The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) has prohibited people from planting shrubs and bushes in front of their house on the pavement.
In terms of the by-laws, “No person may plant or cause to be planted, any tree, shrub or other plant on any public road or any sidewalk, foot way or road reserve forming part thereof, which obstructs or interferes with pedestrian traffic on such sidewalk, footway or road reserve or allow any such tree, shrub or plant to remain on that sidewalk, foot way or road reserve.”
According to Wendy Hardy, “The reason for this is because it is dangerous for pedestrians to walk on the road itself. Plants filling up the pavement force pedestrians to step onto the tar, possibly into the path of vehicle traffic. But this by-law is seldom, if ever, enforced.
Dr Ina Diener the president of the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) said, “People walking or running, using their legs to move around, are not less important than drivers.
“They should be protected by our Metropolitan police with as much attention as vehicle drivers receive – if not more, because they are more vulnerable.”
A walker or runner is not likely to survive an accident with a vehicle, which explains why more than half the deaths on the roads are pedestrian deaths. And yet some 2.9 million workers walk to work, and 12.7 million learners walk to school every day.
Dr Diener said, “If people feel safe to walk or run, this is serving the country’s long-term goals in terms of both carbon emissions because more non-motorised transport is what is needed in the fight against climate change, and health.”
The Department of Health is fighting a battle against non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular illness and diabetes, which threaten to swamp the health services as the numbers rise.
Exercise would be a crucial weapon in this battle against sickness: the more South Africans move, the better their health will be.
Dr Diener said, “All physiotherapists prescribe exercise to help with existing physical problems and stave off future ones.”During the National Physiotherapy Back Week from September 4 to September 8, the department calls on all South Africans to come together and fight for safer streets and public open spaces, for their health and the health of their children.
Dr Diener concluded by saying, “We ask our Minister of Police, Fikile Mbalula, all commanding officers of the South African Police Service, and our traffic officers, to make a firm public commitment to guarding open spaces and routes people use for walking, running and cycling, every day. Let’s take back our streets and parks!”
For more information please visit their website on www.saphysio.co.za or contact them on 011 615 3170.
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