Tshwane Car Free Friday: Mayor Msimanga starts peddling
Motorists are being encouraged to leave their cars at home.
The City of Tshwane is encouraging its residents to use public transport and bicycles.
Tshwane mayor Solly Msimanga along with city officials have taken the lead and ditched their vehicles for a more environmentally-friendly mode of transport.
Msimanga hopped onto a bicycle.
It's all part of the City's Transport Month activities.
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The cyclists departed from Tshwane House at 07:00 on Friday.
They cycled a 5km route, which is part of the Green Mobility Fridays initiative aimed at building awareness that cycling can also assist in decongesting traffic.
The Tshwane MMC for Roads and Transport, Sheila-Lynn Senkubuge, says the Green Mobility Fridays are part of the City's Transport Month activities taking place under the theme: "Together we move the capital city forward."
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Green Mobility Fridays coincide with the Car-free Fridays on 20 and 27 October, when the City will encourage motorists to be less dependent on their cars and try alternatives like the Tshwane Bus Service, A Re Yeng, Metrorail, Gautrain and taxis.
As part of the awareness initiative, the City will create a car-free zone in Hatfield by closing Burnett Street between Festival and Grosvenor Street from 05:00 to 17:30 to all privately owned vehicles on both days.
"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," says Senkubuge.