The City’s dedicates its Freedom Ride to Madiba

Speaking at the launch of the 35-kilometre bicycle ride, which will be held on 20 July, Executive Mayor Parks Tau said. “This is a cycle ride to celebrate the life of our greatest international icon and Johannesburg Freeman, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.”

“By popular demand we are repeating this ride, starting from the iconic Nelson Mandela Bridge, under the gaze of our beloved hero.”

Tau said the Freedom Ride was part of the city council’s vision for a healthier, more connected and efficient city and further aimed to raise awareness about cycle safety and bicycles as a form of transport and recreation.

The ride would follow some of the designated cycle routes that the city council was developing to enable the safe use of bicycles as public transport.

However, Tau said the route would pass several historically significant sites, including Newclare Cemetery, where Walter and Albertina Sisulu are buried; the Bill Jardine and Orlando Stadiums; and the Mandela home on Vilakazi Street in Orlando West.

The ride would stop at the Hector Pietersen Memorial in Soweto giving participants the opportunity to acknowledge the significance of this historic area and tie commemorative ribbons with personal messages honouring Mandela.

The ride would also travel along the new cycle paths in Orlando Soweto, along which the first Bicycle Empowerment Centre will soon be established, Tau said.

The centre, which will provide training and support to cyclists, was funded by donations from the first Freedom Ride in which 5 000 cyclists participated on 9 February.

Tau appealed to those participants who had not found a way to contribute 67 minutes for Mandela Day on 18 July to consider donating R67 or R670 towards the next Bike Empowerment Centre.

The ride would begin at 8:30am on 20 July on the Nelson Mandela Bridge.