How popular is the EcoMobility Festival?

JOBURG - The festival runs from 1 to 30 October and will see the Sandton CBD closed off to motorists, all with the aim of promoting the use of public transport and to encourage people to walk and cycle.

Our journalist took to the streets to find out how the EcoMobility Festival impacts ordinary citizens who rely on their own transport to drive in and out of Sandton.

TRISTAN PERREVOS: I do not like it. I think it is unneccessary and it will cause a lot of traffic and chaos within Sandton. I use the Gautrain bus every day and it is going to be difficult for me now to get to school because of the congestion.

LOTTI MODBA: It is unconventional. Everyone in Sandton has a car, why would you want to walk to Sandton. I have been living here for 17 years and this is the first time this has happened. This is very foreign to us.

MORIFI MORAKA: It is going to boost the public transport system, especially the Gautrain which has been making a loss since its inception five years ago, and it will help boost the taxi industry. Basically, it is a chance for everyone to make something out of nothing.

NATALIA SILVA: How am I going to do it? It is going to be very expensive because I will have to pay double for my transport every day. I do not think it is a good idea as it will affect people who are moving around the city.

CHRIS MORKEL: I like the initiative, but I do not like the idea that they are forcing it, but I guess it can be beneficial. Instead, they should be promoting it. They could have used adverts to advise people to use public transport rather than having a whole month-long festival.

BRADLEY SMITH: I can see a lot of positives to it and why they are doing it. But for a community that drives through Sandton every day, I think it will be a complete shambles. It is going to cause a lot of problems for myself because I rely on my car to get in and out of Sandton.

MOHAMED TAARIQ BADLOO: It is going to cause a lot of traffic congestion. The timing is inappropriate as it is near the festive season and businesses are going to lose money because many people are going to avoid coming to Sandton and will go elsewhere. But there is also a good side to it if people do decide to use public transport.

MBALI GUMEDE: I think people could save on petrol by using public transport, but then again, the petrol stations would lose out, and the taxi association, bus association and other forms of public transport would gain a lot. Though using your own car is safe and more special.

EMMANUELY MASAKABU: I think it is good because it promotes public transport and not everyone is driving. It is also going to help with traffic congestion around Sandton City.

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