By Nangamso Mabindla

Employees in the Buffalo City Transport Planning and Operations Department yesterday proved you do not need motorised transport to get to work when they took part in the first-ever Cycle-to-Work Day.

The department organised the day to raise awareness that cycling to work could be a viable alternative means of transport. The idea was the brainchild of the department's General Manager, Michael Kridiotis, following a recent visit to Buffalo City's twin city in Sweden, Gälve. "The city of Gälve implemented innovative programmes, campaigns and infrastructure to facilitate cycling and achieved remarkable success," said Kridiotis.

Many people who owned bicycles regarded them merely as a form of recreation and exercise and never thought of using them for commuting, Kridiotis added. "They really should think about using them for that purpose as we always experience traffic jam on the way to and from work."

Cycling to work had many advantages, including improved fitness, low costs, and it contributed to a healthier environment by reducing pollution and traffic congestion, he said. "It's fun too."

The major objective of Cycle-to-Work Day was to find ways to improve road safety in Buffalo City, especially for pedestrians and cyclists. It also gave members of the department the opportunity to gain firsthand experience of possible problems encountered on the road by cyclists so that they could devise appropriate strategies to curb these problems.