Gauteng Transport Commission to host cycling indaba

[Mojoman]

It also just reflects how the powers that be are operating, They are sitting around in workshops, going on junkets etc and coming up with what should be. The fact that cycling is almost non-existent in the communities where they are building these big schemes, is not a factor. And yes, "apartheid legacy" was mentioned.

 

And of these bikes that they have given away to try and get cycling as a mode of transport, has there been follow up research as to the efficacy of this project? Are the bikes still in the owners hands and being used after 1 week? 1 month? 6 months? a year? If not, what happened?

 

I often cycle along with black guys commuting from the northerns suburbs south, generally on older road bikes or mtb's with v brakes, yet to see one of those giveaways in action, or a black woman commuting. Or a whitey women now that I think about it.

A few years back there was a glut of yellow bikes in the area that had been given away by MTN (i think), so for a few months it was chaos on the roads as it appeared the new cyclists (schoolkids) had received no education on road safety.....fast forward to today and there are very, very few around now...

[Cois]

It also just reflects how the powers that be are operating, They are sitting around in workshops, going on junkets etc and coming up with what should be. The fact that cycling is almost non-existent in the communities where they are building these big schemes, is not a factor. And yes, "apartheid legacy" was mentioned.

 

And of these bikes that they have given away to try and get cycling as a mode of transport, has there been follow up research as to the efficacy of this project? Are the bikes still in the owners hands and being used after 1 week? 1 month? 6 months? a year? If not, what happened?

 

I often cycle along with black guys commuting from the northerns suburbs south, generally on older road bikes or mtb's with v brakes, yet to see one of those giveaways in action, or a black woman commuting. Or a whitey women now that I think about it.

I was passed by a guy in overalls on a bike that is about R35000 in the shops (as I saw from a possible grey importer in PTA)

But I have seen only few white ladies on bikes commuting in the afternoons. Not that I blame them. People in SA has o respect for cyclists... Not even other pedestrians or other road users

[madmarc]

So .... I went through and listened for a few hours about the various local and provincial gov big schemes. Yes, some cycle lanes are being built, where they think they should. Like Soweto, where there are very few cyclists. But they have a scheme to give away bicycles (which is mistake imho). And another big scheme to link Alex to Sandton.

 

I didn't think they would be open to the sort of input I prepared, they are so wound up in their own worlds so I didn't present but I did circulate it.

 

Its all about masterplans, frameworks, MMT's and big schemes, Little impetus to find creative and cost-effective solutions, let alone make the streets of Jhb bike friendly. Maintenance was not mentioned.

 

Although the MEC Dr Vadi is a cyclist, so that's a good thing.

 

And that gentlemen is the crux of the problem, a group of politicians who know nothing about non-motorised transport, commuting or cycling (Barring Vadi of course) sitting around a table drawing up policy that would be doomed from the start. Handing out free bicycles to PDI's is all about garnering more votes, the same thing they do with free food parcels. the fact that the recipients will either kill themselves or simply sell the bikes for a tenth of their real value for the cash is of no importance. Don't get me wrong, giving a PDI who has no transport I support whole heartedly, but only when it comes with something more than just a bike. what about teaching them to ride, rules of the road, making sure they have the correct riding gear (reflective vests and helmets), what about maintaining the bike in a roadworthy condition etc et etc.

 

This leads me to ask, was CSA or Gauteng Cycling present?? because this is exactly what they are supposed to be doing - representing cycling to goverment and driving change within the sport as well as average joe out there trying to get to work on a bike.

 

Kos you must be commended on your efforts but when we are dealing with a bunch of despots in our current goverment we might as well go piss in the wind, it will be a lot more refreshing

[nonky]

If the bike lanes are handled as badly as the Rea Vaya along Empire, past the SABC and UJ to Westdene, we can only fear for the WORST.

 

Let's face it, these initiatives are about POLITICS, nothing else. If you read the "Corridors of Freedom" BS championed by the mayor of jhb, you quickly realize that the drivers of these policies have no clue how to run a city or an integrated urban transport plan.

 

However, we live in hope that a miracle occurs....

[kosmonooit]

 

This leads me to ask, was CSA or Gauteng Cycling present??

 

Yes i think CSA was there, I recognised the gent who does the Commissar duty at mtb events, but lets not get too pessimistic, at least there was a meeting of all parties. The lady who does the 94.7 was there as well, and reps from a few clubs.

[finallygotabike]

And that gentlemen is the crux of the problem, a group of politicians who know nothing about non-motorised transport, commuting or cycling (Barring Vadi of course) sitting around a table drawing up policy that would be doomed from the start. Handing out free bicycles to PDI's is all about garnering more votes, the same thing they do with free food parcels. the fact that the recipients will either kill themselves or simply sell the bikes for a tenth of their real value for the cash is of no importance. Don't get me wrong, giving a PDI who has no transport I support whole heartedly, but only when it comes with something more than just a bike. what about teaching them to ride, rules of the road, making sure they have the correct riding gear (reflective vests and helmets), what about maintaining the bike in a roadworthy condition etc et etc.

 

 

That is exactly the problem - politicians/charities and so on are more concerned about showing they are developing some rural area or PDI that the actual deed becomes irrelevant and often not practical to maintain.

[kosmonooit]

If the bike lanes are handled as badly as the Rea Vaya along Empire, past the SABC and UJ to Westdene, we can only fear for the WORST.

..

 

However, we live in hope that a miracle occurs....

 

 

And the BRT lanes in town are just the same, they have pushed all the traffic lanes out, no verge, no room for cyclists, HECTIC! if fact they are a no-go for cyclists, whoever put that scheme together def, suffered from a lack of imagination and lateral thought processes. So much for the Non Motorised Master Plan (NMMP) ...

 

But this is how transport problems are being 'solved' here ... big glamorous Cap Ex projects (which often create more problems), not much creative cost-effective work on the ground, which is what I tried to put in the submission, there is a lot that can be done to improve the lot of commuter cyclists without having to embark on big head-liner capital intensive projects. But they ain't listening.....

 

 

Live in hope, die in despair?