Executive mayor Parks Tau said the City of Joburg was making substantial investments in cycling routes to bolster its initiatives to promote non-motorised transport.
According to Tau, bicycles were a healthy, quick and affordable way to get around and would contribute to reducing traffic congestion, particularly when integrated with public transport, as well as improve the city’s carbon footprint.
“We are working with the Johannesburg Urban Cyclist Association to identify and sign over 100km of safe cycling routes across Joburg. This partnership with various organisations is important towards making Joburg a cycling friendly city.”
Speaking at the launch of the city’s second Freedom Ride which will be held on 20 July, Tau said projects developing routes linking various areas including paths from Rosebank to Sandton, Sandton to Alexandra, Diepsloot to Fourways, Sophiatown to Melville and from Melville to Doornfontein were in the planning or implementation stages.
The route from Melville to Doornfontein served to connect students and staff from the University of Joburg and Wits University, Tau said.
“It runs between the UJ Kingsway Campus and the UJ Doornfontein Campus, and will further link Hillbrow and Park Station with those who commute between Park Station and Melville.”
Tau said Jorissen Street, which was already under construction as part of the 15km stretch from Melville to Doornfontein, would be used during the upcoming Freedom Ride.
“We are not widening the road for cars, or just pothole patching on De Korte and Jorrison streets, we are actually in the process of transforming our streets,” he said referring to the areas that were being developed to accommodate the cycling lanes.
“We are transforming our streets into complete streets that are safe and accessible to pedestrians and cyclists,” Tau said.
Noting that Joburg motorists were not sympathetic to cyclists, Tau said motorists were urged to respect the new bright green cycle lanes that were being introduced for cyclists.
Further, he said the city council intended to propose to the Gauteng Transport MEC, Ismail Vadi to implement tougher penalties on those motorists who did not respect bicycle lanes.
Related article: Plans to transform Joburg into a bicycle friendly city are afoot.
