From motorisation to people-centric cities: bicycling in Johannesburg

“In the twentieth century as motorisation progressed cities poured most of their investment into roads to accommodate motorised traffic” (Godefrooijet al 2009 p7). Automobile dependence has risen since then; contributing to problems associated with declining city centres increases in air pollution traffic noise and road accidents (Greene and Wegener 1997). Urban planners and city managers together with politicians are now faced with the task of reconstructing South African cities that carry the legacy of apartheid urban planning and development (Donaldson 2001). These cities remain fragmented and continue to support a huge reliance on private car ownership. Research deems automobile dependence as being highly unsustainable and as such this study begins to seek alternatives. Bicycling therefore gains recognition as one of the most sustainable modes of travel. This book seeks to delve into the feasibility of instigating a bicycling initiative in an automobile-centric city of Johannesburg.