Joburg to become a cycle-friendly city

It will be hosting a Cycle Jozi event which is a week-long cycling initiative with exciting activities from 16 to 22 March in partnership with cycling stakeholders.

The City’s executive director of transport , Lisa Seftel said the events will include cycling activations in Orlando, Diepsloot, Braamfontein and the Sandton CBD.

She said, “This includes a two-day seminar on creating best practice cycling infrastructure, a national conference on creating cycling friendly cities and culminating on 22 March with a third Freedom Ride, this time between Sandton, Alexandra. Houghton and surrounding suburbs.”

She stated that the week-long event follows from the two successful Freedom Rides held last year which attracted more than 5 000 riders.

“Reducing the city’s traffic congestion, making the city more eco-friendly through less carbon fumes in the air, and encouraging a healthy lifestyle amongst its residents, are just three of the important elements that cycling can bring to Joburg,” Seftel emphasised. She said the City wanted to encourage more residents to make use of cycle transport and use the cycle lanes that are being built in and around the city.

Seftel said, “Cycle Jozi Week has been made possible through a partnership between key stakeholders including the Cycle Jozi Forum, Hollard Insurance, Qhubeka, the national and provincial departments of transport and the Johannesburg Urban Cyclist Association.

“The City encourages all cyclists, be they competitive or social, young or old, to take part in the various cycle events.”

The opening leg of the Cycle Jozi Week will be a 2.5km activation ride from Fourways towards Diepsloot on 16 March. The focus of this ride is to highlight safety issues, especially for cyclists commuting from Diepsloot. During this week the city will also launch the Eco-Mobility World Festival to be held in Johannesburg in October this year.

Details: www.freedomride.org.za