The EcoMobility World Festival will see certain roads in Sandton being closed for the month of October to encourage less dependency on private cars and for people to experience and debate different travel options.
According to the City of Johannesburg, certain streets will be closed to automobiles and instead commuters will have to make use of greener ways of travelling including Rea Vaya bus, minibuses, metered taxis, tuk tuks, velotaxis, e-bikes and a variety of other vehicles that will be showcased in an exhibition.
The following roads have been proposed to be closed to all cars in October:
- West Street between Rivonia Road and Fredman Drive;
- Alice Drive between Fifth and West Street;
- Gwen Lane between Fredman Drive and Maude Street;
- Stella Street from West Street to its dead end.
These roads remain open to pedestrians and cyclists as well as tuk tuks or similar vehicles powered by clean energy (biogas or electricity). These streets will be used for activities, including street festivals, an outdoor exhibition of ecomobile vehicles, a test track for such vehicles, road safety activities, walks, runs and possibly an outdoor gym.
A temporary loop will be created for public transport vehicles: Rivonia Road between Fifth Street and Fredman Drive; Fredman Drive between Rivonia Road and Fifth Street; and Fifth Street between Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road. All vehicle accesses to buildings on these roads will be able to be used.
Some of the following projects will be introduced in time for the festival while others will be introduced over the next two years, they include:
- The Rea Vaya BRT along Katherine Steet from the east side of Johannesburg to be extended in future years towards Randburg and the north by 2017;
- A permanent public transport loop along Rivonia Road, Fredman Drive and Fifth Street where one lane on the kerb side will be dedicated for public and the sidewalks will be expanded to accommodate more pedestrians by June 2016;
- Cycle lanes will be introduced by October.
After the festival and drawing on the experiences of the temporary public transport loop, a permanent loop will be constructed.
“We want to grow a movement of EcoMobility champions, of ordinary men, women and young people who walk, cycle and use public transport, share their experiences with each other, have a more healthy lifestyle and contribute to a more sustainable Joburg for this and future generations,” said the Executive Mayor, Cllr Parks Tau.
To obtain a copy of the plan, to comment or to be invited to the stakeholder or public meeting, email ecomobility.festival@iclei.org after the end of May.
