October 19, 2006
By Thabang Mokoka
OPERATORS of public transport have promised to make car free day, which will be observed on 20 October, a pleasant experience for commuters.
Car free day is a day when motorists are requested to leave their vehicles at home and hop onto buses, trains or taxis.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, 18 October, a number of Joburg's public transport operators announced their plans for this year's Car Free Day. That day is part of the national Public Transport Month initiative.
On Friday, 20 October, all Putco bus trips will be free. The business development director for Putco, Andrew Sefala, said, "As a company we support the initiative to push the campaign."
The bus company would also donate 30 bicycles to previously disadvantaged schools on the day; it would also donate five cars to the law enforcement unit of Gauteng's department of public transport, roads and works.
Adding to the offerings, the Gauteng Taxi Council will give free rides to identified schools on Car Free Day. The council's government liaison officer, Eric Moishwane, said, "We welcome and embrace with a passion all initiatives to promote public transport in our province … The industry has always been committed to our public to the best that we can."
During the month of October, Metrobus has been giving its bus operators lessons on how to interact with customers. The manager for business development and marketing at the bus company, Charles Hlebela, said, "Our focus is to make public transport work everyday."
He promised that come Car Free Day, customers would indeed see the difference.
Motorists should hop onto buses, trains or taxis to help relieve pressure on the roads network
WITH more than 2,6 million registered vehicles competing for road space, traffic jams make it difficult to get around the city.
"Traffic congestion is a major challenge for the efficient mobility of people, goods and services, to the extent that it chokes economic activity," said Ignatius Jacobs, the MEC for public transport, roads and works.
"In line with the objectives of transport month, as launched earlier this month, we would like to call for a broad partnership for sustainable mobility on Gauteng roads."
The objectives include "creating an integrated, efficient and effective public transport system that is intertwined with safety, reliability, accessibility, affordability and environmental awareness".
To help find better transport solutions for Gauteng, Metrobus, Metrorail, Putco bus services and the Gauteng Taxi Council are committed to the promotion of public transport.
Metrorail raised the complaint of too few trains during peak hours, saying it had introduced more trains. Sifiso Lukhele, the senior customer operations manager for Metrorail, said," We have put [in] more trains at peak hours so that we can encourage [more] people to use the service."
The rail company has also deployed 2 000 more security guards to curb crime and other problems, like "train surfing" by teenagers.
"It is safe to use the train," Lukhele said.
On Car Free Day last year, Joburg residents, public transport operators, business leaders and government officials used taxis, buses and trains to experience public transport and find sustainable solutions to the province's transport challenges.
Ignatius Jacobs, MEC for Transport flanked by Lebelo Maloka, chief director of communications and Alfred Nhlapo, media liaison officer in the department
"We are convinced that by working together with the community of Gauteng, we will gradually achieve our strategic objectives," Jacobs concluded.
Public Transport Month was launched on Sunday, 1 October in Newtown. A series of projects was rolled out to exchange ideas on how to improve public transport in the province.
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