Friday 20 October 2017, City of Tshwane officials will ditch their vehicles for a more environmentally-friendly mode of transport when they demonstrate that cycling in Tshwane is an alternative to private motorised transport and can also contribute to a greener Tshwane and a healthier lifestyle.
The cyclists will depart from Tshwane House at 07:00, cycle up Sisulu Street and turn right into Visagie Street and then right into Paul Kruger Street, through Church Square, and finally right into Madiba Street. The 5 km route, which is part of the Green Mobility Fridays initiative aimed at building awareness that cycling can also assist in decongesting traffic, will end at Tshwane House. Green Mobility Fridays are part of the City’s Transport Month activities taking place under the theme: “Together we move the capital city forward.”
Green Mobility Fridays coincide with the Car-free Fridays of 20 and 27 October, when the City will encourage motorists to be less dependent on their cars and try alternatives like the Tshwane Bus Service, A Re Yeng, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxis. As part of the awareness initiative, the City will create a car-free zone in Hatfield by closing Burnett Street between Festival and Grosvenor Street from 05:00 to 17:30 to all privately owned vehicles on both days.
“This initiative is all about stepping out of our comfort zone and get into our buses and taxis and on bicycles or do a bit of footwork on both Fridays. One understands that using public transport might not be as enjoyable as commuting in your own vehicle, but it does ease congestion, reduces emissions and gives you plenty of quality time to get to know your neighbours or people working around your workplace,” said Tshwane’s MMC for Roads and Transport, Cllr Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge.
Wrapping up the Transport Month activities will be the annual 30 km Tshwane Green Ride on Sunday, 29 October 2017, at the Hammanskraal Sports Complex from 06:30. The Tshwane Green Ride was initiated to sensitise communities to the importance of non-motorised transport as a safe and healthy mode of transport. It is also a free fun family ride targeting all levels of riders to illustrate that cycling is an activity for all and can take place anywhere in Tshwane.
“The Tshwane Green Ride goes beyond the riding of bicycles, as it connects communities that historically were spatially and socially divided and thus serves as a social connector. It is also of great significance to educate our communities about the considerable economic, social and environmental benefits of clean mobility. This is the reason we want to urge members of the public to join and support these Transport Month activities wherever they are in the city,” said Senkubuge.
People attending the Tshwane Green Ride will also get to enjoy rollerblading, aerobics, a kiddies’ corner, fun walk, indigenous games and many others.
Members of the public who would like to participate in the Green Mobility Fridays, Car-free Fridays or the Tshwane Green Ride can send their enquiries to greenup@tshwane.gov.za.