Gearing up for Transport Month

Transport is the driver of the city – without it, we’d all stay at home and nothing would get done. Improving all aspects of the sector for the benefit of everyone is at the heart of the month.
TRANSPORT is one of those things that we just can’t live without; whether we like it or not, we would not be able to work, eat or simply even explore the city we live in.

MMC Rehana Moosajee will leadMMC Rehana Moosajee will lead a fun trawl through the inner cityIn line with getting its residents to think more about the role that transport plays in their lives, the City is hosting the annual Transport Month in October, with a variety of events on the programme to fit into the theme “Connecting people and places”.

“Too many people in our city do not know what’s on offer in Johannesburg because lack of easily available transport is a barrier,” explains the member of the mayoral committee for transport, Rehana Moosajee. “Too many people do not cross the transport divide to get to really know each other.”

Road safety, infrastructure and issues surrounding public transport, among others, will be explored during the month’s activities.

A fun trawl through the inner city will kick off festivities on 2 October. Residents can either walk, cycle or skateboard on a 5km route from Constitutional Hill to Newtown, with key landmarks such as Chancellor House, Gandhi Square, the High Court and Drill Hall standing sentry.

The event is free, and interested parties can register from 8.30am; it will take place between 9am and noon.

Non-motorised transport projects such as improved pavements for pedestrians – which will also benefit public transport users – that form part of the Expanded Public Works Programme, will be launched on 3 October in Ivory Park.

This is an integral part of the month, as the transport department and the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) will be launching various capital projects on which they have been working. The Ivory Park launch is the first of these, with the JRA launch taking place on 5 October.

The JRA will be making our roads safeStorm water infrastructure will be fixedLeaders in politics and business will join celebrities on 7 October as they race from the south to the north of Joburg using only public transport. The race will highlight places of interest across the city, how to access these places using public transport and the challenges of using public transport in Joburg, in order to improve passenger information.

Kerb inlets and storm water infrastructure in Alexandra will get a clean-up on 11 October, before the summer rains hit. Moosajee will lead a delegation of councillors and staff in the project, which highlight the importance of infrastructure in improving safety and preventing flooding.

Those interested in participating in the clean-up can join City officials at the San Kopano Hall on the corner of Rev Sam Buti Street and 12th Avenue at 7.30am.

There will also be a road safety information and awareness-raising session on 25 October at the Gold Reef City conference centre. The establishment of a Joburg Road Safety Council will be foremost on the agenda.

A “know your city” tour with 100 bus and minibus taxi drivers will wrap up proceedings on 31 October.