and Car Free Day
21 October 2006
On 1 October we, the Gauteng Department of Public Transport, Roads and
Works, together with all our stakeholders in our province, launched the
provincial leg of Transport Month, coupled with key activities, including Car
Free Day, lined up to demonstrate our commitment to the transformation of the
transport landscape in our province.
Car Free Day was held on 20 October this year, amid much debate and close
scrutiny of the ability of our public transport system to respond to the
attendant transport challenges, in our province. Over the last three weeks, the
people of our province and beyond have spoken vehemently that they need an
integrated, effective and efficient public transport system in order to ensure
they reach their destinations on time, so that they may fully participate in
the livelihood of their localities, their province and their country.
In our interaction with commuters in our province, in taxis, buses and
trains, they have raised the important issue of the need to deliver quality
public transport services. They have also spoken about the need for reliable
passenger information and the safety of public transport users. Courtesy and
customer care are also issues that came through as we participated in a local
clean up initiative to improve such services at Germiston Railway Station on 12
October. We are glad to announce that much work is already being done to
address the concerns of commuters in that area, and that this is informed by
the direct participation of the people involved. In our view, this demonstrates
the power of partnerships in addressing local challenges and we believe that
this approach should also inform our global initiatives.
As government, we are encouraged by the levels of participation that have
characterised the campaign, since its inception last year. We would also like
to say that Car Free Day is not an anti-car campaign; instead, it is meant to
create the broadest possible platform on which we can all debate and influence
the nature and shape of our public transport system. In this regard, we would
like to call for a further broadening and intensification of the transport
debate so that we may all play our meaningful role.
Car Free Day and Transport Month are meant to help us achieve the following
objectives:
* Ensure sustainable mobility through an integrated approach to travelling
demand management, in view of the fierce competition for road space between
private cars, road freight and public transport.
* Mobilise Gauteng communities to contribute towards finding better and
smarter ways of using road space through the promotion of public transport as
well as non-motorised means of travel, such as cycling and walking.
* Raise awareness of the effect of driver fatigue on road safety and the
loss of productivity due to additional time spent in traffic.
* Help improve the quality of life of the people of our province through the
delimitation of the emission of harmful gasses to the environment as a result
of high levels of fuel consumption. In the same vein, reduce the cost of
travel.
* Enable a rapidly urbanising city region, such as Gauteng has become to
integrate its public transport infrastructure through integrated spatial
development and planning. In this regard, it is important to note that the
invisible municipal borders, within the province, are rapidly 'disappearing' as
towns and cities continue to grow therefore, transportation means need to
operate in a unified and seamless way.
* At the same time, we need to ensure that this city region becomes globally
competitive, in terms of the quality of public transport services and the speed
with which people are able to access such services. In this regard, we have
just launched on 20 October, an Intergovernmental Transport Charter for
Gauteng, which represents strategic co-operation and practical programmes,
between local and provincial government, on key outputs and deliverables on
matters of transport.
* Raise awareness that due to the geographic size of our province, one that
has home to almost 9 million residents, with limited land space, car dependence
is not sustainable. Instead, due to the challenge of traffic congestion, this
will result in a negative impact on the economy of our province.
* Champion a reclaim of public open space by pedestrians and at the same
time, continuously improving parking restrictions and policies.
* Encourage local investment in public transport.
* Address the challenge of the negative impact of congestion on our
roads.
We believe that it is within the rights of the populace to also demand a
public transport system that is accessible, reliable, affordable, safe and
environmentally friendly, providing access to economic opportunities so that
our province may continue to create jobs and help reduce poverty and
unemployment.
Let us all strive together to improve our transport system.
Enquiries:
Alfred Nhlapo, Media Liaison Officer
Tel: (011) 355 7532
Cell: 083 376 8496
Issued by: Department of Public Transport, Roads and Works, Gauteng
Provincial Government
21 October 2006
