Yesterday 60 bicycles were handed to a large number of learners in Alexandria north of Johannesburg including some members of the local community police forum.
Now that the M1 pedestrian bridge is open residents will be able to safely walk or cycle across the highway to school or for shopping. “The City of Johannesburg’s partnership with Qhubeka to assist learners from poor communities to get to school safely on time and promote a healthy lifestyle is very important particularly as the walking and cycling bridge over the M1 at the Grayston offramp is now open,” said Cllr Nonhlanhla Makhuba, MMC for Transport in the City of Johannesburg.
The two boast a four-year partnership that has seen bicycles being distributed in Diepsloot, Soweto and Orange Farm among other places. Scores of bicycles have also been distributed to the CPF in Alexandra to help them move around, thus improving the visibility of policing. Community health workers have also received bicycles to help them visit more patients. Money for the bicycles was raised through match funding in which Qhubeka finds a company to match the amount the city contributes to the bicycle distribution programme.
If Sipho Tati had it his way, the whole of Joburg would be turned into gigantic cycle lanes and bicycle riders would have the freedom of the road.The Orlando High School-based cycling coach, bike mechanic, recycler and Qhubeka ambassador has been riding bicycles for the past 20 years and encourages families to adopt this healthier lifestyle.
The City of Joburg’s Transport Department had earlier held a cycle lane design symposium and invited its guests to cycle over the recently opened bridge that loops over the M1 freeway and connects the bustling Alexandra with the skyscraper-dotted Sandton.
“Our ongoing partnership with the city is part of a far-reaching bicycle programme in the region which has included constructing bicycle lanes and funding bicycles to help schoolchildren and adults with personal transport,” said Qhubeka Executive Director Tsatsi Phaweni.
Over 2000 bicycles have been distributed in vulnerable communities since the partnership began.