Public transport needs to be safer, cheaper and more efficient to decrease congestion and encourage people to leave their cars at home, Gauteng transport minister Ignatius Jacobs said on Thursday.
”Peak hour used to start at 6.40am; now it starts from 5.30am and lasts until 9am. What kind of people are we producing who spend all their time in traffic?” Jacobs said at the launch of Public Transport Month and Car-Free Day at Johannesburg’s Park station.
”We can’t become a society of boring people who sleep only three hours to get up and get to work on time,” said Jacobs, predicting what would happen if congestion is not decreased.
October is Public Transport Month, a campaign to address the challenges, weakness and strengths of the public transport system.
Thursday was international Car-Free Day, which saw about 1 500 cities around the world close their centres to cars.
The day — to be celebrated on October 20 in South Africa — encourages walking, cycling and the use of public transport.
Reducing the number of cars on the road on this day brings down air pollution and deaths and injuries on the roads, and contributes to improved environmental and social conditions.
To those who are sceptical about public transport and loath to leave their cars behind, Jacobs said: ”If you don’t believe in something, you will never change it.”
He admitted the image of public transport is poor.
Also, the historical public transport networks do not serve many destinations.
Rail coaches are on average 30 years old, the Gauteng taxi fleet is 14,4 years old and the bus fleet more than 10 years old.
The Gautrain on its own will not be a solution, but it will be the catalyst and anchor, Jacobs said, adding that the rapid rail link will generate billions of rands in investment for the first time in transport in more than 30 years. — Sapa