October 2, 2007
By George Matlala
CHILDREN'S safety is the focus of the City's month-long campaigns during October, which has been set aside nationally as Public Transport Month.
Towards the end of the month, primary school principals and the Johannesburg Roads Agency have scheduled a meeting - to be held on Tuesday, 23 October - to discuss ways of improving the safety of schoolchildren on the roads.
The meeting, to be held at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre in Newtown, will come after several other activities planned for the month. Safety inside and outside school property and the dangers of storm water drains are some of the issues that will be covered during the month.
During Public Transport Month, which kicked off on Monday, 1 October, national, provincial and local departments of transport, roads and works hold various activities designed to encourage people to use public transport.
According to Rehana Moosajee, Johannesburg's member of the mayoral committee for transport, the City will preach the message of sustainable transport solutions.
People will be encouraged to use public transport and spread the message of road safety through workshops, seminars, exhibitions and demonstrations. Infrastructure, safety, public and non-motorised transport will be explored.
People are encouraged to use public transport during October
"We want to educate and entertain the citizens of Johannesburg," Moosajee says.
To mark national Car Free Day on Saturday, 20 October, part of Grant Avenue in Norwood will be closed so that it can be used by pedestrians and restaurants, which will set up their tables on the street.
"We are doing it this way to focus attention on the importance of the day," she notes. On this day, people are encouraged to use public transport instead of their private cars.
Other events
Street mimes will focus on pedestrian safety in Soweto and the inner city on Thursday, 4 October. They will be on Old Potch Road and Nicholas Street, Roodepoort and Main roads in Soweto.
On Friday, 5 October, the mimes will be at the intersection of Sauer and Bree streets and on Von Wielligh Street, between Plein and Jeppe streets. Pamphlets will be handed out.
In the first week of Transport Month, more than 400 learners from about 15 schools around Johannesburg will display placards carrying safety messages at the main roads nearest to their schools.
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