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The Department of Transport (DoT) was working with provinces to develop nonmotorised transport (NMT) master plans, which would guide the implementation of the Shova Kalula bicycle project in the short, medium and long term, Transport Minister Dipuo Peters said in a written response to a question asked in Parliament by Democratic Alliance MP Manny de Freitas.
The Shova Kalula project was aimed at increasing the use of NMT to enable communities to access social and economic opportunities.
Peters responded that government’s focused delivery plan for the project would concentrate on increasing the ridership in district municipalities to at least 100 bicycles, which would create job opportunities for bicycle maintenance shops and sustain small businesses.
“This will come with added advantages of attracting the requisite NMT infrastructure and associated social benefits of the programme,” she said.
The Minister acknowledged that multiple deficiencies had been identified in the implementation of the Shova Kalula project, including insufficient financial support for its mass roll-out, poor prioritisation by provinces and municipalities, and inadequate monitoring of the programme by provinces.
Further, there was a lack of local manufacturing capacity for the bicycles and existing bicycle maintenance or repair shops were not sustainable.
The Minister noted that the proposed NMT plans would also be used to coordinate funding and would be aligned to municipal transport plans and projects.
“The department is [also] facilitating the signing of memorandums of understanding with the provinces and schools that benefit [from] the Shova Kalula bicycle project to participate in the monitoring of bicycles allocated to their learners,” she added.
Meanwhile, the DoT would also explore options to enter into public–private partnerships with other role-players, including nongovernmental organisations and those in the private sector involved in cycling activities.
“This partnership shall strengthen the capacity to deliver and manage the whole project,” Peters said.
The Minister stated that this planned alignment of Shova Kalula with national priorities and action plans in terms of infrastructure programmes and public transport services would ensure the improved impact and sustainability of the project.