MEC gives 50 bicycles to pupils
Pupils no longer have to walk long distances to school.
In an attempt to provide ease of mobility for pupils, MEC for roads and transport Ismail Vadi, on Friday handed 50 bicycles to pupils of Eldorado Park Senior Secondary School.
“We want to encourage cycling and make it a way of life
“I want to see the next South African cycling champion coming from this community,” Vadi told pupils.
The bicycles were given to pupils who have to walk more than three kilometres to school.
Nelisiwe Mbulawa a pupil from Freedom Park said she is excited and overwhelmed by the gesture.
“My mother can’t always afford to give me taxi fare to go to and from school, like this morning, she only had enough to give me to get to school now I can go home with my bicycle.
“This is my first bicycle, I’m not good at riding a bicycle but will learn,” Mbulawa said.
Before receiving their bicycles, pupils were reminded of road safety.
Vadi told the school that he travelled to school and university with a bicycle until he bought a car.
“I started cycling a few years ago again, I finished the 94.7 cycle challenge, cycled 50km from Joburg to Soweto and cycle every weekend from Lenasia through Eldorado Park,” Vadi said.
He said part of giving the bicycles to pupils is also to promote healthy living.
“When people go to a shop down the road, they use their cars, people should adopt the habit of cycling to where they have to go,” said Vadi.
Vadi says they are mindful that road safety for pupils and other cyclist is a big issue.
They are in the process of implementing laws for the safety of cyclists.
“We’ve has more pedestrians killed than cyclists but that didn’t stop pedestrians from walking,” Vadi said.
The department has given away 19000 bicycles and plans on giving 3000 this year.
“Gauteng is the most popularised province in South Africa, 12.3 million people live here and of the 10 million cars in South Africa, 4 million are in Gauteng,’ said Vadi.
The department is determined to shift the mode of transport from motorised to non-motorised.
“Cycling is efficient, environmentally friendly, keeps you fit and is less costly,” Vadi said.
He encouraged the new bicycle owners to start a cycling club in Eldos and have the principal, Marlon Louw, as the chairperson.
Pupils also received helmets, a pump and stands will be erected at the school for the bicycles to park.
