Call to keep Jhb car-free

2005-10-19 11:35

Thabang Mokopanele

Johannesburg - The City of Johannesburg on Wednesday called on commuters to leave their cars at home on Thursday and use public transport, emphasising, however, that this was voluntary.

Thursday is Car Free Day, and Public Transport, Roads and Works MEC Ignatius Jacobs, plus a contingent of media and celebrities, will use public transport to get to the Inner City, then to Pretoria, where Transport Minister Jeff Radebe will speak on Public Transport Month.

In line with International No Car Day, South Africa is hosting its first version of a thirty day shifted and environmentally friendly programme.

The MEC will use a taxi, a train and bus to toggle between the two major cities.

Taxi associations have also aligned themselves with Public Transport Month, pledging to inculcate courtesy amongst their marshals and drivers, as a sign of building confidence in public transport.

The campaign has sparked robust debates in the public arena, with some calling for partnerships to change the face of public transport.

Meanwhile, City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane told I-Net Bridge that Car Free Day was voluntary.

"We are basically encouraging commuters to walk to work if they stay near their workplaces and some to ride bicycles where necessary," he said.

Modingoane added that the City of Johannesburg had an integrated transport plan in place.

"There are several programmes and projects in the pipeline which we hope will alleviate traffic jams around Johannesburg."

The City of Johannesburg will launch the Strategic Public Transport Network System on October 26.

"The plan is basically to make sure that commuters have direct links to their final destination. For example people going to Soweto need not go via the CBD but should be able to use a direct link to Soweto," Madingoane said.

- I-Net Bridge (Business)