Pretoria - The City of Tshwane Municipality officials on Friday cycled around town as an initiative to promote an environmentally-friendly mode of transport.
The cycling is part of the Green Mobility Fridays initiative aimed at building awareness that cycling can also assist in decongesting traffic.
The cyclists went on a 5km route starting their journey at the Tshwane House at 7am. They cycled up to Sisulu Street and went right into Visagie Street and then right into Paul Kruger Street, through Church Square, and finally right into Madiba Street.
The awarness aims to encourage motorists to be less dependent on their cars and to use public transport like the Tshwane Bus Service, A Re Yeng, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxis.
"This initiative is all about stepping out of our comfort zone and get into our buses and taxis and on bicycles or do a bit of footwork on both Fridays. One understands that using public transport might not be as enjoyable as commuting in your own vehicle, but it does ease congestion, reduces emissions and gives you plenty of quality time to get to know your neighbours or people working around your workplace," said Tshwane’s MMC for Roads and Transport, Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge.
As part of the awareness, the municipality created a car-free zone in Hatfield by closing Burnett Street between Festival and Grosvenor Street from 5am until 5.30pm.
“The Tshwane Green Ride goes beyond the riding of bicycles, as it connects communities that historically were spatially and socially divided and thus serves as a social connector. It is also of great significance to educate our communities about the considerable economic, social and environmental benefits of clean mobility. This is the reason we want to urge members of the public to join and support these Transport Month activities wherever they are in the city,” said Senkubuge.