First Thursday to focus on cycling economy
Minister of Economic Opportunities, Alan Winde, will once again be opening his Ministry to the public this First Thursday. As October is transport month, the focus will be on cycling and building the cycling economy.
Minister Winde said: “One of the ways we have been growing our tourism economy under Project Khulisa is through a focus on cycling tourism and the cycling economy. The Western Cape is already home to a number of major cycling events like the Cape Town Cycle Tour and the Absa Cape Epic, but there is an opportunity to position ourselves as the premier cycling destination in Africa by offering a wide variety of cycling and tourism products.
Thursday night will highlight some of the amazing entrepreneurs in cycling and cycling tourism as well as the excellent work by organisations working to make bicycles and cycling accessible to young people and communities” he said.
Among those exhibiting on the night will be: The Department of Economic Development and Tourism will be showcasing the three cycle routes launched in the Western Cape, BenBikes, Velokhaya, FlyWheel Chariots, the Bonga Cycling Academy, Pedal Power, and West Coast e-bikes.
Minister Winde said: “Cycling is not just about leisure and sport. It has the potential to connect people to opportunities. At a national level, we’ve seen massive increases in petrol prices recently and the mismanagement of the train system, which continues to be unreliable and unsafe for children getting to school and employees getting to work. That is why we are calling for the transfer of this service to local municipalities, so we can run it better.
We are also promoting cycling because it provides an alternative for many people to get around, and organisations like the Bonga Cycling Academy, Velokhaya, BenBikes and Qhubeka are working to ensure that young people and communities are able to access and use bicycles, while Pedal Power is working to advance cyclists’ interests, particularly when it comes to issues of safety.”
Event details:
Date: Thursday 4 October, 2018
Time: The Ministry will be open from 5pm for networking, however the official programme will start at around 6pm.
Venue: 142 Long Street, Cape Town
Members of the media and the public are welcome to attend.
Media enquiries:
Bianca Capazorio
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 072 372 7044
E-mail: bianca.capazorio@westerncape.gov.za
