Cycling for less traffic congestion
Cycling is becoming an alternate option for the Department of Roads and Transport to reduce traffic congestion around higher institutions of learning.
October is Transport month and the City of Johannesburg (COJ) is looking for ways to create unusual transport system around tertiary institutions including the University of Johannesburg and Wits University.
Their aim is to attempt to increase mobility and decongest adjoining streets and roads.
The conference was in celebration of Transport Month and was organised by the Gauteng Provincial Department of Roads and Transport
The City’s Executive Director of Transport Lisa Seftel spoke at the Gauteng Cycling Indaba in Sandton last night, she said, “There are more opportunities to introduce multiple forms of transportation to decrease traffic congestion around the city.”
Seftel told the gathering which ,mainly consisted of cyclists, that it was possible to increase the number of people using bicycles in the city.
She said at present the City was looking at how it could maximise the use of cycling as an alternative mode of transport around the institutions of higher learning.
Transport Month has been observed since 2005 so as to bring forth the importance of transport in the economy.
Ismail Vadi, Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC said that it was important to explore cycling and other alternative modes of transport now as an increasing number of people were migrating to the province every month.
“We can’t build more roads because of limited land space. That’s why we need other forms of transport and cycling is one of them,” said Vadi .
“We have many excuses. We must change the culture and adopt new forms of travelling,” said Vadi.
Seftel said, “Hundreds of students who were either driving their own cars or using taxis and buses to attend lectures.
It would be proper if we could look into these numbers and plan on how we provide an integrated transport system that includes cycling,” Seftel said.
She said that this could start a new cycling culture in South Africa, with the bicycle lanes already present in and around the City.
Also Read : Transport Month: Road travel is smothering Mother Earth
