Gauteng Transport commission hosting first Cycling Indaba

31 March 2014 - 19:45 By PHETANE RAPETSWANE
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A bicycle wheel.
A bicycle wheel.
Image: MOHAMED AL-SAYAGHI

The Gauteng Transport commission hosted its first Cycling Indaba at Birchwood in Boksburg with the aim of integrating cycling and walking lanes into the province's road and town planning.

A range of topics were discussed around non motoring transport, with the aim of finalising legislation which will be passed at all levels of government during this year.

The Commission consists of high ranking officials from the different municipalities in the province as well as the provincial government, recommended the use of non-motorised transport (NMT) to reduce congestion and create cleaner, sustainable cities and a healthier population.

MEC for the Department of Transport in Gauteng Ismail Vadi announced at the Indaba that a Green Transport Policy was on track for public consultation, before it would be passed at the provincial legislature later in the year.

“The bill is meant to push non traditional forms of petroleum and no motor transport… Our top priority going forward is non-motorised transport, but going forward it’s going to be a major challenge changing mindsets” he said.

Simphiwe Maphumulo from the Department of Roads and Transport in Gauteng said 70% of travellers in Gauteng use NMT daily often force mainly walking, more needed to be done to make NMT transport safer and more user friendly.

She said safety remained a huge concern and if the province was to get more people using less cars and more non motorised forms of transport, the province needed to actively make its streets safer.

“Pedestrian and cyclists account for 40% of road fatalities in South Africa, and the majority of them occur at intersections. NMT casualties are costing the public health system, police and traffic departments a lot of money in terms of third party claims etc” Maphumlo said

Deputy Director for Non-Motorised Transport at Department of Transport Marleen Goudkamp said 50% of the population of South Africa is rural and poor people spent more than 20% of their salaries on transport

“Mobility and access to social services and the economic mainstream come at a high social and economic cost… NMT policy will be employed as a tool to maximise economic gain through the promotion of low cost mobility and the creation of NMT-related employment opportunities” she said

Goutcamp said that she hoped a NMT policy would be finalised and approved in parliament towards the end of the year.

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