How apartheid killed Johannesburg's cycling culture

[Simon Kolin]

"The writer counted, in the space of only four minutes, 93 native cyclists riding past the Astra theatre,” wrote a journalist for the Star newspaper in July 1940. Standing almost 80 years later on the same corner of Louis Botha Avenue at the same time and day of the week – 6.30pm on a Monday – it is hard to imagine. The theatre is long gone and not a single cyclist is to be seen on the car-choked thoroughfare.

What happened to Johannesburg’s once vibrant commuter cycling culture? The dominance of the automobile marginalised the bicycle in many cities around the world through the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s but that process was accelerated in South Africa by apartheid. When policies of spatial segregation forcibly moved black people to faraway townships at the periphery of the city, the distance between work and home increased dramatically and cycling collapsed as an everyday practice.

Twenty-five years after apartheid’s fall, those spatial and economic inequalities remain entrenched in the city and continue to shape how people get around.

It may be said of the Johannesburg child that he learns to cycle before he can walk

1903 newspaper columnist

The story of Johannesburg starts in 1886 with the discovery of gold. As prospectors from around the world flooded in to seek their fortunes, what had once been farmland was transformed in the space of a few years into a thriving city.

Full article link here - https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/26/how-apartheid-killed-johannesburgs-cycling-culture-?CMP=share_btn_link

 

[patches]

I thought this musketeer was to blame

 

[DieselnDust]

"The writer counted, in the space of only four minutes, 93 native cyclists riding past the Astra theatre,” wrote a journalist for the Star newspaper in July 1940. Standing almost 80 years later on the same corner of Louis Botha Avenue at the same time and day of the week – 6.30pm on a Monday – it is hard to imagine. The theatre is long gone and not a single cyclist is to be seen on the car-choked thoroughfare.

What happened to Johannesburg’s once vibrant commuter cycling culture? The dominance of the automobile marginalised the bicycle in many cities around the world through the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s but that process was accelerated in South Africa by apartheid. When policies of spatial segregation forcibly moved black people to faraway townships at the periphery of the city, the distance between work and home increased dramatically and cycling collapsed as an everyday practice.

Twenty-five years after apartheid’s fall, those spatial and economic inequalities remain entrenched in the city and continue to shape how people get around.

It may be said of the Johannesburg child that he learns to cycle before he can walk

1903 newspaper columnist

The story of Johannesburg starts in 1886 with the discovery of gold. As prospectors from around the world flooded in to seek their fortunes, what had once been farmland was transformed in the space of a few years into a thriving city.

Full article link here - 

https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jun/26/how-apartheid-killed-johannesburgs-cycling-culture-?CMP=share_btn_link

 

 

great article. My old man used to tell me stories of my grandad who used to cycle to work in Harare.He worked as a heavy duty vehicle driver in the 40's and he made sure my dad and uncles could ride a bike because thats what the kids in Johannesburg were doing. When they eventually moved to Cape Town the cycling culture was strong here too. People couldn't afford cars.

[Ashchest]

Now they all drive BMW's 

[mazambaan]

Now they all drive BMW's 

 

and, along with just about everyone else, run over cyclists. 

[buckstopper]

Great idea for a thread. I've seen quite a lot of commuters cycling South on William Nicol from (presumably) Diepsloot to Fourways in the mornings. Your report about apartheid's town planning spot on

[Mamil]

Really nice read 

[fanievb]

I thought this musketeer was to blame

 

 

it was actually this oke

 

[RocknRolla]

Well, yes and no.

 

The motorcar had as big a role to play. It's a worldwide phenomenon (other than Copenhagen and Netherlands who are at the forefront of cycling infrastructure.)

 

This writer, has taken one aspect, and skewed it to drive a political agenda. 

 

The cycling infrastructure that Mashaba halted, was a poorly thought out and implemented in the worst possible way, also as a political drive for then Mayor Parks Tau to secure his seat on the World Council of Mayors. Barely anything is left of his "infrastructure" and the "corridors of freedom" are nothing more than fancy signage, and painted sections of roads and sidewalks.

[IceCreamMan]

Sigh. Let’s just blame apartheid. Simplistic

 

Segregation was practiced in some form all over the world lest we forget.

[kosmonooit]

Well, yes and no.

 

The motorcar had as big a role to play. It's a worldwide phenomenon (other than Copenhagen and Netherlands who are at the forefront of cycling infrastructure.)

 

This writer, has taken one aspect, and skewed it to drive a political agenda. 

 

The cycling infrastructure that Mashaba halted, was a poorly thought out and implemented in the worst possible way, also as a political drive for then Mayor Parks Tau to secure his seat on the World Council of Mayors. Barely anything is left of his "infrastructure" and the "corridors of freedom" are nothing more than fancy signage, and painted sections of roads and sidewalks.

 

 

And that hideous bridge over the M1 / Wyburg ffs! was that not part of the same plan? I am yet to see anyone actually using it.

 

That whole project was a stuff up from the get-go, and its not like no one protested or they bothered speaking to any cyclists or even had a look where there was significant cycling commuter traffic, like out of Tembisa.

 

Few 100 Mil was spent on that project (besides that bridge) lot of it went to  'consultants' no doubt

[RocknRolla]

Another article by the same author.

https://www.wits.ac.za/sacp/our-opinions/njogu-morgan-johannesburgs-bike-lanes/

 

Pity the article is not dated, it also seems the Johannesburg Urban cyclists association website does not exist.

Perhaps the author felt despondent by the lack of progress when it comes to infrastructure, that he eventually just sat back and blamed apartheid. 

[kosmonooit]

Sigh. Let’s just blame apartheid. Simplistic

 

Segregation was practiced in some form all over the world lest we forget.

 

 

Not to the extent it was ENFORCED in South Africa

[Fat Boab]

"As a city with multiple centres, cyclists are more or less never seen on traditional transport corridors to the CBD such as Louis Botha Avenue."

 

"...then the city’s future might be seen in the growing streams of walkers, joggers, cyclists and traders who make their way across the bridge every day with ease, high above the gridlock. There is hope."

 

Might there be a touch of selective observation here?

[kosmonooit]

Another article by the same author.

https://www.wits.ac.za/sacp/our-opinions/njogu-morgan-johannesburgs-bike-lanes/

 

Pity the article is not dated, it also seems the Johannesburg Urban cyclists association website does not exist.

Perhaps the author felt despondent by the lack of progress when it comes to infrastructure, that he eventually just sat back and blamed apartheid. 

 

 

That 'organisation' was / is a farce.

[Goodbadugly]

So apartheid is to blame for global warming (BMW's replacing cycles)