#cocreate2Move to rethink mobility in Cape Town

Picography via pixabay

According to the 2016 TomTom Traffic Index Report, Cape Town is rated as the most congested city in South Africa. Growing traffic congestion not only adversely affects the economic growth of Cape Town, it also touches the daily lives of the people of Cape Town. “Mobility gives us access to our jobs, our friends, and families, it connects us with places and new experiences,” explains Dutch Consul-General, Bonnie Horbach. “The Mobility Indaba aims to effect real change in the way people live their day-to-day lives, as well as how they connect to their environment.”

Mobility Indaba will be a conference as well as an experiential event. It will focus on different modalities of transport and the inter-modality perspective including cycling and other active forms of Non-Motorized Transport (NMT). Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities states, “A functional and efficient transport system is the bedrock of a thriving economy. We have seen train delays causing inconvenience and financial stress on commuters, and causing losses for local businesses. Exploring better and smarter commuting arrangements and non-motorised transport is priority for the Western Cape.”

The event will focus on three distinct components which will run simultaneously throughout the event:

• Thursday 6 and Friday 7 October: The #2Inspire “unconference” - a conference that is more than a talk shop will gather thought leaders, activists and the voices of NMT organisations to co-create an implementable signed charter.

• Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October: The second pillar, #2Make is geared towards entrepreneurship and unlocking the potential of NMT through repair workshops, the Mobility Hack and an innovation station.

• Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October: At the third pillar, #2Show&Go, the public can look forward to the Monster BMX Show and the Learn-to-Cycle track hosted by Bicycle Empowerment Network (BEN).

The Mobility Indaba is an event of the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cape Town in collaboration with the City of Cape Town, Transport for Cape Town, WESGRO, and Accelerate Cape Town and will take place at Kenilworth Racecourse from 6- 10 October 2016. Sponsors including Monster Energy Drink, GoMetro, CM Telecom and Golden Arrow Bus Services. Associated partners include, BEN, The Cycling Collective, Qhubeka and Pedal Power Association, Future Cape Town, Bicycle Cities, Contested Spaces, Open Streets Cape Town and Bonga Cycling Academy.