22/04/2015: The EcoMobility World Festival creates opportunities for Joburg businesses
The EcoMobility World festival to be staged in Sandton in October this year is set to create many opportunities for companies in Sandton as well as the rest of Johannesburg.
The EcoMobility World Festival in October 2015 seeks to promote a car-free environment. EcoMobility is an integrated form of mobility that combines the use of non-motorised means of transport with the use of public transport.
During this month long Festival certain streets in the Sandton CBD will be closed off and instead additional public transport and opportunities for people to walk and cycle to Sandton will be arranged. These streets will then be used to host street fairs, exhibitions, cycle rides and so forth to promote EcoMobility and show that public transport, walking and cycling is possible, safe, affordable and healthy as well as contributing to a more sustainable world.
“We are calling on businesses in Sandton and the surrounding areas including Alexandra to come forward with proposals on how they can parntner with us on the EcoMobility Festival”, said MMC Walters, MMC for Transport.
“There are opportunities to provide transport, to exhibit different forms of transport options, to sell products and to arrange events”, she added.
The EcoMobility World Festival provides the following opportunities:
Firstly, businesses involved in ground transport, e.g. cycling, or any electrically powered modes of transport can take part in the EcoMobility World Exhibition to showcase their products to both local and international audiences.
The City does not envisage exhibitors to pay to exhibit but that they supply their own equipment and vehicles.
Secondly, businesses can arrange an event on one of the closed off street such as a fashion show, street food festival, etc. can participate through the approved channels
The City is encouraging companies and organisations to take advantage of the street space being made available to arrange events, which preferably should have a link to EcoMobility. Examples of such events could be a healthy food festival, public art with a focus on EcoMobility and sustainability, outdoor gyms, fun runs, music or spoken word festivals.
Thirdly, businesses involved in food, drink, walking tours, creative arts and crafts can participate and sell their products in street festivals during some or all days of the Festival;
Maude and Glen Streets are earmarked to be a place for street markets on an ongoing basis during the festival although depending on interest. The following kinds of items are targeted for the street markets – health food, arts and crafts.
Fourthly, organisations and businesses involved in road safety, are encouraged to participate in road safety activities.
During the Festival, the City plans to host a Road Safety Family Day, on one of the Sundays of the Festival as well as having ongoing activities at least during weekends at a Teen and Kids Station focused on road safety for children.
Fifthly, public and other transport operators including metered taxis, tuk tuks, bike share etc. are called on to become involved in providing alternative transport.
The City is going to develop an plan to provide more buses and mini bus taxis as well as possibly arrange for pop up cycle paths so that people could cycle more safely. It is also seeking companies who run tuk-tuks and similar services (especially those that are eco-friendly) to transport people from nearby park and rides and within the Sandton area. The City would also like to see companies arrange for bike share schemes or establish an employee bike scheme.
“Indeed, we would like to see the same companies that are affected in Sandton to partner with us to spread the EcoMobility message and take measures to improve the transport options for their employees”, said Christine Walters, MMC for Transport. “We are hoping that even after the Festival, Sandton workers will realise that it is healthier, more affordable and safer to travel to work using public transport, walking or cycling”, she added.
Organisations and businesses which are interested to take up any opportunities during the EcoMobility World Festival are urged to complete a form entitled “Opportunity to Partner Form” so that the City can find out more about the opportunities they interested in and make necessary logistical arrangements to accommodate such companies. The City will then organize a further meeting with all those who have come forward on the 3rd of June 2015 at the IDC Conference Centre in Sandton.
For more information on the EcoMobility World Festival and to download the forms, visit www.ecomobilityfestival.org or www.joburg.org.za.
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