GALLERY: #EcoMobility dialogue – is public transport efficient?
JOBURG – MEC insists it is time for taxi industries to accept the changes in the public transport industry.
The MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng Ishmail Vadi acknowledged that to achieve the decongestion of traffic in the province the enforcement of traffic laws should be non-negotiable.
“The blatant violation of road rules will not work. We need a dedicated team of traffic officials from the JMPD who will enforce and monitor the flow of traffic,” Vadi explained.
He was one of the panellists during the EcoMobility public dialogue (Imbizo) held at IDC Conference Centre in Sandton on 6 October.
Vadi said it was time for the taxi industry to understand that the market was changing.
“We do not want to isolate them but, we need to move forward. Now there is Uber, completely disruptive but using technology,” he said.
City of Joburg Executive Mayor Parks Tau was answering the questions from the residents and business stakeholders about the Ecomobility festival and the mode of transport.
Other panellists included Camilla Ween from England, Ecomoblity World Festivals creative director Konrad Otto-Zimmermann, Professor Daniel Irurah from Wits and Timothy Papandreou from United States of America.
Although most public members commended the festival, the use of public transport remained a critical concern.
The Mayor said the park-and-ride sites remained a challenging concern. He explained that the park-and-ride facilities were arranged for the purpose of the festival but provision was not made to other sites.
“The off-peak issue remains critical and, in my view, when we think of going forward, we should increase off-peak transport availability,” he answered.
He concluded that the City was ultimately learning from all the comments that they were receiving from the public.
“We are receiving positive comments but are also criticised and it’s part of the lessons that we are going to take forward for the services we provide,” the Mayor said.
Details: City of Joburg 011 407 7375, Ecomobility World Festival International Team 011 339 1000.
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