​By Sipho Tshabalala
The Department of Roads and Transport hosted a two-day road-safety
workshop with motor-bikers and cyclists to forge a partnership to reduce road
fatalities.
The workshop was held on 07-08 March 2020 at the Birchwood
Conference Centre in the City of Ekurhuleni. 
The partnership is expected to provide a common platform for
motorbikers, cyclists and the Provincial Government to promote road safety and
address key challenges faced by these stakeholders. 
“This weekend has been an eye-opener for us. I am very
pleased that both the cycling and biking fraternities are ready to be counted
amongst those who want to make a difference. We need more road users to promote
smart mobility in our province and to change mindsets and behaviour on the road"
said MEC Mamabolo. 
Held under the theme “Growing Gauteng Together Through Smart
Mobility”, the workshop focused on reducing road fatalities, promoting smart
road-use culture as well as smart road network that accommodates all
road-users. The topics included the introduction of designated lanes,
de-congesting and de-polluting the road-network by promoting cycling and biking
as alternative modes of transport. This was seen critical for economic growth
and positive investor confidence in the province. 
The MEC added that “road-users across the board share the
same frustrations and experiences on terrible and extremely poor road-use
culture that borders on aggression, rudeness, intolerance and complete contempt
and disregard for each other’s right to use the road”. 
It was also announced the Department, together with cycling
and motorbiking community, would hold joint road safety programmes.