DURBAN – THE eThekwini Municipality has received over R1 million in grant funding to promote cycling in the areas around the city.
During an executive committee meeting recently, the city revealed that it had received about R1.4m in funding to procure cycling related equipment.
A report on the matter stated that funding had been secured for Go Durban Cycling academy and the mobility programme.
It said: “The purpose of the submission is to seek the Executive Committee to note the additional funding of R1.4 million secured from a German Development bank by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and environment.”
It said this was for the procurement of certain assets that include bicycles, spares, bicycle storage containers and assets relevant to the active mobility advocacy activation for the Go Durban Academy programme.
It said the Go Durban Cycle programme provides the foundation for learning to cycle by providing access and infrastructure necessary for this purpose. In addition to cycling skills, the programme will also promote the culture of cycling in communities as a more affordable and healthier option than motor vehicle transport.
The report said it was important for the academy, which already has bike parks in several communities around Durban, to have a consistent supply of bicycles with which they have to conduct the training with.
“Any cycling programme has no value if the beneficiaries do not have access to bicycles, the Go Durban Cycle academies currently operate for 3 800 hours of riding per month. Through the current funding interventions by the bank (German) there will be a projected increase by growing the number of beneficiaries from 450 to 750,” it said.
THE MERCURY