10 Sep 2024 PPA and City of Joburg partner to host City of Joburg Safe Cycling Awareness Ride
The Pedal Power Association, one of South Africa’s largest member-based cycling organisations with a national footprint, is hosting a safe cycling awareness ride in partnership with the City of Joburg on Sunday 6th of October at 8h00 starting from Metro Park in Braamfontein, in celebration of Transport Month. The 25km route will cover some of Joburg’s most scenic and iconic roads and sites with the assistance of JMPD (Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department) and back-up vehicles.
“Not too long ago, cycling was a niche sport, and the industry comprised a handful of retailers selling a narrow range of bike brands and specialist gear. Today, it’s the largest participation sport in South Africa. Events such as the Cape Town Cycle Tour and Ride Joburg draw a surfeit of entries, and the race calendar is expanding all over the country, “says CEO of the PPA Neil Robinson.
According to Robinson, the safety of cyclists on our roads is a major concern to the PPA and hosting an awareness ride such as this focuses on the dangers cyclists face on the roads in our large cities. In Joburg, people cycle for many reasons. While sports cycling dominates the cycling scene, things are starting to shift with the commuter culture seeing groundswell of interest due to financial constraints people are faced with daily.
“The PPA encourages cycling as a means of daily transport or as an option to stay healthy, as it is affordable and good for the environment but in South Africa we need more safety measures in place for cyclists,” explains Robinson.
When people move away from private vehicles which use fossil fuel it helps the City of Johannesburg to reduce the carbon emissions and air pollutants. Cycling will also help to avoid an increase in global warming while increasing Bikenomics.
“Cyclists on our roads are extremely vulnerable and we spend millions to create awareness amongst other road users to recognize cyclists as road users. In partnership with the Road Accident Fund, the PPA distribute thousands of reflective bibs as well as lights and helmets to commuting cyclists throughout South Africa. We also host regular awareness rides in most provinces as a visual gesture to other road users to share the roads with vulnerable road users such as cyclists,” Robinson says.
“Although commuting cyclists save money, they are extremely vulnerable in the traffic. Despite this, well-being is one of the main reasons so many of the township’s residents get around by bicycle. A newly built pathway that separates pedestrian and vehicle traffic alongside Steyn City, north of Joburg, for example, has made a few kilometres of their journey demonstrably safer and we want to thank the City of Joburg for building pathways such as these to make their journey safer,” explains Robinson.
In Diepsloot, however, cyclists face more problems than solutions. Winter is the worst time of year, they say. Joburg’s gardens grow more slowly, which means less work for gardeners. And shorter days mean cyclists brave the traffic in inky dark, cold mornings and evenings with little reflective gear and only narrow gravel pavements for protection. “The PPA will be handing out reflective bibs in this area in October to try and keep these cyclists more visible in these conditions,” says Robinson.
“We are inviting cyclists to join us on the 6th of October to ride for safer roads in Joburg. Be there at 7h00 for 8h00. All cyclists participating in the ride will receive some safety items and a free cup of coffee afterwards. Please note it is an awareness ride and we will follow a steady pace adhering to the road rules. Everyone must wear a helmet for the 25km ride from Braamfontein, past the SABC towards Emmarentia, Zoo Lake, Westcliff and back. There will be water points along the route as well. A huge thank you to the City of Joburg for providing traffic and emergency services,” Robinson concluded.
*We do however ask participants to sign an indemnity form before participating prior to the ride. No entry fee will be charged.