The EcoMobility World Festival in Sandton

Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Parks Tau announced plans to close off traffic in some streets in Sandton, Johannesburg’s second-largest CBD. The roads are going to be used only for public transport, walking and cycling.

“We want to show residents and visitors that an ecomobile future is possible and that public transport, walking and cycling can be accessible, safe, attractive and cool!” he said. The Mayor Parks also said that the city will provide alternative transport in and out of Sandton during this month. The city will host discussions, fun runs, cycle rides and other events to attract people to the Sandton CBD to experience the car-free environment.

The EcoMobility World Festival will mobilize and raise local and international support for ecomobile alternatives to fossil-fuel based transport modes. The EcoMobility World Festival will showcase the new Rea Vaya bus rapid transport scheme and public transport, cycling and walking friendly infrastructure that the city is constructing in the Sandton CBD.

ICLEI is a worldwide movement of cities committed to changing their future towards a sustainable path. The City of Johannesburg is a long standing member of ICLEI. One of ICLEI’s key programs is EcoMobility – travel through socially inclusive and environmentally-friendly transport options, integrating walking, cycling and use of public transport.

The first EcoMobility World Festival was organized in 2013 by the city of Suwon, South Korea and ICLEI. The month-long event attracted over one million national and international visitors. The event also gave local innovators and businesses a chance to demonstrate their mobility alternatives to conventional fossil fuel vehicles.

“The concept of an EcoMobility World Festival is the chance for a city to demonstrate to the entire world that citizens and city leaders can make a difference in addressing climate change, urban emissions and urban livability through transport. The way we move defines the future of our cities. EcoMobility supports a future transport system that is attractive, affordable, healthy and environmentally-friendly. Thus, benefitting the citizens in a city the most.” says ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin.

Sandton EcoMobility Conference Planning Member, Sipho Nhlapo encourages commuters to change the way they move. "For the month of October, we have created a space for public transport, we have created a space for pedestrians. So motorists must share the space."

"There’s a park and ride at Monte Casino, if you live next to Cresta there’s buses. If you live in Soweto, there's a park and ride at Maponya Mall..." Nhlapo added. If you’d like to participate and leave your car behind, you can easily navigate your way to work using the city's free cellphone app.

“The EcoMobility World Festival is a once-in-a-life time opportunity for the local community to try out a scenario of future sustainable living”, says initiator and Creative Director of the EcoMobility Festivals, Konrad Otto-Zimmermann. Zimmerman works at The Urban Idea and is a former head of ICLEI. “It means experiencing and showcasing an ecomobile lifestyle in a real city, by real people, in real time.”

Over the next few months, the City of Johannesburg will engage in participatory approaches with residents, property owners, businesses and transport stakeholders to finalize the roads to be closed, the alternative arrangements and the festival activities.

“The city is committed to involving all relevant stakeholders to ensure participative decision-making in the event, and to communicate, celebrate and visualize a low carbon future through the lens of EcoMobility”, concluded the Executive Mayor, Parks Tau.

"We are proud of the citizens of Johannesburg for having taken such a landmark decision and for showing the world that urban transportation need not be reliant on fossil fuel vehicles. The city leadership in Johannesburg has made a commendable decision in choosing to provide a people-friendly urban transport system”, remarked ICLEI Secretary General Gino Van Begin.

For more information on the EcoMobility World Festival, visit www.ecomobilityfestival.org or watch the documentaries at www.theurbanidea.com/festivalfilms.html