Joburg to roll out cycle pilot project 'in two months'

The project, which will cost R16m and is being funded by the Frankfurt-based development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufblau, will create a link between Noordgesig in Soweto and Orlando, Rehana Moosajee, Johannesburg's mayoral committee member for transport said yesterday. The city has plans for other cycling routes and pedestrian ways, and all new developments in the city will prioritise access for non-motorised transport, Moosajee said.

Within Johannesburg there is a plan to build 50km of bicycle ways that are meant to take into account the need to create more sustainable transport modes and healthier alternatives to private car use.

The Noordgesig and Orlando project will link seven schools, two clinics, a magistrate's court, a police station, Metrorail train stations and Bus Rapid Transit stations, Moosajee said.

"By the end of this term of office in 2016 Johannesburg should see a substantial offering to the public; there will be a culture of cycling in the city. We want to have cycling access within a 5km to 10km distance from Gautrain and Rea Vaya routes. We are beyond planning now and moving to implementation; you will see a rollout of infrastructure."

Artist impressions of the route show a combination of dedicated pedestrian and cycle paths on either side of the road and will include cycle and pedestrian pathways through a green area.

Gauteng transport MEC Ismail Vadi is a man with an eye on the clock as his administration has 20 months left in office. He is determined that the programmes and plans for mobility and non-motorised transport that have been drawn up by cities within the province will start becoming visible to citizens.

"There is no reason why students should have to take their cars to university. That whole area between Wits and UJ should have bike routes," Vadi said.

Vadi said it would not need a large investment to start showing Johannesburg's city dwellers that the province was committed to changing and improving the quality of life in the city.

"Why can't we have routes that link Zoo Lake with Westdene Dam with Emmarentia Dam so families can cycle in the city on weekends and enjoy the green spaces... we would need some signage and some education, but that won't cost a lot," Vadi said.

Bicycle projects should avoid focusing on the outlying suburbs of the city of Johannesburg as one of the major gains to be had from creating pedestrian and cycle ways was decongesting the busy urban areas within the city.

Being able to cycle within and between Sandton and Rosebank would go a long way to decongesting these former residential suburbs, which have developed into business districts. "We must get to the point where we move away from just having plans and start to implement them; start somewhere, pilot something and see how it works," Vadi said.

Source: Business Day via I-Net Bridge