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Cities opting for pedal power

16 Nov 2016

As the festive season approaches, getting around the city can be quite time-consuming, especially with the influx of people who come and visit during this time of year.With transport being the heartbeat of our economy and road density and pollution increasingly more threatening issues, cities are trying to discover new and innovative ways of encouraging citizens to find alternative methods of travelling into the city centre.

cuncon via pixabay

During the month October, we as a nation celebrated Transport Month, an annual government initiative. Under this year’s theme of ‘Together we move South Africa forward’, the month-long programme aimed to showcase transport infrastructure projects, promote the use of public transport and advance other road safety initiatives.

In pursuit of alleviating congestion within the CBD, the City of Cape Town is encouraging road users to get involved in the cycling movement. Kicked off by Cllr Brett Heron early last month, the Bike2Work campaign that aims to have at least eight percent of the city’s workforce travelling to work by bicycle by 2032.

In line with this year’s theme, ‘Together we move South Africa forward’, the City of Cape Town encouraged all Capetonians to contribute to the draft of the Travel Demand Management Strategy, which involves balancing the demand for travel with the operational capacity and supply of transport infrastructure for all modes. Suggestions already put forward include working flexihours or compressed workweeks‚ staggered school starting times‚ carpooling and using public transport and bicycles.

An eco-mobile future is possible

In 2015, the City of Johannesburg shut down certain parts of Sandton and turned them into car-free zones for the month in order to encourage road users to find alternative modes of transportation into the second largest Central Business District in the city.

According to an article published on the Sandton Central Management District website, executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Parks Tau, said that they wanted to show residents and visitors that an eco-mobile future is possible and that public transport, walking and cycling can be accessible, safe, attractive and cool.

Moving further afield, cities such as Copenhagen, Argentina and Amsterdam are amongst the top 20 cities that promote cycling as a smart form of transport. An article on Wired discusses how investment in bicycle infrastructure is a modern and intelligent move, as research shows the social, economic, environmental, and health benefits of urban cycling.

So, whether you’re a sports cyclist, a recreational rider or a once-a-year-Cape-Argus-participant you can play an active role in moving your city forward. Ditch the car this festive season and go by bike.