​It’s all systems go for the seventh Freedom Ride, which takes place this Sunday 28 October.

If you still want to register to ride for freedom through the streets of Joburg in memory of Nelson Mandela, you can still do so by logging on to www.freedomride.co.za.

The 36km ride will see thousands of cyclists racing from the Nelson Mandela Bridge to Soweto and back at no charge.
All you need for this annual cycling event is a recently serviced bicycle, a helmet and a reasonable level of physically fitness to take part. You need to make your way to the bridge by 06:45am and the ride starts at 7am sharp.

From the start in Jorissen Street, the route travels west along a planned bicycle lane, which goes through Brixton. It then follows the route of the Rea Vaya bus past Newclare Cemetery where Walter Sisulu and his wife Adelaide Sisulu, struggle icons and Nelson Mandela’s fellow freedom fighters, are buried.

The route carries on straight into Soweto, passes the historic Orlando Stadium, then along Vilakazi Street and the Tutu and Mandela houses and the Hector Pieterson memorial, before returning up Klipspruit Valley Road. It then returns to the Joburg CBD via the Soweto Highway through Fordsburg. The ride ends on the Mandela Bridge.

Freedom Ride board member Hugh Fraser says cyclists should be safety conscious. “This is a social ride, not a race, but we still need to take some basic precautions. For your own safety, we insist that all riders wear helmets. You are required to register and write your number on your wrist or wristband. This is required by the authorities,” says Fraser.

There is free parking at the Metro Centre on Loveday Street, Braamfontein. Arbour Square on Juta Street between Biccard and Melle streets has paid parking, and so does Newgate on Jeppe Street.

Although it’s a free ride, participants are encouraged to make donations, which are distributed by Freedom Ride to support bike mechanics servicing beneficiaries of bikes that are distributed mostly to learners through another partnership between Qhubeka and the City.

About 2 000 bikes have already been distributed to learners, community patrollers and community health workers in Orlando, Alexandra and Orange Farm through this partnership.

“The Freedom Ride brings down the curtain on Transport Month celebrations in the City of Johannesburg. It offers everyone, young and old, the opportunity to reclaim our streets. Cycling encourages healthy living among our residents. My plea is for motorists to learn to share the road with all the other users,” says Member of the Mayoral Committee for Transport.