Jhb as congested as usual

2005-10-20 14:14

Johannesburg - Most people in Johannesburg used their private vehicles to get to work on Thursday despite the government's call to use public transport and participate in Car Free Day.

Traffic jams and congested roads were still the norm on Johannesburg's roads and mall parking lots were as busy as any other day.

Some people said they preferred to use their vehicles as public transport was not reliable enough, while others who used taxis or buses said they would use public transport in the future if the public transport system was improved.

Two women living in Sandton and working in a clothing store in Rosebank said they used their cars to get to work on Thursday morning and were stuck in traffic.

"It made no difference. There was a lot of traffic on the roads, the same as any other day," said Nadine Pavlakis.

Her friend, Liora Waila, said: "The roads were busy and I don't think Car Free Day made any difference on congestion."

Improve public transport

Meanwhile Jan Whitehead from Kensington said he left his car at home and took a taxi to work.

"It took me much longer to get to work, but one would expect that. I think the idea to use public transport is reasonably practical," said Whitehead.

"The idea that government has for people to use public transport more often could work if the conditions of some taxis are improved. People are worried about their safety."

Letsego Segalo, an assistant in a beauty shop in town, said she enjoyed her trip from Alexandra in a taxi on Thursday morning, but it took much longer for her to get to work.

People who use taxis to get to work everyday said while they expected to find more people on buses and taxis, that was not the case.

Patience Dube, a waitress in Newtown who lives in Hillbrow, said the taxis and buses on her route were not busier than other days.

"Traffic looked normal, like other days. I think if they (the government) want more people to use public transport then they should have more buses and taxis on the road and they shouldn't allow overloading so people won't be afraid to use it."

Some people afraid to use public transport

Luvuyo Kakaza, a writer from Orange Grove, said the buses were slightly busier than usual, but that he found the same people in the taxi as on any other morning.

"I think people were not using public transport because people are afraid that they may be mugged or something. Government must focus their campaigns on people who normally use cars and they must make the transport system safer," said Kakaza.

"Also taxis are not as convenient as people think, it takes more time to get from one place to another."

Many people in Joburg seemed unfazed by Car Free Day and went about their lives as usually.

However, it was easy to spot some people on scooters or bicycles happily weaving their way through traffic - which proved to be just as much a task on Car Free Day as it is on any other day of the week.

- SAPA