lower carbon dioxide emissions and cleaner air, not to mention less traffic congestion,” he said.

Although in its initial stages, O’Regan said residents were excited about it.

Even the City of Joburg, which was spending about R70 million on establishi­ng cycling lanes throughout the city, was supporting him.

O’Regan was also speaking to the Gautrain authoritie­s about establishi­ng a docking station at Rosebank station.

“I am very happy that the Rosebank Mall has embraced the idea and is making space available for the parking and recharging of the cycles,” he said.

People can register at www.greencycle­s.co.za and make their booking online.

The bikes can be picked up and dropped off at any of the five docking stations, where the bikes will be charged through solar-powered units.

Helmets will also be provided. The bikes come with a tracking device for security.

O’Regan said he was looking at training people to repair the bikes and that it helped to create jobs and skills.

The city has been setting up cycling paths in many suburbs and has adopted a “complete streets” concept, involving creating separate lanes, new signage, lighting, street furniture, proper pavements and cycling lanes, among others.

GOING GREEN WITH ELECTRIC BICYCLES

It is also changing technical road standards and planning requiremen­ts to ensure that cycle and pedestrian lanes are catered for in the future.

The city – in partnershi­p with the Internatio­nal Associatio­n for Sustainabl­e Local Government –is due to host an Eco-Mobility festival in October in Sandton.

During the gathering, most vehicles will not be allowed into certain areas. People will be encouraged to use public transport or cycle instead.

 ?? PICTURE: ITUMELENG ENGLISH ?? CHANGING GEAR: Noel O’Regan, left, and DA councillor Tim Truluck leave their cars to ride rechargeab­le bicycles in Parkhurst.
PICTURE: ITUMELENG ENGLISH CHANGING GEAR: Noel O’Regan, left, and DA councillor Tim Truluck leave their cars to ride rechargeab­le bicycles in Parkhurst.

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