October 19, 2007
By George Matlala
PARK your car in the garage and hop on a bus, taxi or train. Saturday, 20 October is Car Free Day.
Joburg's department of transport and Gauteng's department of transport, roads and public works have planned various events for the day, including a concert and a Student Council meeting.
Car Free Day is one of the main events of Transport Month, a national campaign to encourage people to do their bit to ease congestion on the roads and cut down on air pollution by using public transport.
Motorists can take part in the campaign by ride-sharing with others, visiting the Car Free Day website and sending messages of support, or calling the Gauteng public transport information call centre on 0860 428 8364 to find out where and how to use public transport.
Car Free Day is on Saturday
While Car Free Day is still a pilot project in South Africa, around the world 22 September is the day more than 1 000 cities acknowledge International Car Free Day, according to Gauteng's website.
Council meeting
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, the R2-billion project intended to reduce traffic on Joburg roads, will be the topic of the day during the City's Student Council meeting on Car Free Day.
About 120 members of the council, including Junior Mayor Thandeka Shongwe, will meet at the Sci Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown to discuss major transportation projects.
The City has been running numerous activities including discussions, exhibitions and street campaigns to observe Transport Month.
Concert
In addition, a Car Free Day concert is being held at the Johannesburg Stadium. Local artists Malaika, Mafikizolo, Selaelo Selota and Don Laka top the bill.
Ignatius Jacobs, Gauteng's MEC for transport, roads and public works, will also highlight the benefits of using public transport.
Gates open at 9am and the concert is expected to end by 2pm. Tickets are available at Computicket.
Concertgoers will be encouraged to choose a park 'n ride facility depending on the mode of transport they will be using on the day. Facilities will be available at the University of Johannesburg and all Metrorail park 'n ride facilities from Soweto to Johannesburg Stadium. Greyhound buses and Safe Caps meter taxis will transport people for free from the parking to the stadium between 9am and 2pm.
Sowetans will also be encouraged to ride on the Business Express rail link, parking their cars at a Metrorail facility.
The department has also partnered with Central Gauteng Cyclists, who will ride in a group to the stadium.
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